Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) changes lives and strengthens our community through services that educate, empower and provide the opportunity to earn a paycheck! VGS provides a comprehensive range of vocational rehabilitation services as well as paid work opportunities to nearly 5,000 individuals with physical disabilities, mental disabilities, a history of incarceration or other barriers to employment, such as economic challenges, every year. All services provided by VGS are done at no cost to the individual.
VGS is a highly acclaimed, successful, private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) vocational rehabilitation agency with over 120 years of dedicated experience serving persons with disabilities or other barriers to employment. Our services reflect a person-centered approach that is responsive to the needs, desires and expectations of those served. Our mission is: Preparing people with barriers to employment for a brighter future!
Vocational Guidance Services measures the strengths each person has and helps them discover the competencies they need in order to accomplish their employment goals. This process includes: Work Evaluation; Work Adjustment; Skills Training; Specialized Services; and Job Placement, Retention and Coaching.
Individuals from all avenues of life are referred to VGS’ services to enhance their abilities and achieve their brighter future. One way that this is accomplished is through VGS’ “earning while learning” work opportunities; every week these opportunities enable 1,100 individuals to overcome their barriers to employment and earn a paycheck.
Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) helps people with physical disabilities, mental disabilities, economic challenges or a history of incarceration find jobs!
Vocational Guidance Services was one of the first organizations to receive accreditation by CARF International, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Recently, VGS was the first agency to receive its fifteenth consecutive, three-year accreditation which extends to August 2012. VGS is also registered as a Proprietary School in the State of Ohio (State Board Proprietary School Registration Certification # 79-10-0671T).
Request a tour of VGS: tour@vgsjob.org
Request more information about VGS: info@vgsjob.org or call 216.431.7800 (TTY: 216.431.0073)
MISSION STATEMENT
PREPARING PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to become the premier vocational rehabilitation agency in the nation. We will be known for our innovation, quality services and our caring approach to assisting individuals with significant disabilities and other barriers to employment. Our unwavering belief plus the power of an individual’s abilities will propel VGS consumers to exceed expectations and gain self-reliance.
CORE VALUES
Integrity Quality
Efficiency Commitment to Key Stakeholders
Consumer Advocacy Fiscal Responsibility
Teamwork Healthy Communications
Goals Achievement Mission Related Growth
Innovation Continuous Improvement
Diversity Flexibility
COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE: PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN DELIVERING EXCELLENCE (PRIDE)
We will take Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence. We will treat every customer with dignity, respect and kindness, while pursuing fulfilling job opportunities for persons with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Our knowledgeable staff will provide vocational rehabilitation and other supportive services tailored to the individual needs of each customer. We will explore every opportunity to better prepare our consumers to meet the changing workforce demands of the labor market.
2012 – 2014 CORE ISSUES AND OUTCOME FOCUS:
| Strategic Issue | Desired Outcomes / Key Results |
| Core PerformanceIndicators | Placements, market share, hours of paid work, average starting wage, subsequent services, employer-paid benefits, 90-day retention, CARF accreditation and collaboration. |
| Leadership and Staff Development | Audited information, succession planning, cost analysis, diversity and gap analysis |
| Innovation | Development of new mission-related programs and contracts while maintaining current ones. |
| Financial Strength | Fiscally sound operations, cash flow, planned giving, endowment growth, new mission-related services and friends of VGS/donor development. |
| Brand Development | Staffing & market metrics, outreach efforts and friends & donor development |
