Workforce Readiness
Joann McCarty, PHR

The EVHRA Workforce Readiness initiative is designed to help us as strategic business partners in attracting and retaining the talent necessary to grow our organizations -- a topic near to our hearts, if not our wallets. Many of us have encountered those tough-to-fill positions inspiring creative sourcing/staffing approaches. Remember that time you worked a job fair or begged current employees for referrals in search of the ideal applicant with the appropriate skill set and background? Well, not to add one more reason for a sleepless night, but … the workforce for the next 20 years has already been born and is estimated at a 30 million person deficit. Can we afford to lose even one?

Facing the predicted shortage, it becomes clear quickly that traditional recruiting sources are not enough. Below are some resources that help reach people who can be good long term fits for our organizations. If you know of others, please email them to me at jmccartyp1@hotmail.com

Maricopa Workforce Connections

Community centers designed to provide job seekers and employers with a variety of services, most of which are free of charge. Services include job search assistance, job leads, workshops, career libraries, fax machines and copiers, and career planning guidance. Employers can advertise job openings, recruit on-site, and obtain assistance with on-the-job training programs. The centers are also partnered with various agencies such as ASU Educational Opportunity Center, Rio Salado Community College, Maricopa County Human Services Dept, and several divisions of DES, just to name a few.

http://www.maricopaworkforceconnection.com/ 

 Goodwill Career Centers

Goodwill offers eight centers across the valley and one in Yuma.  The centers  provide a full-time staff availalbe to assist and provide guidance throughout the job seach process.  Career Centers are equipped with telephone, computers, printers, internet access, fax machiness to provide services at no cost to the community.

http://www.goodwillaz.org/jobs/career-centers

 Arizona Women's Education & Employement (AWEE)

AWEE serves anyone seeking a way to support their families and themselves through work.  "Successfully investing in women, families and this community through life and careers success planning, training and support.  To date we (AWEE) have served and supported more than 60,000 individuals inthier quest to attain quality jobs that create positive changes and successful beginnings for themselves and their families."

http://www.awee.org/

 Fresh Start Women's Foundation

"Fresh Start is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women help themselves.  We do that through the work fothe Jewll McFarland Lewis-Fresh Start Women's Resource Center." 

http://www.wehelpwomen.com/

Tetra ServicesA part of Beacon group, "Tetra Services works with individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment to promote independence, remove barries, obtain and maintain employement, and increase self-sufficiency."

http://www.tetraservices.org

Junior Achievement (JA)

"JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experientail, hands-on programs." 

http://www.ja.org/

Televerde Outplacement Program Services

The program is designed to facilitate a holistic approach to reintegration with a focus on professional employment and reduction in recidivism. By volunteering for this program, you will support the women in their successful transition by sharing insight and knowledge on a topic you may touch or teach daily. A few hours of your time and expertise can help impact the lives of women preparing to reintegrate back into our communities.

Many of you have had the rewarding experience of volunteering with the TOPS (Televerde Outplacement Program Services). Those who chose to volunteer, whether it was an hour, two hours, or a day, provided invaluable skills, hope, and inspiration to the incarcerated community. Your wealth of knowledge, work experience, and wisdom are incredibly valued and are truly one of thier programs greatest assets! Every month, volunteers play a key role by mobilizing these women in hopes of a better, healthier, and productive way of living. 

TOPS offers two 6-month sessions annually

2010 Saturday Workshops

Please contact Rebecca Morgan, at rebecca.morgan@televerde.com to register for a date & topic for which you would like to come and share your insight.