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Categories Insights Tags Department of Labor (DoL), Labor, National Office of Job Corps, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

Job Corps Graduates are Increasing their Earning Potential

After decades of pushing bachelor’s degrees, recent studies have shown that the there is a high-demand for skilled workers with trade degrees.  According to the National Electrical Contractors Association, 7,000 electricians join the field each year, but 10,000 retire, leaving a gap that could affect us all. The Department of Labor’s Job Corps program aims to fill that gap.  

Job Corps is the largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16-24 and offers technical training in more than 100 career areas.  With over a 100 Job Corps centers across the nation and training over 60,000 students per year, there are opportunities for students to get connected with the skills and education for a top-notch career.  While receiving hands-on training, students increase their earning potential in career fields such as healthcare, information technology, hospitality and homeland security.  

Not only does Job Corps help students develop a career plan and provide the training to help them achieve their goals, but once training is completed Job Corps will assist in students’ job placement.  Students are provided with a placement specialist that will work with them for up to 21 months after graduation to assist in helping them find the right job.  Job Corps counselors also help connect students with local housing, transportation, and child care resources if needed.  Recently, Job Corps decided to take steps to help protect our environment and connect students with businesses and their surrounding communities through green training.  Job Corps is preparing students for the green economy through green training in the advanced manufacturing, automotive, and construction industry areas.  

The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) recognizes that the culture of today’s workforce and industries entail further development of students’ soft skills, including life skills and interpersonal skills, which will help to ensure that they maximize their potential for career placement and sustainability. 

Bizzell is passionate about workforce development and is currently working with The National Office of Job Corps on data analysis and accountability measures that involve the overall integrity and compliance of the program with contractual performance.  The outcome associated with integrity and compliance impacts student success directly by ensuring they receive the education and resources needed to be successful in Job Corps and beyond.  

Categories Insights, Mental Health Tags Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Behavioral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health, Mental Health, Special Populations, Thought Leadership

National Autism Awareness Month

For over 50 years the Autism Society has provided services and programming to support individuals living with autism. National Autism Awareness Month, observed every April, has been an occasion to promote awareness of autism and work to ensure that each person with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can achieve the highest possible quality of life.  

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Signs of autism, which usually appear early in childhood, are: delayed learning of language; little or no eye contact with other people; lack of interest in peer relationships; lack of spontaneous or make-believe play; fixation on particular objects; difficulty with executive functioning (which relates to reasoning and planning); narrow, intense interests; poor motor skills; repetitive use of language; repetitive movements (such as hand-flapping); and sensory issues. ASD is a “spectrum condition” that affects individuals to varying degrees. A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders reflects the number and severity of these behaviors a person shows. 

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the prevalence of autism in the United States was 1 in every 68 births, and 1 in every 54 boys. The overall prevalence in 2016 was twice the rate in 2004, which was 1 in every 125 births. Autism services cost U.S. citizens $236 to $262 billion annually. Most of this amount is for adult services—$175–$196 billion, compared to $61–$66 billion for children. Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by two-thirds with early diagnosis and intervention.  

Autism is treatable. Studies show that early diagnosis and intervention can change lives. Intervention plans must be unique to the individual, but they usually involve behavioral treatment, medicines, or both. Early behavioral treatment requires intensive collaboration between a child’s family and a team of professionals and may consist of parent training and individual therapy in a special center or classroom. Many people with ASD have other associated medical conditions, such as sleep disturbance or seizures, and improving these conditions can improve attention, learning, and behavior. Different interventions are needed as a child develops and acquires social and learning skills—for example, specialized social skills training may be help children with autism when they enter school. Adolescents with autism can benefit from supportive services that help them transition to employment and independence as adults.  

According to Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org), a small minority of people with ASD progress to the point that they no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for autism. These individuals may have been misdiagnosed, may have “matured out” of some symptoms, or may have responded especially well to treatment. Some individuals have the “best possible outcomes”; their test scores are within normal ranges for IQ, language, functioning, school placement and personality, but they still have mild symptoms on some personality and diagnostic tests.  

This April, the Autism Society also wants to encourage people and groups to become partners in a movement toward accepting and appreciating people with ASD and including them in our schools and communities in a way that reflects true appreciation of the unique qualities of all people. “We want to get one step closer to a society where those with ASDs are truly valued for their unique talents and gifts,” says the Society’s website. 

 

 

Categories Insights Tags CEO Insights, Corporate Updates, Health, Special Populations

Workplace Diversity

Workplace Diversity 

By: Anton C. Bizzell, M.D.

It seems like such a simple word, but it can cause such anxiety.

What do you immediately think of when you hear that word? Do you roll your eyes? Do you dismiss it as just another politically correct term? I doubt that you think that companies with diverse teams outperform industry standards by 35% as reported by Forbes. I doubt that you think of all the wonderful benefits, professionally and personally, that you can obtain by working in a diversified setting. Workplace diversity “refers to the variety of differences between people in an organization. Diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, education background, and more. Diversity not only involves how people perceive others but also how those perceptions affect their actions.” Diversity isn’t just another HR buzzword. Diversity helps to propel us forward and it is one of The Bizzell Group’s (Bizzell) most essential core values.

Companies are made better by drawing upon the collective wisdom and strength honed from a workforce that is comprised of many differences. The Small Business Chronicle reports that “in an era of economic globalization, many companies are making efforts to achieve workplace diversity. Understanding the advantages of workplace diversity helps establish an organization with a competitive edge. Companies that cultivate a diverse workforce reap the benefits of increased productivity and creativity and gain the reputation of an employer that hires talented people without regard to race, ethnicity or gender.”

Companies should embrace the notion of diversity and not just for the sake of diversity, but because there are real and tangible benefits associated with having a workforce that is more reflective of American society. As you stroll through your office and see your colleagues in the hallways, it’s clear that you don’t all look alike. You don’t all share the same religion or culture. You don’t all think or act the same. And, that is good. The world is changing. But, change can sometimes bring pain. It is everyone’s job to mitigate that discomfort by helping to create an environment where everyone can feel safe and secure in bringing their full selves and their complete experiences to work every day. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and I know that we are better because of our differences, not in spite of our differences.

Categories Bizzell, News Tags CEO News, Communications & Outreach, Corporate Updates, MSNBC, News, Special Populations

Bizzell CEO on MSNBC

Dr. Anton Bizzell on MSNBC from The Bizzell Group on Vimeo.

About Marketing to a Different Age

Dr. Anton Bizzell, CEO of The Bizzell Group (Bizzell) asks Luvleen Sidhu, co-founder, president and chief strategy officer at BankMobile, what are some effective ways to market to different age groups like millennials and Baby Boomers. 

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