Deborah J. Bridgeforth Email & Phone Number

Petersburg, Va

Lawrenceville, Va

Colonial Heights, Va

Chesterfield Employment Services

• Provided direct training, support and advocacy to adults with intellectual disabilities in group and individual employment settings.

Richmond, Virginia

• Provided comprehensive case management services to all clients including: intake assessment, benefit assessment, goal setting, long-term case plan development, weekly case plan development, progress monitoring, individual money management, tenant education, advocacy and referrals.

Richmond, Virginia

• Assess client eligibility for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services, conduct client intake and program orientation.• Prepare and maintain records and case files, including documentation such as clients’ personal and eligibility information, services provided, narratives of client contacts and relevant correspondence.• Develop Individualized Employment Plans (IEP) of service that fit clients’ aptitudes, education levels, physical abilities, and career goals in a demand driven workforce development system.• Monitor and record clients’ progress to ensure that goals and objectives are met.• Maintain close contact with clients during job training and placements to resolve problems and evaluate placement adequacy.• Confer with referral agencies and community partners to develop and implement service plans.• In cooperation with other Career Coach/Case Managers arrange and/or teach job seeking skills, retention skills, and life skills for participants.• Develop and maintain relationships with community referral sources, such as schools, human service agencies and community groups appropriate to the needs of clients.• Identify barriers to client employment, such as inaccessible work sites, inflexible schedules, and transportation problems, and work with clients to develop strategies for overcoming these barriers.• Analyze information from interviews, educational and medical records, consultation with other professionals, and diagnostic evaluations to assess clients’ abilities, needs, and eligibility for services.• Monitor available job leads, scholarship, and customized training opportunities, screen clients and make referrals when appropriate.• Maintain timely case file documentation on Virginia Workforce Connect/VOS and in hard copy file.• Maintain knowledge of WIA program policy.

Hopewell, Va

• Assisted clients in filling claims to ensure that unemployment benefits are provided to eligible clients.• Interview /evaluate clients to correctly determine their needs in person and by telephone in order to ensure that unemployment benefits are provided to eligible clients.

Jarratt, Va

• Assisted the Human Resources team with all duties such as: recruitment, selection, compensation, performance evaluations, employee benefits, employee relations, affirmative action, and customer service• Coordinated and facilitated orientations for newly hired employees such as: complete necessary paperwork; explained the policies and procedures used in the organization; and explained the organization's mission and its philosophy of doing business.• Managed the training department, which includes all training activities, training budget, purchased equipment used for training and maintained accurate accounting records and reports. • Implemented a new training program for management staff and plant employees, which streamlined the employee training more than 50%.• Conducted training sessions for employees such as: new hire, computer, GMP and Safety training. • Designed and presented PowerPoint presentations used for training purposes.• Maintenance of critical and confidential employee data in the HRIS systems.• Computed yearly, quarterly, and monthly reports in relations to training.• Set agendas, and run meetings.

Master Of Education (M.Ed.), Training And Performance Improvement

Bachelor Of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.), Organization Management

Associate Of Arts And Sciences (A.A.S.), Certificate In Administrative Of Justice

Completion In Private Detective/Investigation

Career Studies Certification In Early Childhood Program

Associate In Applied Science, Human Services