Community Type

Medium-sized city and surrounding counties; population of approximately 1.4 million.

Geographic Region

Midwest

Overview

Since 1930, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana, Inc. has been helping people in Indianapolis and surrounding counties prepare for, find and maintain employment. Like the 208 other Goodwills in the U.S. and Canada, it operates as a community-based, autonomous organization. Its funding comes primarily from the sale of goods in its stores, as well as some funding from federal and local grants and foundations.

Goodwill’s strong funding base supports comprehensive education and job training programs for adults and youth. These include adult basic education, GED examination preparation, English literacy services, pre-employment training, basic computer skills training, industry-specific job training, job placement assistance, and employment support for people with disabilities. Programs are offered throughout central Indiana including Goodwill’s seven offices, the Marion County WorkOne Centers, businesses, community-based organizations, the Goodwill Youth Learning Center, and two recently opened charter high schools.

Partnership Highlights

From its 20-year relationship with Indianapolis Public Schools to serving as part of the Marion County WorkOne consortium, Goodwill has extensive partnerships that make it possible to provide services to individuals who are unemployed, underemployed or lack job skills. To address their needs, Goodwill works with a number of local businesses including Clarian Health Partners, a consolidation of three local hospitals that together make one of the largest health care providers in the country.

Career Connections

The partnership between Goodwill and Clarian began with two programs that provided intensive training in job skills and interpersonal skills leading to entry-level employment with Clarian. Those early programs have evolved into a workplace-based career learning center called Career Connections that will open in the summer of 2005 and is designed to assist prospective and current Clarian employees at every stage of their careers. Building upon the assets, expertise, missions, and values of both Goodwill and Clarian, Career Connections is comprised of five primary services:

• Web Portal – The Career Connections web portal offers health care industry job titles, in-depth job descriptions, information on career paths and employment projections, training and education opportunities, links to training providers, and basic self-assessment tools. Prospective employees also can enroll with the center via the portal.
  
  
• Career Learning Center – The Career Learning Center, located on the Clarian campus, welcomes referrals from Goodwill programs, community centers, One-Stops, and other community service organizations. Walk-ins and referrals can access programs led by Clarian and Goodwill staff focusing on career awareness, career counseling, GED preparation, English as a second language, life skills classes, computer classes and many others.
  
  
• Health Careers Connection – An entry point for individuals who wish to begin careers in healthcare, Health Careers Connection links job-seekers with local healthcare providers in fields ranging from environmental services to food services to clerical fields.
  
  
• Job Retention – For those employed by Clarian, Goodwill provides retention and support services. One-on-one job coaching and mentoring is also available through Clarian’s career advancement program, Career Quest®.
  
  
• Working Toward Advancement – Through Career Quest®, individuals who demonstrate potential, interest, and a commitment to advancement have access to tuition reimbursement when they enroll at accredited colleges and universities. They also can access a training fund for education needed to prepare them for college.
  
  

With each of these five primary services, Career Connections case managers and career counselors help individuals identify their education and career goals.

The early and current programs supported by the partnership between Goodwill and Clarian have been very successful in helping populations with education and employment needs get their foot in the door of a high-growth job industry—healthcare. Both organizations refer clients to one another. Goodwill attributes the strength of the relationship to similar philosophies: both are nonprofits and yet have business driven values; both believe in technology and advancement; and both view their staff as assets.

Supplemental Materials

• Clarian Career Center, http://www.clarian.org/clarianjobs/index.jsp