Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) is proud to count the following organizations among our partners, accrediting agencies and/or referral sources. For more information on each agency, please click on their link below.

http://abilityone.org/index.html

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.rsc.ohio.gov/default.htm

http://www.ohiobwc.com/

http://www.cuyahogabdd.org/

http://www.carf.org/home/

http://www.unitedwaycleveland.org/site/c.gpIOKZOxFoG/b.5152581/k.BDC2/Home.htm

http://www.va.gov/

http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/100000

http://www.osu.edu/

Service Providers like VGS seek accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Accreditation is a process that demonstrates that a provider has met strict quality standards for its services. CARF also evaluates how well a provider is serving people and how the provider can improve. As a step toward accreditation, a provider invites CARF to send a team of professionals called surveyors to visit its sites and evaluate its services.  Based on the surveyors’ review, the provider may be awarded CARF accreditation for one or three years. Vocational Guidance Services has invited CARF surveyors to evaluate our services again this year. They will be at VGS August 19 – 21, 2009. The surveyors will interview people who use our services, their families, our staff and others. VGS has the honor of being one of the first four agencies ever accredited by CARF, and is one of only two that have achieved 14 consecutive maximum 3-year accreditations. Our CARF Task Force is capably led by Rick Lakatos who is himself a CARF Surveyor. He is joined by 13 individuals representing each of our divisions, departments, and facilities. Potential accreditation areas include: Employment Services, Comprehensive Vocational Evaluation, Employee Development Services (Work Adjustment), Skills Training, and Community Employment Services (Placement) – Job Development, Job Training and Job Supports. This will be the first year that our Columbus operations will be surveyed.

In 2008, VGS developed and implemented 41 new contracts/programs that provided employment for more than 70 additional full time equivalent (FTE) transitional workers and enabled VGS to serve more than 391 additional consumers. These new programs allow VGS to both refine and expand its mission, provide more real work experience, on-the-job training and employment slots and, in an ever-changing and increasingly difficult economy, solidify the future of our mission. VGS staff is encouraged and determined to continue their remarkable track record of continuously improving what they do each day: listening to the needs and desires of the individuals we serve and finding creative mission-related means to meet and exceed their goals. They work closely, cooperatively and supportively to help fulfill VGS’ mission of “preparing people with barriers to employment for a brighter future.” more…