For individuals and their families dealing with substance abuse issues, securing and staying in jobs is crucial for maintaining recovery and sustaining lives.

A new Pathways to Recovery program for residents of Hunterdon and Somerset Counties seeks to support this goal by assisting people impacted by the ongoing opioid epidemic with free training opportunities, career-readiness programming, supportive services and employment. People participating in the program can be either directly or indirectly impacted by the opioid epidemic – meaning those who are in recovery as well as family members and friends.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) successfully applied for a competitive New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) one-year grant this winter to launch the Pathways to Recovery program in both counties. The program is expected to serve up to 100 residents through January of 2023.

New Jersey introduced Pathways to Recovery in select counties in 2019 and introduced it to the state’s remaining counties last fall. The program is a response to the increased number of overdose deaths, treatment demands and administration of Naloxone throughout the state.

The Suspected Drug Related Deaths 2021 report by the New Jersey Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner found 19 deaths in Hunterdon County and 17 deaths in Somerset County – a year-over decline of about 21 percent. Statewide, there were 3,124 suspected deaths. In that same timeframe, there were 57 incidents of the administration of Naloxone in Hunterdon County and 196 in Somerset County – a 20 percent year-over-year decline but on par with 2019’s figures.

The 2021 data from the New Jersey Substance Abuse Monitoring System (NJ-SAMS) tells a similarly disturbing story. Last year, 409 Hunterdon County residents were admitted for substance abuse treatment; 61.4 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.  In Somerset County, the data shows that of the 973 individuals who were admitted for substance abuse treatment 59.1 percent were unemployed or not in the labor force.

Nakeyda Sumpter, the GRWDB’s Pathways to Recovery representative, will work with residents of either county who are interested in being part of the program. The Roselle-based Prevention Links, the program’s vendor, is also connecting people to services and providing some parts of the program. In addition, Sumpter is reaching out to all community organizations as well as county agencies that may interact with this population to build awareness about the services offered through the grant.

“My goal is to work with multiple stakeholders in both counties to strengthen collaboration among our programs and expand the network of services available to our residents,” Sumpter said. “I want to help people get good-paying jobs and enable them to maintain their recovery and improve their lives. Pathways to Recovery has been set up to have wide eligibility, so that we can assist as many people as possible.”

Residents interested in training can either work with Prevention Links to take part in a Peer Recovery Specialist certificate and internship program or participate in an in-demand training offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Services Center. Sumpter and the Training Center staff also can connect program participants to immediate employment opportunities. In addition, Prevention Links provides participants with career readiness programming and supportive services for all Pathways to Recovery participants.

To learn more, or have a presentation about the program presented to your agency, business or community group, email Nakeyda Sumpter at nsumpter@co.somerset.nj.us or call 908-203-6047. Cindymarie Dix, Prevention Link’s Division Director of Recovery Community Development, can be reached at 732-381-4100 or email CDix@preventionlinks.org.

The GRWDB oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

More than 500 job seekers attended the Greater Raritan Job Fair conducted on May 24 at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater.

More than 500 job seekers from around the region walked through the Greater Raritan 2022 Job Fair, hosted at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater on Tuesday, May 24.

Nearly 100 employers based in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties attended the free event, offering more than 700 positions. This was the first large-scale in-person job fair presented by the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) since the onset of the pandemic. The event was organized with the support of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development along with Somerset County and Hunterdon County. The Hindu Temple, as the event sponsor, provided the space and lunch for employers as a community service.

“The energy at the four-hour event was high,” said GRWDB Director Paul Grzella. “The GRWDB works to connect employers and job seekers in the two counties through different programs and services and it was great to see connections being made in real time. Most of the employers told us they identified good candidates and left with lots of resumes to review.”

