Pathways to Employment: Collaborative Approach to Serve Employed and Underemployed

1. Pathways to Employment:Collaborative Approach to Serve Employed and Underemployed AJFCA, April 16, 2007

2. PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT: COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO SERVE EMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED Presented by: Wendy Wolfman, M.A. Director of Family and Community Services Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto Rita Dumov, MSW Manager, Employment Services JVS Toronto

3. WORKSHOP OUTLINE • Overview of JF&CS Services • Overview of JVS Toronto • Who We Are - JF&CS • Who We Are - JVS Toronto • Jewish Family & Child Service of Greater Toronto • JVS Toronto Services • Pathways to Employment Program • Population Served • Barriers Towards Employment • JF&CS & JVS Toronto Collaborative Model • Employability Model • The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned • Vignettes • Questions/Answers

4. Overview of JF&CS Services • JF&CS celebrates 140 years of service to the greater Toronto community • Originally founded as Toronto’s Jewish Benevolent Society • Has helped hundreds of thousands of Jewish clients since its inception

5. Overview of JF&CS Services • Today, JF&CS is a multi service agency offering a variety of programs • The agency is a not for profit charitable organization • Partners with government, UJA Federation, Toronto and the United Way • Has grown to more than 100 staff at four different locations

6. Overview of JVS Toronto Services • JVS Toronto celebrates 60 years of service to the Greater Toronto Community • Originally founded by Jewish community at the end of the Second World War • Helped over 400,000 individuals

7. Overview of JVS Toronto Services • Today, JVS Toronto is a multi service agency offering a variety of programs • The agency is a not for profit, non-sectarian, charitable organization • Partners with government, business sectors and with Jewish community • From staff of three, we have grown to more than 180 and offer services in 14 locations

8. Who We Are – JF&CS Mission: • To support and promote the healthy developmentof individuals, families and communities in the greater Toronto area through prevention, protection, counselling and advocacy services within the context of Jewish values.

9. Who We Are – JF&CS Our Values: • Tzedakah – Social Justice • Ahraiut Hadadit –acceptance of communal and mutual responsibility – ( ability to live “Jewishly”) • Chesed –kindness and caring • Kavod –all humans treated with respect • Tikkun Olam –repair of the world • Eilu V’eilu – diversity and unity

10. Who We Are – JVS Toronto “The highest degree of righteousness is to give assistance to those who have fallen upon hard times” Maimonides, 13thcentury • Mission: • To be an outstanding provider of Services • for achieving success at school and at work • Our Values: • *Customer-Centred *Collaboration • *Quality *Leadership • *Integrity

11. Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Toronto JF & CS CHILD WELFARE SERVICES CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & REHAB FAMILY SERVICES ANTI-VIOLENCE & WOMAN ABUSE PROGRAMS CHAPLAINCY VOLUNTEER SERVICES HOSPICE COUNSELLING & GROUP SERVICES EVALUATION / RESEARCH/CONTINUOUS QUALTIY IMPROVEMENT

12. JVS Toronto Services

13. Pathways to Employment Program • Initiated in 1997 by three agencies: UJA Federation, Toronto, Jewish Family and Child Service of Greater Toronto, and JVS Toronto • Since 1999, the program has been co-funded by JF&CS and JVS; each party has contributed $10,000 annually • The objective of this program is to bring the expertise of two agencies together in a collaborative effort to assist economically disadvantaged clients achieve self – sufficiency • Since the inception of the program, over 700 clients have been served and 45% obtained either full time or part time employment

14. Pathways to Employment Program • Significant community and government dollars have been saved as a result of this program • The strength of the program is in its highly individualized planning process • The program responds to the needs of clients by ensuring access to services offered by JF&CS, JVS and other community providers • JF&CS and JVS bring a variety of perspectives and approaches to helping clients: multi-disciplinary collaboration, clinical expertise, concrete support, employment strategies, etc.

15. Population Served • The client base is diverse and includes underemployed and unemployed individuals who want to return to the workforce. • The program serves: single mothers/fathers, abused women, immigrants, people with mental illness, unstable work histories, learning disabilities, developmental challenges, addiction problems, criminal background, etc.

