Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut serves people with disabilities, economic disadvantages, and other barriers to employment throughout western Connecticut. Our mission is to help people achieve independence and self-sufficiency through employment and related support services.

Description:
Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut is a multi-functional organization serving thousands of people with disabilities and special needs. We do this by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge required to develop a lifetime career.

Employment Services

,,» Vocational Assessment
This program helps people assess their vocational aptitudes, interests and academic skills to give them the information they need to choose a career plan.

,,» Job Seeking and Retention Skills
This program focuses on employers¡¦ requirements and includes comprehensive instruction on finding and keeping employment.

,,» Job Coaching and Support
Job coaching and on-the-job support services are provided if someone needs extra support to learn and keep a job. These services may include travel training, supported employment in Goodwill¡¥s Industrial Contracts Department, development of accommodations and assistance with social integration into the work place.

,,» Occupational Skills Training
Occupational skills training programs are based on community need and include classroom instruction as well as on site experience. Training is offered in office skills, retail operations, nurse¡¦s aide and computer repair.

,,» Job Placement
The job seeker and an employment specialist create a job placement plan and search for employment. Staff provides follow-up services to ensure that both the employee and the employer are satisfied.

,,» Workforce Development
Goodwill partners with The Workplace and Workforce Connection to provide vocational evaluation, training, job-seeking skills and placement for welfare recipients.

,,» Young Adult Services
Transition: Life after High School services help high school students explore their personal employment interests and needs by working at various jobs available at at Goodwill and throughout the community. Goodwill facilitates the transition to employment and adult services.

,,» Retail Program
Goodwill Stores are retail training facilities that provide employment and career advancement opportunities to people with disabilities and other special needs. The training process includes individual career counseling, case management and placement assistance. Revenues generated by Goodwill stores fund community-based job training and job placement programs. Goodwill training program graduates help to fill the needs of various employers within the community. They become taxpayers rather than tax recipients. As a result, individuals are empowered, businesses prosper and local economies grow stronger.

,,» Industrial Contracts
Goodwill Industries Industrial Contracts Department has been serving local and national businesses as well as government agencies for over 30 years. We bid for work from businesses of all sizes, providing them with a competitive edge when working to reduce production costs. With over 18,000 square feet of industrial contract space, we are able to accommodate any need. The unique benefit to working with Goodwill is knowing that the work outsourced to us is providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other special needs. Our versatile capabilities include but are not limited to packaging, assembly and mailing.



Support Services

,,» Community Experience
Goodwill¡¦s Community Experience Program, sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation, provides the opportunity for community-based activities and individual choice for people with severe disabilities. The program includes community outings, crafts, volunteer activities, cooking, exercising and gardening.

,,» Residential Programs
The Wahlstrom Goodwill Residence is a modern 28-unit facility for individuals with special needs who seek living accommodations in a supportive environment. Helms Housing provides 12 units of affordable housing for moderate income families.

,,» Acquired Brain Injury
The Acquired Brain Injury program provides a comprehensive array of non-medical employment and community living support services to individuals who have sustained a brain injury. In addition to providing ABI program services, Goodwill links the consumer with medical and social resources in the community. This program, which started in November of 1999, has become the largest ABI program of its kind in the State of Connecticut.

History:
Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut
Over 50 Years of Service to the Local Community

In 1951, the Rev. Joseph Pouliot organized Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut at the Christian Union on Main Street in Bridgeport. In 1969, Goodwill merged with the Sheltered Workshop and moved to its present barrier-free building on Ocean Terrace. A residential facility complete with kitchen, cafeteria, recreation room and community room was added in 1971. In the years that followed, Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut expanded into a multifaceted agency serving hundreds of individuals each year.

Helms Housing, Inc., named after the founder of Goodwill Industries, was established in 1989 as a separate corporation to fulfill the mission of providing affordable housing and rental opportunities for people with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged. The State of Connecticut granted the corporation the funding to build 12 units of affordable housing on Goodwill¡¦s existing property in Bridgeport. In October 1991, the first tenant moved in.

Today, in addition to the corporate office in Bridgeport, Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut operates 10 stores and has offices in Stamford, Bethel and Waterbury. Existing employment and support programs are growing and new services are developing. All of these services help people with disabilities and those trapped in the cycles of welfare dependency experience the joy of earning a paycheck and achieving the dignity of independence and self-sufficiency.

The supported employment program is moving into the community with small groups of Goodwill workers who perform cleaning and landscaping services. The individuals participating gain valuable job skills and experience preparing for competitive employment

Workforce Development programs offer training and job placement to those transitioning from welfare to work. Programs operate locally in Norwalk, Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford and Waterbury.
Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut is a qualified provider of supported living services for individuals with mental retardation and in February of 2000, became a qualified provider for the ABI Medicaid Waiver Program. This new Acquired Brain Injury program, which has become the largest ABI program of its kind in Connecticut, provides a comprehensive array of non-medical, employment and community living support services to people who have sustained a brain injury.
Currently, Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut is committed to expanding programs and creating new services which will reach more people, meet more needs and touch more lives

Contact people:

Dorothy Viets, Director of Community Relations, (phone), (email) Stephanie White, Executive Assistant, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: 203-335-9326

Address:

165 Ocean Terrace Bridgeport, CT 06605 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.goodwillwct.org

Directions:

From I-95 SouthTaske exit 25, Fairfield Avenue. Make a left at the light onto Fairfield Avenue. At the light between Liberty Motors and the Post Office(on left), take a left onto Wordin Avenue. Take the first right onto Ocean Terrace.. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: Front of Building

Miscellaneous Information

Is this opportunity appropriate for youth ages 12-17?
	Yes
Does this program receive United Way funding?
	No