Thursday, January 15, 2015

Jewish Vocational Service seeks employers for internships




SOUTHFIELD – Detroit companies are being sought to provide internships as part of an initiative of the Jewish Vocational Service to help people with disabilities develop work skills and find jobs.
The Pathways to Careers (Pathways) initiative covers the costs of the internship wages for participants.
“Through the Pathways program, our focus is on maximizing the likelihood of a good job fit,” said Bill Hielscher, JVS employer relations specialist. “The program provides resources and incentives for employers, and interns receive support from JVS to help ensure success.”
Pathways participants will undergo a discovery process to identify their skills, interests, and abilities. Individuals will then be matched with an employer for an 8-12 week internship at no cost to the employer.
“Becoming a Pathways employer is an exciting opportunity for local companies to meet their business needs while helping to shape a better future for individuals with disabilities,” said Hielscher. “Permanent employment is the ultimate goal, and Pathways offers a great way match interns to potential employment opportunities and make sure it’s a good fit for everyone.”
Employers interested in serving as internship sites may call Bill Hielscher at (248) 795-8943 or email him at bhielscher@jvsdet.org.
Jerry Wolffe is the writer-in-residence, advocate-at-large at the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center. He can be reached at (586) 263-8950.