Toledo, OH
Zepf Center connects healthcare employers with participants.
The Northwest Ohio Pathway to Healthcare Careers (NOPHC) program is focused on empowering Lucas County, Ohio residents by providing healthcare training to Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) recipients, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, and other low-income individuals.
In September 2020, the NOPHC staff set up a virtual hiring event in partnership with OhioMeansJobs, Ohio’s online career counseling center. The event focused on helping a large local healthcare employer fill COVID-19 tester positions, which included openings for medical assistants, practical nurses, registered nurses, and patient care assistants. NOPHC success coaches pre-screened resumes for qualified Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) participants and offered resume development assistance to make them more competitive.
The event was conducted through Zoom. NOPHC staff welcomed interviewees as they signed in and sent them into virtual waiting rooms. They then facilitated introductions between the interviewer and participants to make sure the process ran smoothly. The initial event was so successful, NOPHC has held nine more hiring events. Over 70 HPOG students have participated and 25 were offered employment. Zepf solicits participant feedback to improve the process between each event, and the employer is pleased with the results.
By transitioning to virtual hiring events, NOPHC helps participants find gainful employment with the ultimate goal of achieving self-sufficiency.
This Promising Practice was self-identified by the grantee and information contained in this document was provided by the grantee.
HPOG Promising Practice: Zepf Center - Employment Strategies (PDF)