Programs

Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay provides workforce development services, including transitional employment, job readiness training, and placement services to people facing barriers to employment in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano Counties.

During 2009, we served 3,123 individuals and families and placed 506 directly into competitive jobs. Many Goodwill participants face multiple challenges such as a lack of work history, limited education and language skills, a history of incarceration, multi-generational poverty, chronic homelessness, and disabilities. Goodwill operates a number of programs tailored to meet the specific needs of those facing difficult challenges:

• Calidad Industries, an affiliated nonprofit of Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay, provides vocational training and job placement to persons living with severe physical, emotional, and psychological disabilities.  Calidad participants work at one of our current federal work sites.
• Our Goodwill Academy provides paid work experience, classroom instruction, life skills training, and individualized services to those with little or no job experience. Participants also learn job-specific skills in retail sales, merchandising, customer service, material processing, and truck driving.
• The Work Experience Programs we offer in Contra Costa and Solano Counties provide job training and placement services to those transitioning from public assistance.  The program provides training, placement, and case management services to ensure that participants can develop the skills they need to success in today’s competitive work environment.  Support services help ensure that participants can address other challenges they face in addition to their employment barriers.
• Our Homeless Services Program works specifically with individuals and families facing homelessness and the multitude of related challenges. This program offers employment and comprehensive support services to homeless people in Alameda County.
• Goodwill’s Solano County Job Services Program provides job readiness, search, and placement assistance.  The program also provides support services, including a clothing closet that provides interview clothing to those in need seeking employment.

Read some of the success stories of our program participants. Also, to learn more about our programs and locate one of our vocational and job centers, please Contact Us.