The 700-plus jobs offered by these local businesses and some nonprofit agencies are full-time and part-time, and ranged from entry-level to more experienced positions. Participating employers represented the sectors of child care and education, construction, county government, finance, healthcare and health wellness, leisure and hospitality, life sciences, manufacturing, personal and family services, retail trade, sports, transportation and logistics, technology and veterinary care. On-site attendees included:

3M; Alternatives; Altice; Anita’s Angels; APEX Building Services; Apples and Books Learning Center; Arc of Hunterdon County; Aurora Kitchens & Interiors; BAM Desserts; Bex Kitchen catering and events; Bonnie Brae Residential Treatment Facility; Boro Cuts, (Sport Clips Haircuts); Bridgeway Senior Healthcare; BrightStar Care of Hunterdon; BrightStar Care of Somerset;

Catalent Pharma Solutions; Center for Educational Advancement (CEA); Central Jersey Housing Resource Center (CJHRC); Chick-fil-A Flemington; CSS Building Services; Delta Community Supports; Eli Lilly & Co.; Enjoy Your Party; Estes Express Trucking Co.;

Family Promise of Hunterdon County; Farinolio; FedEx Ground; Financial Resources Federation Credit Union; Fulton Bank; Geo-Technology Associates; Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey; Good News Home;

Home Depot; Horticultural Plant Services; Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission; Hunterdon County Vocational School District; Hunterdon Medical Center; Hunterdon Youth Service; II-VI Inc.; Jointure; Krapf School Bus; Labcorp; Luxfer MEL Technologies;

More than 500 job seekers attended the Greater Raritan Job Fair conducted on May 24 at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater.

Magna-Power Electronics; Matheny Medical and Educational Center; Maxtal Enable; Midland; MK Food Service (Stoney Brook Grille); Montauk Transit LLC; Natirar; Natural Systems Utilities; New Jersey Eastern Star Home; New York  Life; Norwescap Head Start and Early Head Start; Novacom Telephone Co.;

Ocean State Job Lot; Parker; Power Container Corp.;  Premier Supports of Sevita Health; QuickChek; QuVa Pharma; Rehab At River’s Edge; Right at Home; Roche; RWJBarnabas Health;

S&G Cleaning Services; Senior Helpers; SHI International; Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC Bridgewater; ShopRite of Hunterdon County; Somerset County government; Somerset County Park Commission; Somerset Hills Learning Institute; Somerset Savings Bank; Spherion Staffing; Stonebridge at Montgomery/Springpoint Senior Living; Summit Drilling LLC; Superior Court of New Jersey; Superior Tool & Manufacturing Co.;

Takara Belmont; Tamke Tree Experts Inc.; The Briad Group; The Center for Great Expectations; The COR Behavioral Group; The Home Depot; Thermo Fisher Scientific; Turo Care; UNICOM Science & Technology Park; UPS; USA Sport Group; United States Postal Service; Valley Wellness; Verano; Visions and Pathways; and Zufall.

The full list of jobs available from these companies can be viewed here, or by using the QR code in this flyer.

The event also had a resource table with information from career-related agencies and organizations, including the state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services and the United Way of Northern New Jersey.

The Jointure was among the nearly 100 employers promoting their job openings at the Greater Raritan Job Fair conducted on May 24 at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Society in Bridgewater.

“As employers and job seekers left, they asked us when we would host the next event,” Grzella said. “We will begin work in the summer for a second major job fair in the early fall, but our area also offers ongoing Virtual Recruitment events for area employers that thousands of job seekers have attended in the past 18 months. Go the Events-Calendar tab of www.thegrwdb.org to see what we have coming up in June and beyond.”

Employers looking to set up a Virtual Recruitment may contact state Business Services Representative Jessica Johannesen at jessica.johannesen@dol.nj.gov.

The GRWDB oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties. Weekly text alerts highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up. For details on upcoming

Free adult literacy programs are available this summer to residents this of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

The program providers, Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) and the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCECS), are part of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board’s Literacy Committee, which seeks to share information about and expand the effectiveness of the free literacy programs in the two counties.

Programs are funded by a Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act federal grant that provides assistance to adults in gaining the necessary literacy and English skills to participate in workforce training programs and employment.

Raritan Valley Community College

RVCC offers free literacy and English language skills to help individuals prepare for employment in the in-demand food service industry. Upcoming summer classes will be conducted remotely; in-person classes may return in the fall.

Classes in the Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education Program focus on skills such as listening, speaking and writing. Class participants who complete the literacy program and complete 10 hours of training in the areas of appreciation, prevention, avoidance and reduction of health hazards and safety in the workplace are eligible to receive either the ServSafe Food Handler or OSHA 10 certification. These certifications are required by the majority of entry-level restaurant or food service jobs.

