Wayne County Common Good Linkage Team

Wayne County Common Good Linkage Team

Formation	1995 (1995)
Type	Non-profit government organization
Purpose	To build a public employment services network with a mission to reduce the barriers to employment for their shared and chronically unemployed or underemployed clients by improving information sharing, providing access to an inter system network of needed employment assistance programs, and building working linkages with business-industry-and employers.
Services	The services provided by the members include: veterans services, disability services, mental health and addiction services, basic education and literacy, library based employment/employers information, community development, employment and training services, career development, technical skills training, and older worker services.
Leader	Robert Smedley
Board of directors	Robert Smedley, Richard Owens
Subsidiaries	Healthier Buckeye Council and Women's Empowerment Group
Affiliations	Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce, Orrville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne County Economic Development Council
Volunteers	16 various community agencies

The Wayne County Common Good Linkage Team is an informal network organization with 16 volunteer member community organizations. The Team established itself in 1995 to build a public employment services network with a mission to reduce the barriers to employment for their shared and chronically unemployed or underemployed clients by improving information sharing, providing access to an inter system network of needed employment assistance programs, and building working linkages with business-industry-and employers. The services provided by the members include: veterans services, disability services, mental health and addiction services, basic education and literacy, library based employment/employers information, community development, employment and training services, career development, technical skills training, and older worker services.

In 2004, the county commissioners of Ashland, Wayne and Holmes Counties designated the Common Good of Ashland, Wayne and Holmes Counties designated the Common Good as the (RAC) Regional Advisory Committee to the Workforce Policy Board of the Ashland, Holmes, Wayne Ohio Means Jobs One Stop Delivery System.

Since its inception, the Common Good has: developed motivational workshops and an employer, employee mentoring program; partnered with local investors in assisting with the Hope Fund; held a Lean manufacturing demonstration with the Will Burt Company in Orrville, Ohio; conducted ten community job fairs; and is currently working with the Wayne County Economic Development Council on developing workforce pipelines for local industry.

The Common Good Linkage team meets monthly. Interested service providers and members of the public are always welcome.

Agencies

Adult Basic and Literacy Education Anazao Community Partners Career Clothing Center Community Action Wayne/Medina Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties Goodwill Industries of Wayne & Holmes Counties, Inc. Hope Fund Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Ohio State University ATI

OhioMeansJobs | Wayne County Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities University of Akron Wayne College Wayne County Economic Development Council Wayne County Public Library Wayne County Schools Career Center Mental Health Recovery Board Wooster Area Chamber of Commerce

Initiatives

• Healthier Buckeye Council

• Job Expo

• Women's Empowerment Group

Services

• ACT COMPASS Placement Exam
• Adult and Continuing Education
• Clothing Center
• Computer Training
• Distance Learning
• Employment Services for Disabled
• Externships (Community Work Experience)
• Financial Aid for Career Training
• GED Exam Preparation
• Higher Education
• Interview (Techniques)
• Job Coaching Services
• Job Search
• Life Skills
• Networking
• Resume Development
• Scholarships
• Technical and Trade Schools
• Transitional Employment
• Vocational (Career Information)
• Workforce Skills
• WorkKeys Exam Preparation