January 22, 2016

by: Emily Hastings

Job Training Classes

UCP of Greater Cleveland is currently offering four classes for our Organizational Employment** (OE) clients that will help them identify their best path to employment, with the goal of furthering their productivity, independence and inclusion in the community.

1. Career Exploration

• This curriculum was developed by our Activities and Training Manager Amy Vedova and inspired by the Employment First initiative.
• This is a two-month course designed for clients who have the desire to work in the community, but who need help discovering what type of job they want. This class helps them determine their interests and identify possible career paths.
• The ultimate goal of this class is for the client to have a couple ideas about what type of work he or she would like to do, and a starting point of how to get there.
• The clients participate in small groups to discuss their likes and interests, which often helps to spark new job ideas. They also have homework after each class that goes along with that week’s topic.
• Once a client identifies a possible career path, the UCP staff help them determine the steps they would have to take to obtain that job, and the hard and soft job skills they would need for that specific career.
• The curriculum is customized and individualized to each client’s needs and interests. For example, a couple of clients showed interest in becoming chefs, so they took a field trip to the Tri-C Hospitality Management Center to see first-hand what that career entails.

2. Skills to Pay the Bills

• This curriculum was put together by the United States Department of Labor.
• During this class, a trained UCP of Greater Cleveland staff member provides instruction on soft skills for employment such as communication, enthusiasm and attitude, teamwork, problem solving and critical thinking, and professionalism
• The only portion of the pre-designed curriculum that UCP does not cover is networking.
• To find out more about this curriculum, click here: www.dol.gov/dol/media/webcast/20121015-softskills

3. “Next Generation Personal Finance” Budgeting Class

• This course is about understanding how to budget money.
• It is taught using a web-based program called Guru.
• Clients watch videos on various topics, then participate in activities as a group.
• Each class covers topics such as:
  • Alternative ways of managing money for people who can’t physically write (i.e. getting text messages every time something is taken out of the person’s bank account)
  • Balancing a checkbook
  • Prioritizing what should be paid first; for example,  a person should make sure to pay his or her mortgage before paying the cable bill

4. Job Club

• The overall purpose of Job Club is to prepare individuals who are planning to enter into the workforce.
• This group meets weekly to discuss career exploration, career advancement and techniques for job searching.
• The clients focus on the reality of working in a job setting, which can include problem solving skills to maintain employment, and building self-motivation and self-esteem
• Job Club also provides support for clients to actively network with others who are currently employed.

**UCP of Greater Cleveland’s Organizational Employment Program is designed to foster personal financial independence for adults with moderate to severe disabilities. Individuals are encouraged to accept vocational and social challenges within an integrated setting with the least restrictions possible. UCP’s Wolstein Center houses an on-site workshop and computer lab to offer individuals the opportunity to learn and practice work skills with necessary supports.

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