Summer classes will begin in July, with testing for placement in the classes planned for June in Bound Brook and North Plainfield. Fall classes will begin October, with placement testing planned for August. For more information on the classes, visit https://www.raritanval.edu/literacy. Interested residents also can  email Bonnie.Scharf@raritanval.edu or call 908-526-1200, ext. 8686. 

Hunterdon County Education Services Commission

High school equivalency, basic computer skills and English Language Acquisition classes are offered by the HCESC at four in-person locations in the two counties: In Bound Brook, Flemington, Franklin (Somerset) and Somerville. In addition, the HCESC also runs one online class.

Summer classes are slated to begin in July. For the registration packets and program details, visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the links for Adult Programs / English Classes or High School Equivalency. For details about the program, email adultliteracy@hunterdonesc.org, or call 908-237-5000 in Hunterdon County or 908-541-5781 in Somerset County.

Other literacy programs

Volunteers at Hunterdon Helpline provide free literacy services through one-on-one, barrier-free individualized instruction. Email literacy@helplinehc.com or call 908-782-4357.

Volunteers at the Literacy Volunteers of Somerset County provide free English Language Acquisition through free one-on-one tutoring. Email info@literacysomerset.org, call 908-725-5430, or visit LiteracySomerset.org. The site also provides details on the LVSC’s year-long Cultural Connections initiative in which tutors and students explored culture and how it affects communication.

In addition, individuals may contact either organization to learn about how to become a program tutor.

The Hunterdon County Library offers weekly online English Conversation Groups. Email tedwards@hclibrary.us or call 908-713-7005.

Zarephath Christian Church in the Franklin, Somerset County, offers English-language classes, group conversations and accent reduction. Email zmayes@zarephath.org or call 732-560-4001.

The HCESC also operates two Workforce Learning Link sites offering adult literacy programs. These programs, offered through the Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Center, have virtual and in-person components. Visit www.hunterdonesc.org and click on the Adult Programs/Workforce Learning Link.

Weekly text updates highlight career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. Text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up. Additional information on career-development programs offered by the partners of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board can be found on www.thegrwdb.org.

Middle school, high school and college-age young adults along with parents and guidance counselors met with representatives of more than 40 Somerset and Hunterdon  Counties-based employers and agencies at Life After High School – Career Paths for Youth, a free community event conducted on April 28, in the Raritan Valley Community College Conference Center in Branchburg.

The Life After High School event conducted on April 28 at Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg included three panels of current workers talking about their own career pathways. Pictured left to right: GRWDB Director Paul Grzella, program moderator; Joseph Cross of Chick-Fil-A; Kelly Paterson of Lab Corp.; and Jason Terranova of SHI. (Photo courtesy Ryan Roberts)

During this event which drew about 170 employers and residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, attendees learned about the many options available to the workforce-bound student looking for a career path that supports financial security and independence. Employers with immediate openings and development programs attended along with some schools and agencies offering in-demand career training programs and attendees had nearly two  hours of networking / learning time.

In addition, the conference set aside time for workforce members and community leaders to talk about their individual career pathway stories with attendees. Sharing their very different stories of perseverance and success in a variety of operational and managerial roles were: Iris Robinson  and Nick Mancinelli of Thermo Fisher; Cassandra Malone, Roger Shaefer and Justin Dapolito of American Water; Joseph Cross  of Chick-Fil-A; Kelly Paterson of Lab Corp.; and Jason Terranova of SHI.

A light meal also was available, courtesy of event sponsors.

Businesses and agencies in attendance included: American Water; Aurora Kitchens & Interiors; Bridges to Employment/Alternatives; Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District BR CARES; Bridgeway Senior Healthcare; Chick-Fil-A Flemington; Fitz’s Fish Ponds; Fulton Bank; Geo-Technology Associates; Girl Scouts Heart of NJ; Greenman-Pedersen; Hackensack Meridian Health – Carrier; Hitran; Horticultural Plant Services; Lab Corp.; Luxfer MEL Technologies; Magna-Power Electronics; Middle Earth; NJ Cannabis Certified; the New Jersey Department of Labor Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; NJMEP; Novacom Telephone Co.; OASIS Northeast (ERG at AT&T); Right at Home; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, Community Health Department; SHI International Corp.; ShopRite of Hunterdon; Somerset County Government; Somerset County Park Commission; Somerset County Vo-Tech High School; Stonebridge at Montgomery; Summit Health; The Briad Group; Thermo Fisher Scientific; UPS; U.S. Post Office; Zeus Industrial Products; and Zufall Health Center.

