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RV Chamber & Halifax County Department of Social
Services
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Partnership between the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Halifax County Department of Social Services was created on April 1, 1998 with the purpose of using the Chamber’s solid standing in the business community to generate jobs for Work First participants through the Work First Coordinator position. |
| Focus is to identify employers who are willing to provide opportunities for Work First participants and to remain employer-responsive by meeting the labor needs of businesses. | |
Received the Special Projects Outstanding Regional Chamber Award from the Governor’s Work First Business Council on December 14, 1998. Has developed more than 16,000 job referrals, providing the means for 1,788 Work Firstparticipants to become employed and move toward self-sufficiency (through June ‘03). |
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Exceeded state goal of Putting Adults to Work for Halifax County by almost 100 placements – NC goal for Halifax = 370, Halifax County actual placements = 467 (from July 2000 through June 2001) |
| Has assisted DSS case managers in keeping Work First clients
retained in employment 6 months after their initial hire, surpassing
the state goal of 60% with the lowest month’s percentage
being 65%.
Has assisted Work First case managers in working with more than the state mandated number of clients (75%) in employment services, with the lowest month’s percentage being 82% Has assisted Work First case managers in maintaining an average retention rate for Work First clients of 93%, which is 8% more than the state goal. |
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The Work First Coordinator Develops jobs via several methods – Employment Security
Commission website, newspapers, help wanted signs,
business visits |
| Has created new innovation in response to employer needs, the mini-job fair – Get employer qualifications for employees, pre-screen Work First participants to make sure they fit requirements, set up day and times for applications and/or interviews, and schedule clients |  |
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Hosts annual Job Fair – work with committee, recruit
businesses, and plan/execute logistics
Serves as business liaison to the Department of Social Services
by bringing employer needs to the table – additional
training needed in order for Work First participants to obtain
entry-level positions, hiring methods, tax credits, etc. |
| Serves as a DSS liaison to the business community by understanding the needs and challenges of DSS and our Work First participants and communicate that message appropriately to the business community to see how we can work together to overcome the challenges in order to have successful employees |  |
| Follows up on job referrals – once a week check to make sure Work First participants have pursued the job leads given to them, and if they have not, try to find out why |
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Employer Benefits Ready pool of applicants -
The Department of Social Services has a large pool of Work
First clients who are in need of employment opportunities
in order to become self-sufficient. |
Easy job referral method Just fax or call in your job referral to Christina Gordon, Work First Coordinator, at the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce, and she will locate interested and qualified Work First clients. |
Pre-screening of applicants If you indicate on a job referral that you must hire someone
with prior experience in your particular business, then the
Work First case managers will only refer clients who meet
that criteria. |
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Mini-job fairs At your request your Work First Coordinator will set up
a day for you to take applications from and interview
Work First
clients. Given a week’s notice, a list of potential,
pre-screened applicants will be formulated and given
to the employer before the interview date. |
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Tax credits There are federal tax credits available for employers who hire
new employees from groups which have historically had difficulty
in finding employment, including Work First clients. |
On-the-Job Training (OJT) OJT assistance is available through the local Job Training
Partnership Act (JTPA) and can reimburse you for up to 50%
of wages paid to welfare recipients for a period not to exceed
499 hours of training. |
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