The mission of Goodwill Industries of the Columbia is to “Change lives through the power of work”.
To achieve this goal, Goodwill staff meet with program participants to determine skills, interests and previous work experience to ensure that the employment outcome meets the specific needs of the individual. While it is Goodwill’s vision to see every person served employed, making sure that the right services are provided is a key ingredient to each individual’s employment success.
Goodwill provides a full array of services from facility-based training to community-based employment.
Each type of service is geared to meet the specific need of the person served.
In the Tri-Cities, Goodwill Industries is one of the largest providers of job training and employment services for individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Goodwill provides three types of training programs:
PROGRAM SERVICES (FACILITY-BASED SERVICES)
This is a training program for individuals with significant disabilities. Program participants receive job-skills training at a Goodwill retail store, working side by side with retail and production employees under the supervision of Program Services training staff. Each person who receives services has an individual plan to measure progress and development leading toward attaining the skills necessary to obtain community employment.
GROUP SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
This transitional community-based training program provides support for individuals with disabilities (more than three, but less than eight) that perform contracted work under the supervision of a skills trainer. This program is for individuals who have mastered the skills necessary to “graduate” from a Goodwill work environment and transition to a more structured community work environment. Goodwill provides Group Supported Employment training in both custodial and housekeeping services.
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
This program provides opportunities for individuals who are job-ready and eager to go to work. Individuals enrolled for community employment are assigned a Case Manager and an Employment Specialist. Depending upon the referring agency, individuals may also be eligible to participate in Employment Bound! a motivational job preparation workshop; receive personalized on-site job coaching, retention, and long-term follow-along services.
Goodwill Industries provides services on a referral basis working with the following Federal, State and County agencies:
- Social Security Administration
- Washington State Department of Commerce
- Department of Social and Health Services, Kennewick Community Service Office
- Department of Labor and Industries
- Division of Developmental Disabilities
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Division of Services for the Blind
- Benton County Department of Human Services
For information regarding Goodwill’s employment services, please call (509)735-0400.
In the Wenatchee Valley, Goodwill Industries is one of the largest providers of employment-training services for individuals with disabilities in Chelan and Douglas Counties.
Goodwill provides facility-based training services for individuals with disabilities. Program participants receive job-skills training at a Goodwill retail store, working side by side with retail and production employees under the supervision of Program Services training staff. Each participant receiving services has an individual plan to measure progress and development leading toward attaining the skills necessary to move to community employment.
Goodwill Industries provides services on a referral basis working with the following County and State agencies:
- Chelan/Douglas Developmental Disabilities Services
- Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
For information regarding Goodwill’s employment-training services in Wenatchee, call us toll-free at (877) 735-7238.
Goodwill Industries provides employment-training services for individuals with disabilities in Walla Walla.
Goodwill provides facility-based training services for individuals with disabilities. Program participants receive job-skills training at a Goodwill retail store, working side by side with retail and production employees under the supervision of Program Services training staff. Each participant receiving services has an individual plan to measure progress and development leading toward attaining the skills necessary to move to community employment.
Goodwill Industries provides services on a referral basis working with the following County and State agencies:
- Walla Walla County Department of Human Services
- Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
For information regarding Goodwill’s employment-training services in Walla Walla, call us toll-free at (877) 735-7238.
Founded in 1966 as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services organizations.
The CARF family of organizations currently accredits close to 47,000 programs and services at more than 20,000 locations on five continents. More than 8.3 million persons of all ages are served annually by more than 6,000 CARF- accredited providers.
CARF accreditation extends to 17 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The highest level of accreditation is a three-year certification. Goodwill Industries of the Columbia has received continuous three-year certifications in Community Employment Services since 1987.
Goodwill Industries of the Columbia is partnering with Nationally Accredited Veteran Benefit Writers to assist veterans in obtaining service-connected:
- Disability benefits
- Pension benefits
- Copies of DD-214 and archive records
- Enrollment in VA health care
- Referrals for counseling services for combat veterans and their families
- Housing
- Education benefits
- Burial and memorial benefits
- Aid and Attendance (nursing home benefits)
- Veteran employment.
Numerous benefit and educational programs provided by federal, state, and local governments are available to veterans who have served our great nation. We are here to help veterans access services to obtain benefits, counseling, housing, and employment.
If you are looking to receive any assistance in accessing services, please contact us, call (509) 460-4703, or visit our Kennewick location at 2618 W. Kennewick Ave. to schedule an appointment.
HELPFUL LINKS
American Legion Post 4, Kennewick
American Legion, Post 34, Pasco
B.P.O. Elks Lodge 2755, Tri-Cities
Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
Generations of Warriors Project
Guardians of Freedom Project
Habitat for Humanity Tri-Cities
Supportive Services for Veterans and Families-Catholic Families and Child Services
Veteran Foreign Wars Post 3207-Prosser
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7592-Richland
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA)
Columbia Basin Veteran Coalition
Goodwill’s Employment Connection Center is a free, walk-in job search assistance program helping job-seekers create resumes, prepare for interviews, and provides access to community resources and information. We are open for virtual services!
Call us now so we can pandemic-proof your resume! Let’s help you stand out as a strong candidate.
For more information about Goodwill’s Employment Connection Center, call/text (509) 374-7923 for Pasco services, call/text (541) 656-7116 for Hermiston services, or email us at ecc@goodwillotc.org.
Begin your journey to a well-paying career in tech! Contact Goodwill Industries of the Columbia to enroll in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate Program. Full scholarships are available!
Need to brush up on your Computer skills? We can help with that too. Free, online classes are available to teach you skills within the Microsoft Office Suite.
Call/text us at (509) 212-7463 or email our Google Instructor at agutierrez@goodwillotc.org today!
If you have a documented disability, you may qualify for services. A Goodwill associate can help you apply for services with DVR, DSB, or DDA. If you have worked with these agencies in the past, Goodwill can help you navigate the process.
Email us for more info! jgreenough@goodwillotc.org or vclark@goodwillotc.org
If you are a parent with children under the age of 18 and currently receiving TANF, you may be eligible for a variety of job training and placement supports at Goodwill. Talk with your DSHS worker for more information about a referral.
Want to speak to a Goodwill representative on this? Call us at (509) 735-0400 and leave us a message, or email hpeterson@goodwillotc.org