More than 170 community members, employers and agency representative attended Life After High School, a careers pathway event presented by the GRWDB Youth Committee and Raritan Valley Community College.

A resource toolkit also was developed for youth and committee attendees. The toolkit can be downloaded here.

This event was presented by the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board Youth Committee, Raritan Valley  Community College, Somerset County and Hunterdon County, with the sponsorship support of Atlantis Janitorial, The Briad Group, Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic, New Jersey American Water,  Novacom; Oasis Northeast (ERG at AT&T), ShopRite at Hunterdon, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Zeus.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board (GRWDB) oversees federally and state-funded career and employment services for businesses and residents in Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

SkillUp Greater Raritan, a free online learning portal for residents of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, is now offering two new exclusive Badge credentialing programs that can be used by job seekers and employers in Hunterdon and Somerset Counties.

Free 15- to 20-hour, self-paced classes utilize a combination of careers-related gaming classes and SkillUp’s existing online classes to provide focused training in two areas: Job Readiness and New Manager. The two Badge pathways allow participants to master skills needed to have competency when they are starting or returning to work or when they are in new management roles. Residents and job seekers in both counties can sign up directly for either program. Employers can enroll individual workers or a group of employees for the programs.

The Badge programs represent a program expansion of SkillUp Greater Raritan, introduced in February 2020. The 6,000-plus SkillUp training opportunities are designed to help program participants who are working or looking for employment the opportunity to sharpen their skills and improve their career pathways. The free courses can be accessed from a laptop or mobile device during a 180-day, 24/7 license period.

Over the past two years, more than 2,000 residents and workers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties have signed up for SkillUp Greater Raritan; the participants have spent nearly 7,000 hours in course work and completed more than 3,500 courses.

“We know employers are looking for workers and more people are starting to return to work,” said Joanne Hala, board chair of the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board. “From our ongoing surveys, we also know that our businesses are looking for assistance with current employees promoted into management roles. We believe these new Badge credentialing programs will assist our job seekers and employers and help people get and stay in good-paying jobs in our two counties.”

Job Readiness Badge topics include teamwork, communication, workplace skills, administrative support, listening, telephone skills, emotional intelligence and basic budgeting. New Manager skills include time management, communication, being a first-time manager, leadership, delegation, diplomacy and tact, running meetings, and emotional intelligence. The content was developed by Metrix Learning, the provider of the Skillup Greater Raritan platform. The Job Readiness pathway has been used by workforce providers in other states; the New Manager pathway was developed exclusively for Greater Raritan.

Residents and job seekers who sign up for the Job Readiness or New Manager Badge will have 60 days to the complete the program. Workers signed up for the New Manager Badge by their employer will have 30 days to complete the program. Upon program completion, participants receive a digital badge to share with employers and post on LinkedIn profiles and in resumes. Signing up for either program is easy. Residents and employers just click on the appropriate links found at https://bit.ly/3Jvyc0x. All  registrants will get follow-up emails with their account information and a notice about an introductory webinar. The first test cohorts launched in mid-March and additional cohorts will launch later in the spring and summer.

A webinar introducing new users to SkillUp is conducted at 3 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. Go here or to the calendar of www.thegrwdb.org for details. More information on SkillUp is also available on the Resources tab of the website.

The Greater Raritan workforce system connects job seekers and employers in Hunterdon and Somerset counties to programs, grant opportunities and other services designed to create and sustain career pathways and robust economic opportunities.

Additional information on career-development in-person and virtual programs and services offered by the GRWDB and its partners can be found on www.thegrwdb.org. For more information on the SkillUp Badges or other career services, email  info@thegrwdb.org call 908-541-5790. In addition, weekly text alerts update highlight career and job opportunities in the two counties; text “onestop” to 565-12 to sign up.