16. Barriers Towards Employment Note that the above figures are actual percentages and are NOT mutually exclusive

17. Stage One JF&CS/JVS Rehab Plan Meeting JF&CS & JVS Collaborative Model Ontario Disability Support Program Education/Training Employment Discussions Stage Two JF&CS Pathways to Employment Group JVS Workshop Consultation JVS & JF&CS Staff Consultation Client/JVS/JF&CS Stage Three JVS Toronto Pathways to Employment Program Individual/Group Employment Counselling

18. Stage Three JVS Toronto Pathways to Employment Program Individual/Group Employment Counselling JF&CS & JVS Collaborative Model JF&CS, JVS & Client Consultation Based on need JVS Staff & Client meet JF&CS and JVS Consult Stage Four JVS Toronto Employment Counselling Employability Assessment Diagnostic Services Career Exploration Training Programs Job Search Skills Training/Coaching Volunteer Work Work Experience Internship Job Development Job Matching Job Retention Stage Five Program Outcomes

19. JF&CS & JVS Collaborative Model Stage Five JVS Toronto/JF&CS Program Outcomes Clients Volunteer/ Work Experience/ Internships Clients in Skills Training Programs Clients Employed Job Retention Clients who require ongoing support

20. Employability Model • Personal/Environmental Issues (health, housing, family issues, child care) • Career Decision Making • Job Related Skills • Job Search Skills • Work Maintenance Skills

21. The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned • In terms of employability clients fall into three categories: Employable; Employable over time with support and training; Unemployable • Unemployable clients are dealing with difficult circumstances; may be reluctant or resistant; have unstable work histories; or mental health issues with financial difficulties

22. The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned Collaboration between JVS and JF&CS has helped clients: • to take risks and achieve beyond their aspirations • to participate in new training programs, to develop new skills • to seek work in areas which they previously might have thought to be impossible • to learn and accept their strengths and limitations

23. The Power of Effective Collaboration: Lessons Learned • Collaborative interviews with clients have been particularly fruitful in ensuring that the agencies are not working in isolation, allowing for a review of progress and in developing mutually agreed upon goals and timelines

24. Vignettes • Bonnie is a single mother with two special needs children • Very limited and unstable work history • Diagnosed with a learning disability and an anxiety disorder • Great difficulties with consistency, attitude, interview and work situations • Long term collaborative effort resulted in Bonnie volunteering and being placed in a work environment under the direction of a job coach

25. Vignettes • Jullian, 35 years old, studied food technology in South Africa • He was in distress, his newborn child was in poor health, and Jullian could not find employment • Julian was allergic to dough and had no Canadian experience • Jullian was referred for vocational testing. Testing reinforced his professional choice • He was provided with assistance for his resume and interview skills • In two months, he obtained a job as a food technologist. • Jullian wrote: “I’d like to thank you for all your help with my job search. In a period of about two months of intensive job hunting, I succeeded in getting 6 interview invitations and two offers, one of which I was quite happy to accept.”

26. Vignettes • Jeannette is a 55 year old depressed, single mother who left an abusive marriage • She has a grade 12 education and no employment history. • Was referred for a vocational assessment which recommended employment in an office or customer service/sales environment. • JVS funded her in-house training in a Retail and Customer Service program • Collaborative efforts between JF&CS’ woman abuse team and JVS resulted in a successful work integration experience • She was able to flourish in a retail environment for 4 years. • Presently, she is taking courses to become a medical secretary.

27. Vignettes • Jacob is a 57 year old married man whose wife is dying from cancer. He has two children in university • Jacob was a musician in Russia. In Canada, while battling his depression, Jacob completed a 3 year college program and became a computer programmer. He soon realized that he did not like this occupation • He had been working as a security guard for 5 years • Jacob was provided with assistance to do skills inventory, resume and interview skills • Jacob was placed as a sales project manager within a month. Collaborative support from JF&CS hospice worker and JVS staff resulted in Jacob moving on with his life during hard times. Jacob wrote: ”Thank you very much for your time and effort, and the main thing, for reinforcing my believe in myself!”