Videos and Reports
Workforce Development Funding in Cuyahoga County
This research, commissioned by Deaconess Foundation, is an update of the “Funding for Workforce in Cuyahoga County” produced by The Center for Community Solutions in 2021. This analysis goes beyond simply updating the information contained in the previous report to provide a more complete picture of the workforce funding landscape in Cuyahoga County. Learn More.
WorkOhio: Reach Your Full Potential
WorkOhio Connects Ohioans to personalized support and trusted job resources, no matter where they live in Ohio. WorkOhio.gov is an easy-to-use starting point for anyone looking for new job opportunities, training programs, or other resources aligned with your background, experience, and goals. Learn more.
Entry Level IT Careers in Greater Cleveland: Opportunities & Barriers for Workers without Bachelor’s Degrees
Workforce interventions for IT careers must be the right size and fit, considering both candidates and employer demand. This can look like scaling interventions to match job accessibility and designing for candidates with the skills and mindset to succeed. One important challenge affecting practitioners is insufficient feedback loops between education and industry operators. While Greater Cleveland has a strong ecosystem of computing education and training, the ability to respond at the same pace as technology poses a significant roadblock to preparing IT talent for the workforce.
This report delves into these themes, supported by insights from regional stakeholders, economic data, and a detailed Appendix.
Building & Strengthening the Direct Care Workforce
In October 2024, the AARP Foundation, developed with support from UnitedHealthcare, hosted two convenings in Greater Cleveland and Southeast Ohio to bring together community stakeholders from across the workforce and healthcare ecosystems to explore the question: How might we build and strengthen the direct care workforce? This report summarizes the convenings, including the solutions that emerged from the mini-design lab.
Driving Growth: The Economic Value of Child Care
This report, just released by EarlyMattersNeo, underscores the critical reality that the current child care system in Northeast Ohio is failing families, businesses and our economy at large. Read the full report and discover how you can support greater access to child care in your own organization or through public policy action at earlymattersneo.org. You can also read a 1 page summary of the report here.
2023 Annual Report
The Deaconess Foundation is pleased to share our 2023 Annual Report. Our theme this year is about jobs, and the difference between jobs and careers.
The mission of the Deaconess Foundation is to help those impacted by poverty build a career which sustains them and their families. We won’t stop until everyone in greater Cleveland who wants to work is able to do so and earn a sufficient wage to sustain their family. This doesn’t typically come in a first job! It’s why we believe “career pathways” are so important, and why the annual report is built around sharing our thoughts on why.
Connecting People to Workforce Training
Deaconess Foundation and the Fund for our Economic Future worked together to aggregate learnings from two different grant programs that focused on outreach strategies that connect individuals to workforce training opportunities. View the webinar, and review the report here.
Deaconess Foundation 2024-2026 Strategic Framework
Deaconess Foundation introduces its 2024 – 2026 Strategic Framework. This same information was presented live in February 2024 at the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Questions and answers to questions received at that event are also available here.
The Economic Impact of the Leisure & Hospitality Sector
in Cuyahoga County
A report on the current state of the leisure and hospitality industry, trends in the industry over the past ten years, and estimated economic impact and value of the leisure and hospitality Sector.
2022 Annual Report
On behalf of our Board of Directors and the talented, committed staff, we are pleased to share with you the 2022 Deaconess Foundation Annual Report. This report summarizes the work of the Foundation, and our incredible partners, in 2022.
As you read the report, I hope you will see evidence of the many crucial activities occurring in Greater Cleveland which enable Deaconess Foundation to make progress towards achieving its mission:
To help people in need build careers that sustain themselves and their families.
Adult Workforce Ecosystem for
Greater Cleveland/Cuyahoga County
Guide to Career Advancement Services
Our community offers many different services and supports for people building careers. It can be confusing, though, to figure out where to go for help learning new skills, solving problems that can get in the way of work, writing resumes, and connecting with jobs. These are just some of the ways Deaconess’ partners help people launch their careers. This Guide to Career Advancement Services is a great place to start in locating the right kinds of help for people who are ready to start taking steps along a career pathway. If you have comments or questions about the Guide, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Cathy Belk.
2021 Annual Report
On behalf of our Board of Trustees and the talented, committed staff, we are pleased to share with you the 2021 Deaconess Foundation Annual Report.
The theme of our Annual Report is dauntless. Given the continued rage of COVID and how it has impacted everyone’s life, to make it through the year with progress in hand required fearlessness and determination. We saw many dauntless job seekers, employers, non-profit partners, and other public and private sector stakeholders in 2021, and we celebrate you.
Funding for Workforce Development in Cuyahoga County
This research was commissioned by Deaconess Foundation and is an update and expansion of the “Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Map” produced by The Center for Community Solutions in 2017.2 Because it serves a different purpose, many more federal and state funding sources are included. This analysis goes beyond simply updating the information contained in the previous report to provide a more complete picture of the workforce funding landscape in Cuyahoga County.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio
During the pandemic, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio were busy building 12 ClubSmart Learning Centers, so kids could attend online school in a Boys & Girls Club environment. Learn more about how it helped kids and parents!
2020 Annual Report
On behalf of our Board of Trustees and the talented, committed staff, we are pleased to share with you the inaugural Deaconess Foundation Annual Report. This report summarizes the work of the Foundation, and our incredible partners, in 2020.
As you read the report, we hope you will see evidence of the many crucial activities occurring in Greater Cleveland which enable Deaconess Foundation to make progress towards achieving its mission:
To help people in need build careers that sustain themselves and their families.
Workforce Connect Case Study
Since late 2015, a small, diverse group of funders have committed themselves to transforming the outcomes of the workforce system in Cuyahoga County. That system is vast – encompassing public and non-profit education and training programs, the public, private, and philanthropic funders of such programs, company-based workforce programs, business-led nonprofits, public and non-profit agencies that provide a variety of human services and many other players. That system is fragmented and poorly understood. The members of the group – which eventually adopted the name Cuyahoga County Workforce Funders Group or WFG — have distinct priorities and motivations but share a frustration with the results of the system. They also share a common hope: Together they can catalyze changes that result in improved outcomes for both companies and residents. Download Full Report.
January, 2021
Update on the ACCESS to Manufacturing Program
The ACCESS to Manufacturing program brings manufacturers together to identify their biggest job needs and interests, and then trains individuals for those jobs. See the latest on this initiative here!
September, 2020
Congratulations to Deb Vesy
Deaconess Foundation President and CEO Deborah Vesy retired after 23 years of service in September 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were unable to give her the send-off party she deserved. Instead, we compiled a video of well wishes shared by many in the Cleveland community. Enjoy!