Our Programs & Services
Goodwill Industries of Hampton Roads, Inc. offers a variety of comprehensive programs and services that provide training, case management and job opportunities for people with disabilities and other obstacles to employment.
- Computer Edge - Training is offered through an individualized self-paced program or through group training, and can focus on computer skills, job seeking skills training, and job placement assistance.
- Direct Job Placement Services - These services are available to assist persons who are unemployed or under-employed in obtaining and maintaining competitive employment. Persons who complete situational assessment, work adjustment training, or a skills training program offered by GIHR, and who are recommended for competitive employment receive a higher level of staff intervention in the job search process, and support. This also applies to persons who desire to move from extended employment, and have the skills to work in a community job without staff support. Other individuals can receive job search assistance through Employment Support Services.
- Extended Employment Services - This program provides employment with a case management component for persons with disabilities who have demonstrated motivation to work, but who are unable to meet the demands of working in competitive industry. These persons may be unable to consistently produce at competitive levels due to slow work speed, difficulty handling stress, severe physical limitations, difficulty handling multiple tasks, etc. This program is designed to address the following areas:
1. To provide extended employment for persons with severe disabilities.
2. To use work to further determine job skills, work habits, physical and emotional tolerance.
3. To help prepare persons for placement in competitive employment.
- Information & Referral - This support links people in need to available regional services. We collect and maintain information on other human service organizations, each offering different services that may be able to provide assistance.
- School-to-Work Transition Program - This program provides community based educational services to students with special needs between the ages of 16 and 21 who have difficulty participating in traditional school based programs. This program serves as a bridge between the school and the world of work. Students are transported from their home school to Goodwill, and generally spend 2 to 3 hours at Goodwill.
- Situational Assessment (SA) - Situational Assessment is a three to twelve day evaluation designed to determine whether a person has the skills and the physical capacity to perform certain types of jobs. The person is placed in a designated work environment at Goodwill or in another business in the community. The person is evaluated based on his/her ability to actually perform the various tasks associated with the job. This program is generally used for persons who may have a considerable work history in a particular area but have not worked for a significant period of time. It is also used for persons who have expressed an interest in training or employment but lack an understanding regarding all components for the job. This program is also beneficial for persons with physical limitations, or those who have the need to explore several vocational options. It is like a job tryout.
- Supported Employment Services - This is the term for job placement, training and ongoing follow along services. The Employment Specialist (Job Coach) searches for the appropriate job for a person with a severe disability. Services generally include bus training, completion of a job analysis and a task analysis, securing employment, "hands-on" training by the Employment Specialist in a community business, and ongoing follow along services, generally 5 hours a month to make sure that the person maintains his job. Follow along services involve monitoring the person's home environment and the work environment.
- Transitional Employment Services - This is the term for job placement and training. "Hands on" training is provided by an Employment Specialist (Job Coach) in a job at a community business to a person with a severe disability. After the completion of training, the Employment Specialist can monitor the job placement for up to 60 days.
- Work Adjustment Training (WAT) - This is a short-term individualized assessment program designed to increase the potential for individuals with barriers to become employed or to handle the demands of a skill-training program. The purpose of WAT is to encourage productivity, and to develop appropriate work behaviors by building physical and emotional tolerance for work, by exposure to the everyday demands of work, and by providing current labor market information.
