WSM Expands H.I.R.E. Program

To better serve job seekers in Eastern Montgomery County, in 2018 we introduced a pop-up location in the East County Regional Services Center now known as H.I.R.E. (Helping Individuals Reach Employment). H.I.R.E. services include an array of employability services customized to each individual depending on need. Because the services are offered within their community, the need to visit one of our American Job Centers in Wheaton or Germantown is reduced.

Due to the success of the model in East County, H.I.R.E. was expanded to Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) locations at Rockville, White Oak, and Marilyn J. Praisner in Burtonsville later that year. We now offer the same services at the Takoma Park Community Center on the first Tuesday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 am and at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 12:30 to 2:30 pm.

Photo Courtesy of City of Takoma Park

 Individuals can walk-in to any H.I.R.E. location for an initial meeting with a career specialist โ€“ assistance with a resume, interview skills, and job search tools are all available. If a customer needs assistance in addressing greater barriers to employment, the specialist will refer them to the appropriate person, program, or organization within the Countyโ€™s ecosystem of workforce partners, some of which share office space with WSM.

Ellie Giles, CEO of WSM, has championed H.I.R.E. as a way to connect with more communities in the county and offer excellent face-to-face customer service. โ€œThis program is designed to shift the employment conversation from โ€˜what are you eligible for?โ€™ to โ€˜how can we help you?โ€™ This approach allows us to reach more people,โ€ she says.

Our mission is to help Montgomery County job seekers โ€“ thatโ€™s why weโ€™re bringing our services directly to them through the H.I.R.E. program. Weโ€™re also happy to announce that further H.I.R.E. expansion is planned through 2019 and 2020. โ€œWe’ve been listening and we’ve taken action to deliver on our mission to help Montgomery County residents who are seeking employment. By bringing services to their communities, we’re helping to remove barriers to employment with even our most vulnerable residents,โ€ says Ted Rose, WSM Board Chair.

For a full list of locations, schedules, and more information about H.I.R.E. go here. Current H.I.R.E. locations and times can also be found on the WSM Calendar.

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