Richland County WIOA

Agent of Change Casey Gowitzka Hear from Casey as she shares about being Lead Employment Specialist and how impactful the WIOA program is for the community.

Local youth program helps teen tackle employment The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is looking for more Richland County teens and young adults ages 14-24 to join this youth program.

If you know someone who is between the ages of 14-24 with a barrier to employment, he or she may qualify for this program. Barriers include individuals that have dropped out of school, involved in the court system, homeless, involved in the foster care system, pregnant or parenting, individuals with a disability, English as a second language, or someone receiving cash assistance.

To request these services, please contact Stephanie Jakubick, Associate Director of Vocational Services at Catalyst Life Services or fill out a WIOA referral form at https://catalystlifeservices.org/wioa-referral-form/

To request services, please complete the referral form at, https://catalystlifeservices.org/wioa-referral-form/ or contact us at 419-774-2250

Richland County WIOA updated their business hours.

Meet Casey Gowitzka, Lead Employment Specialist!

Casey Gowitzka is currently the Lead Employment Specialist at Catalyst Life Services. Prior to this role, she had worked for another Catalyst vocational program: Success Unlimited, to help overcome employment barriers. Casey shares that she has had a specific passion for workforce development for many years. Her role helps to guide others toward their own passion and builds up their self-concept and self-esteem. Casey had heard about Catalyst while she was in college and had an immediate interest in working there.

Fast forward to just a few years later to Casey’s current position of Lead Employment Specialist. In this position, she wears a lot of different hats. She helps with the training of new staff, job coaching, assisting with transportation needs, , tuition assistance, obtaining interview attire, helping with driver’s licensures….
the list is endless! Although these job responsibilities seem very different from each other, all of these may be steps in the clients’ journey to attain employment.

Casey shares that being a part of the WIOA/CCEMP program is extremely rewarding, as this program is able to help teens and young adults ages 14-24 to overcome barriers to employment. Casey is able to walk alongside many of these clients throughout the program as they grow and realize their potential.

“I get to see the client’s self-esteem improve more than anything. A lot of times our clients do not see their self-worth and have low self-esteem, as they do not think having meaningful employment is possible,”Casey admits. “That is one of the most rewarding parts of my job – when the light comes on and the client
sees their own potential.”

Clients come into the WIOA/CCMEP program with varying barriers including disabilities, basic skills deficits, or homelessness, just to name a few. Casey and the WIOA staff work together to help equip clients with the tools they need to overcome these barriers and many times clients will be enrolled in other services of Catalyst to make sure they have all the resources they need to be successful.

Although the WIOA program reaches so many each and every day, there are still individuals who are not enrolled either because they do not know about these services or because of other barriers to access. For those individuals who have not yet entered into the program, Casey encourages, “We will work together on the barriers and you will always have someone cheering you on from the
sidelines as you navigate throughout the program.”

When Casey isn’t working you may find her kayaking, camping or spending time with her daughter in her baton or dance classes. Casey is so proud of her daughter who, she says, is the very best
parts of her. Casey is committed to continual growth and learning in her field of Social Work and will undoubtedly continue to touch many lives through the WIOA/CCMEP program.

Richland County WIOA updated their phone number.

Richland County WIOA updated their address.

Richland County WIOA updated their website address.