Job Skills Training & Employment Assistance

General-Right-Side

"We provide better prepared, better qualified candidates for our employers!"

Rick Wegmann, Executive Director, Miami Valley Works

Building a Model for Success

Miami Valley Works' model is a four step process.

Step 1: Job Readiness Training

Members are required to attend the five-day Job Readiness Workshop. Topics include:

  • Completing Job Applications
  • Attitude
  • Work Ethic
  • Business Etiquette
  • Values
  • Self-Confidence
  • Problem Solving
  • Employer Expectations
  • Breaking Down Obstacles
  • Budgeting
  • Interviewing


Step 2: Job Search

Members work one-on-one with an Employment Coach to develop a job search plan, access Star Employers, utilize our computer lab and resources, and obtain interview feedback.

Step 3: Job Retention

Regular contact for at least one year with Member and Employer to help ensure employment retention. Re-employment services are provided following job loss.

Step 4: Job Advancement

Once the Member retains the same job for one year, staff assists with a plan to improve a skill or behavior or to develop educational strategies to increase marketability and earning power.

Breaking Down Obstacles

For our Members, the ineffective breaking down of obstacles is a major impediment to employment retention. The Miami Valley Works approach offers support services to help Members successfully manage these obstacles and include:

  • Legal Advocacy
  • Behavioral Counseling (mental health)
  • Chaplain Services (like a hospital or airport chaplain)
  • Childcare Resources
  • Transportation
  • Educational/Advancement Resources
  • Interview and Work Clothing
  • Lifetime Membership
  • Financial/Budget Counseling


A Miami Valley Works Membership is a free, lifetime Membership as long as a person is working or looking for work. Moving from poverty to self-sufficiency is a process which often requires years to achieve and many obstacles to overcome.

Member Demographics

To keep our program and services current and relevant to our Members, Miami Valley Works compiles background data on each Member. However, since our program started in May, 2015, we're in the process of collecting statistically significant metrics.  However, we included a profile of Cincinnati Works Membership demographics below. For more detailed information, please contact Mr. Rick Wegmann, Executive Director at 937.528.6484.

Cincinnati Works metrics over a twenty year period:   82% of Members have a high school diploma or GED.  67% of Members have children. 60% of Members suffer from depression and/or anxiety. 72% of Members rely upon public transportation. 10% of Members have a felony conviction. 

Employment Stabilization

The needs of our Employers are a strong emphasis in our curriculum, and Job Advancement is structured on improving a skill or behavior or on gaining educational credentials in order to be more marketable to Employers. The overriding purpose of the Job Readiness/Retention program is employment stabilization â€“ retaining a job for at least one year.

The purpose of the Job Advancement Services is to assist Members in becoming self-sufficient.  We define self-sufficiency wages above 200% of federal poverty guidelines and reduced government assistance.   The Advancement process takes from five to seven years.

Staffing

Miami Valley Works' staff is comprised of Employment Coaches, Advancement Specialist, Clinical Social Worker, Skills Facility Trainer, Chaplain and administrative support personnel.  We have many volunteers including members of our Leadership Council and Business Executives who assist the program by providing mock interview support.

Leadership Council

Miami Valley Works has an outstanding group of Community Leaders, comprised of Business Executives, Non-Profit executives, Government officials and Community Volunteers that provide advice and counsel to the Executive Director and the Miami Valley Works program.   The Leadership Council, co-chaired by Mr. Norm Eckstein of Brower Insurance and Mr. Vince Corrado, retired CEO of Shook Construction, meets periodically to support the program in recruiting Star Employers and assisting in development. 

If you are interested in finding out more about the Leadership Council or Miami Valley Works, please contact Mr. Rick Wegmann, Executive Director at 937.528.6484.