Columbus Dispatch: Compassion, Collaboration Link People in Need with Training, Jobs

LaToya Williams’ life changed in 2003 when her husband, Tom, was declared fully disabled. He had an enlarged heart and was seriously ill. He had to stop working and providing for his family. They lived on Tom’s disability check, less than $1,000 a month.

LaToya had to quit her job as a social worker and work odd-end jobs to help take care of her husband and three young boys.

“I just said, ‘Oh, no, I am not taking my three sons and a disabled husband and find a bed every night,’” she told Columbus Dispatch reporter Lucas Sullivan. “So I did what I had to do.”

That is until she saw a flier for the Career Bridges program at Godman Guild.

Godman Guild, a nonprofit organization, and OhioHealth partnered together and formed the career program striving to get people into a career from a respectable employer. Those who complete the demanding nine-week program are guaranteed a job.

Godman Guild worked directly with Kurt Olson, OhioHealth vice president of talent, when building the program. OhioHealth offered jobs in patient support or environmental support to the graduates with opportunities for growth after one year of employment.

In September 2017, LaToya was one of eight people to graduate from the Career Bridges program. Three hours later, she got a call from OhioHealth with a job offer in patient support. Now, LaToya monitors patients almost full time with plans to apply for an OhioHealth job in the future that matches her social-work background.

To learn more about the Career Bridges program, click here.

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