Education, Training and Employment Services

Our Workforce Development programs help individuals define and achieve realistic career goals through the following rehabilitation activities:

• Career Assessment, Career Exploration & Work Evaluation
• Work Readiness & Work Adjustment
• Computer Skills Training and Adaptive Technology (Visually Impaired & Blind)
• Employment Resource Room
• Personal Empowerment Training
• Job Seeking Skills Training, Job Search, Job Club & Individual Placement
• Job Developing & Job Retention Services
  

Vocational Evaluation

The Vocational Evaluation testing program is designed for disabled and economically disadvantaged individuals who need assistance in developing realistic vocational goals, as well as a plan which will enable them to meet those goals. As there is a fee for our services, individuals are usually referred through other local agencies such as MDELEG, MCBTC, DHS, private rehabilitation and schools. The length of the program is based on individual needs. A testing plan is developed based on questions provided by referral sources, as well as job or training goals expressed by the participant during the initial Intake. Answers to specific questions regarding employability, as well as realistic job and training goals are provided. In serving disabled individuals, referral questions often pertain to recommending jobs or training programs which are within their restrictions with or without accommodations. Economically disadvantaged consumers who have been unable to obtain employment independently are provided with job search skills training and participate in a structured job search. The overall goal is to enable participants to take that first step leading to long term employment, when feasible; by matching their academic skills, aptitudes and interests with job and/or training options which exist in this labor market.

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EXTREME CAREER MAKEOVER

Goodwill Industries Extreme Career Makeover Workshop Series
4 Workshops - FREE and open to the public
Workshops are from 6 PM - 9 PM

Mar. 9, 2010- Retooling Your Career Direction
at The Point Community Center (Centerpoint Church)
2345 N. 10th Street Kalamazoo, MI  
Phone: 350-5496

Mar. 16, 2010 - Beat the Odds and Get the Job
at Kalamazoo First Assembly
5550 Oakland Drive Portage, MI (next to I-94) 
Phone: 329-1977

Mar. 23, 2010- Marketing “You”- Networking for Success!
at Radiant Church
8157 East DE Ave Richland, MI 
Phone: 629-7111

Mar. 30, 2010 -The Art of the Interview
at Valley Family Community Center
995 Romence Road
Phone: 324-5599

Goodwill is a partner agency of The United Way of Greater Kalamazoo

Reserve your space today > 269.382.0490 ext. 286

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Goodwill Career Center- Sturgis, MI

Goodwill Career Center
Sturgis Central Commons Building
107 W. West Street, Suite 209
Sturgis, MI
 
(269) 659-4600

• Are you job hunting with no success?
• Are you a new graduate who needs career direction?
• Have you been downsized out of a job and need assistance?
• Are you in need of identifying the skills that you need to have in this
new ‘retooling economy’?

We can help!

The Goodwill Career Center is available FREE to the public
and provides:

• Computer Skills Training
• Career Planning
• Interview Coaching
• Job Search Assistance
• Skills Evaluation
• Employability Workshops
• Michigan Talent Bank Connection

Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday 1-6PM

Computer Workshops: each Tuesday 1-3PM
Job Readiness Workshops: each Wednesday 1-3PM

Come join us today!

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Retail Skills Training

The Retail Skill Center (a combination store and classroom) is where participants will learn skills from the six modules established by The Retail Trade Federation and Goodwill International. Understanding these six modules is the benchmark for success in retail sales.

The participants will learn how to provide personal customer service, the selling and promotion of products, monitoring inventory, maintaining store appearance, the protection of company assets, and teamwork. Participants will receive hands-on training and assessment will be done on the sales floor as well as in the classroom

Classes will be held Monday - Friday, for 4 hours/day. Training totals 120 hours, with 72 hours of Classroom time and 48 hours of Work Experience (paid at $7.40/hr)

For more information, please e-mail Greg Ferworn.

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Workers on Wheels

Transportation has been identified as the most prevalent barrier to employment. Workers on Wheels provides participants with reliable vehicles for the purpose of maintaining or gaining employment.

Participants receive:

• Vehicles that have been inspected and are affordable and reliable
• Quarterly vehicle inspection and service
• Participant training to ensure that the vehicle owner has basic car care and preventative maintenance skills

Your Vehicle Donations are Needed!
Your donation provides someone with the transportation that they need to become self-sufficient and donations are tax deductible. Consider donating as an option to trade-in.

Call our Program Manager today, at either (269) 382-0490 or 1-800-343-0174, to donate your vehicle or or to request more information.

Donor Information
In accordance with the new 2005 Tax Laws, if it is determined after mechanical inspection that the vehicle can be used by the program for a participant, the donor will receive a Tax Credit Certificate (4284) for Auto Donation (State), which is a $50.00 credit for individuals and a $100.00 credit for husband & wife filing jointly or single business tax. They will also receive a (1098-C) form, (Federal) an Acknowledgement Letter from the program containing the vehicle identification number and Kelly Blue Book value information to aid them in assigning their own fair market value which the donor would be entitled to a percentage of based on their tax bracket. (Goodwill does not assign the vehicle value, this information is provided only as a courtesy to the donor).

If the vehicle cannot be used by the program for a participant which would generally be due to the agencies inability to make the vehicle roadworthy and safe within a reasonable cost, the donor would receive an Acknowledgement letter from the program containing the vehicle identification number, the (4284) Tax Credit Certificate (State), and the (1098-C) form (Federal) both containing the amount that the vehicle was disposed for which the donor would be entitled to claim a percentage of depending on their tax bracket.

In either case, we will retain in our records a copy of what the blue book says the vehicle is worth at the time of donation and/or the amount the vehicle was actually disposed for if it was not used in the program. This information will be sent within 30 days or less from the time of vehicle pick-up. The program is looking for mechanically sound vehicles that need minor or no repairs. However, we do in rare cases accept non-running vehicles if they provide the means to repair an existing program vehicle, or need minor repairs to become mechanically sound.

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