We all know Goodwill as the ubiquitous thrift stores, in which you can find affordable, new-to-you clothes and home goods. Did you know that Goodwill’s sales revenue funds a comprehensive suite of services for anyone seeking a job, helping individuals with job training and employment as well as connecting individuals to comprehensive, coordinated wrap-around services? (In 2022, more than 18,600 people were served through Goodwill’s programs)
Based on developing this unique knowledge and career coaching skills over decades, Goodwill of Greater Cleveland now offers service for employers who are looking to provide more customized, intensive support for their employees than a typical Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is able to provide. The program, called Prosperity at Work, is focused on aiding individuals who are in a stable job but need additional assistance in managing their lives in order to maintain success on-the-job.
Mark Trew, the Chief Operating Officer of our Goodwill of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, recently provided more information to us below:
- What are the goals of Prosperity at Work?
Goodwill’s Prosperity at Work program is focused on providing employees, an organization’s greatest asset, with the necessary support to not only be successful at work, but at home as well. Today, more than ever, workers are challenged by social barriers that make workplace success difficult to achieve. Prosperity at Work is focused on helping workers by providing financial wellness, case management services, job coaching, and community support navigation, with the goal of helping the employee overcome workplace barriers and maintain employment.
In addition to our goal of helping employees through providing wrap-around supportive services, the other goal of Goodwill’s Prosperity at Work program is to help improve retention for employers. The support provided by the program allows employees to address the challenges they are facing with a dedicated ally with their Goodwill case manager, helping them to maintain employment.
- Tell us why you are good at implementing this program? What past or current work do you already do which makes this something you are really good at?
Goodwill was founded more than 100 years ago with the goal of helping people experience the power of work. Providing workforce training, employment, and supportive services is at the heart of our mission. Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio’s non-profit social enterprise utilizes material donations from the community that are sold in our 26 retail store locations in Greater Cleveland to support 30 mission programs in our community.
The mission programs include an array of workforce development and family strengthening programs aimed at improving our community. Goodwill has operated a program like Prosperity at Work called Good Partner that provides these same wrap-around supports and services to our 700 employees across Northeast Ohio. Prosperity at Work is the next evolution of Goodwill’s workforce programming, taking the experience we have of providing these supports to our own team members and partnering with employers in our community to provide those same services.
- Why did you come up with this program?
This program was developed in response to the needs of employers we have worked with in the community. In recent years, employers have become more aware of the challenges their workforce is facing. Issues with reliable transportation, affordable housing, financial wellness, childcare access, mental health, and substance use disorders are among the top challenges employers report seeing in their workforce. Oftentimes, while employers care and want to support their employees, they don’t possess the internal expertise or resources to provide these supports. Goodwill has been working in this space for a long time and has been providing these same supports to our team members. Prosperity at Work puts that expertise to work, giving employers an experienced third party to work with their employees to provide support when needed.
- Do you have any stories about a successful employee or employer?
There have been many success stories of employees receiving vital support that helps them to maintain employment by working to remove barriers.
As an example, one individual who accessed the program was a female employee who was the victim of domestic violence. The employee needed to leave her current living situation but was having trouble finding affordable housing on a single income that maintained a reasonable proximity to work and allowed her children to remain in their current school district. Goodwill’s case manager worked alongside the employee to provide resources, explore options, and develop a plan that allowed this person to maintain their employment while ensuring stability for her family during a very difficult time in her life.
Stories like this demonstrate the importance of programs like Prosperity at Work and the impact the program has on a person personally and professionally.
- If an employer wanted to learn more, who/how do they contact you?
Goodwill is interested in partnering with more employers to see how this impactful program can benefit their workforce. To connect and learn more, email us at missions@goodwillgoodskills.org. You can also read more here.