Vocational Guidance Services

Results: https://vgsjob.org/2020-2021-annual-report/

Target demographics: Together we can help Ohioans with disabilities through job training, job placement, and supportive services that lead to economic self-sufficiency. Your one-time or recurring gift will have a direct impact on our ability to provide work opportunities and essential skills-training services for the thousands VGS serves each year.

Direct beneficiaries per year: Throughout our 131-year history, we have been steadfast in championing and supporting individuals with disabilities. Over this past year, the need for support has been more critical and urgent than ever before. Our reach in 2020 was limited by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we are proud to have served over 800 individuals with disabilities across 24 Ohio counties.

Geographic areas served: Creating pathways for individuals with disabilities to engage in the community, achieve greater independence, and attain employment.

Programs: During 2016, vocational guidance services (vgs) and its affiliates vgs, inc. And vocational services, inc. , served 3,800 unique individuals with disabilities, a history of substance abuse, economic challenges, and/or a history of incarceration. Vgs successfully placed 595 individuals into permanent jobs, 315 of whom were individuals with significant disabilities. 568 individuals were served in developmental disability programs. 1,617 individuals were able to earn money while learning appropriate workplace behaviors and acquiring employability skills. Many received hands-on experience in areas such as clerical, custodial services, customer service, textiles, food service, food packaging, forklift training, and building maintenance combined with classroom instruction. Other services included work evaluation, work adjustment, skills training, employment programs, job placement services, case management, and other specialized services. Vgs and its affiliates provided comprehensive services in 26 counties throughout the state of ohio. Vgs' top referral sources included opportunities for ohioans with disabilities, cuyahoga county board of developmental disabilities, and vocational rehabilitation public and private partnership. Other referral sources included the veterans administration and bureau of workers' compensation - manage care organizations. Vgs also parternered with a variety of other government agencies, corporations, and social service organizations that share a common goal - joining forces to provide the best possible assistance to individuals with barriers to employment, thus changing lives and strenthening the community.

vgs provided paid work experience through social enterprise ventures which included light assembly and other contract work that enabled individuals to gain basic skills employers report were lacking in many entry level employees. Vgs was able to provide paid work experience to more than 1,000 people daily. In total, vgs and its affiliates provided 835,636 hours of work experience, training, and employment opportunities to individuals which equated to 8. 2 million in wages and benefits paid to ohioans.