Other Programs and Partnerships

Goodwill NCW is also involved with a variety of other contracted/funded initiatives.  Following are some examples:

Tomah: Learning Independent Future Environments (L.I.F.E.) is a program designed to provide high school students with special needs with “real life” independent living and vocational training opportunities.  The goal of this program is to facilitate the students’ eventual transition from high school to life after school.  

Rice Lake: Barron County Restorative Justice Program (BCRJP) is a departure from the traditional ways of the justice system.  Although multi-faceted, at the core of restorative justice are three principles:  1.) to get the offenders to understand the full impact of their behavior, 2.) to empower victims in their search for closure to the crime perpetrated on them, and 3.) to promote restitution to victims and communities.  Examples of the restorative justice design include facilitated Victim-Offender Conferences, Teen Courts, Victim Impact Panels and Restorative Discipline in the Schools.  The BCRJP Staff are employees of Goodwill.  Goodwill has representation on the Board of Directors of the BCRJP.

Eau Claire: Eau Claire County Restorative Justice Program (ECCRJP) is a departure from the traditional ways of the justice system.  The program philosophy comments stated under the BCRJP are applicable here as well.  The Staff of this program are employees of Goodwill.  Goodwill serves as fiscal agent for the program and has representation on the program’s Advisory Committee.

Oshkosh: Wisconsin Resource Center (WRC) Program is a collaboration whereby Goodwill provides meaningful work opportunities to inmates with disabilities in order to provide them the opportunity to earn wages and develop work skills and behaviors.

Fox Valley: Goodwill continues to have a role on the Fox Cities Workforce Development Center’s (FCWDC) Management Team and is “Employer of Record” for the FCWDC Receptionist.

Total Service Area: Goodwill has established formal contractual work relationships with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRP’s) throughout the service delivery area.  These contracts involve the local CRP providing a crew, including 1 – 3 persons with disabilities and possibly a job coach, to perform work at the Goodwill Store/Training Center for a set fee.  The following locations have these types of arrangements:  Ashwaubenon, Eau Claire, Marshfield, Rothschild, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, La Crosse, Tomah, Rhinelander, and Green Bay East.

Fox Valley: Goodwill/Shiner Center works in partnership with the Winnebago Corrections Center (WCC) to provide work opportunities for inmates so they can develop work skills/behaviors and establish a work record to help facilitate their eventual transition back into the community.

Fox Valley: During the 1990’s the State of Wisconsin removed any restrictions on the amount of interest that could be charged on loans.  That opened the door for for-profit payday lending/cash advance operations to proliferate – some of which charge more than 500% interest on such loans.  That can easily result in people spiraling deeper and deeper into debt.  The solution – a not-for-profit, limited service branch of Prospera Credit Union called GoodMoney, which operates within the Goodwill Superstore and Training Center in Darboy.  This initiative offers short-term loans at reduced rates, check-cashing services at reduced fees, and convenience services (wire transfers, money orders, stamps, and bill payment services).  This service branch also offers customers information about the Financial Information & Service Center (FISC), a program of Goodwill Industries that educates and supports individuals/families on financial matters.

Fox Cities, La Crosse, and Shawano: In both of these areas Goodwill operates programs with the local Domestic Abuse Shelters.  Goodwill offers an 8 week program that allows women living in the Shelter to work up to 40 hours per week at the Goodwill Retail Store & Training Center.  This provides women with the opportunity to: 1) earn wages that can be saved for their first month’s rent and other expenses when they move out of the Shelter, 2) develop work skills and behaviors that will help them secure future employment, and 3) obtain a positive work reference.