Through policy, oversight, and planning The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board ensures that workforce training and education are responsive to and meet the needs of employers and job seekers.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, your local workforce system, serving Hunterdon and Somerset counties, has continued to evolve how it provides services and reaches out to the community about those services. The GRWDB is part of statewide workforce system that connects employers and residents to a range of in-person and virtual career-related services, including the tens of thousands of open positions available in New Jersey.

Working with the Somerset County Public Information Office, system partners collaborated on videos to explain our mission, vision and services for employers and job seekers in these ever-changing times.

Go here to hear about our services for employers. Employers also can go to the resources/employers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about our services for job seekers. Job seekers also can go to the resources / job seekers tab on our website for more links and information.

Go here to hear about the Youth Employment Services (YES) Program.

The Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board and its partners offer a variety of free programs and resources to assist job seekers. This includes assistance with job search, resume reviews, career counseling, career-related webinars and workshops, information on training grants for unemployed and underemployed individuals, and connection to career services for low-income residents. Additional free resources available in Hunterdon and Somerset counties are the Greater Raritan Resume Portal, SkillUp Greater Raritan, and a local literacy connection guide. Local partners also offer free literacy classes throughout the year, and state partners regularly host Virtual Information Sessions for companies hiring in the two counties.

More information on GRWDB and system partners programs is available on the Events/Calendar tab of www.thegrwdb.org/.

Service models offered by Greater Raritan One-Stop partners reflect what is happening and is wanted by customers today, with hybrid models offering appointment in-person services along with the virtual suite of services developed by partners since the pandemic began.

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Career Training Services Center at 27 Warren St. in Somerville is open to in-person service; appointments are encouraged but customers who walk in will be accommodated as staffing levels permit. Appointment-only services are available throughout the week at the Training Center at 6 Gauntt Place in Flemington. As they have been since the onset of the pandemic, Greater Raritan Training Center staff continue to assist customers over the phone, via email and through virtual appointments, and a virtual orientation session for new customers is conducted on Fridays. Virtual career-webinars also continue. Call 908-541-5780 or email onestop@co.somerset.nj.us.

Staff members at the Greater Raritan One-Stop / Employment Services Center at 75 Veterans Memorial Drive in Somerville are available for in-person and phone appointments for residents seeking career-related services. Walk-ins to the facility cannot be accommodated but they will be able to make an appointment for a future meeting. To schedule an appointment with Employment Services, call 908-704-3000. Residents also can fill out this virtual form to detail what help they need; the completed form will be directed to local officials for direct response.

Learn more about Greater Raritan services

The Greater Raritan One-Stop Training Services Center team also has launched a fun and informative series of videos called P.E.P. (Preparing for Employment Possibilities) Talks. Watch:

• Meet the Team
• What Does Your E-Mail Address Say About You
• Sending Professional E-mails
• Online Resources
• Foundations of Resumes
• ITAs and Tuition Waivers
• Phone Etiquette
• Interview Questions
• Tour of the Flemington One-Stop
• Tour of the Somerville One-Stop
• Social Media and Your Job Search
• Cover Letters
• Interview Questions

System services assist a variety of populations and residents. These includes programs for residents of either county receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As part of this program effort, the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board has launched a Chromebook Loaner Program for eligible participants. Partner services also include the Workforce Learning Link to assist with basic literacy and computer skills and high school diploma equivalency work — this brochure provides more details, in English and Spanish. Another targeted service is the Youth Employment Services Program (YES Program), for out-of-school youth, ages 16 to 24, in Hunterdon and Somerset counties — this program brochure illustrates how a participant  progresses through the YES program.

Learn more about New Jersey services

Career services for job seekers also are highlighted on the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website. The site also includes a section of Worker Benefits, Protections and COVID19; this handy checklist can help as well.

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development also recently launched Job Source, offering a variety of tools designed to help fuel a successful job search experience. Users can create a free account and get tips and templates for job search, resume writing, cover letters and many other free services.

Please note: The majority of unemployment-related services are being done online or through a call centers. Starting March 28, residents also will be able to have in-person appointments at 12 designated One-Stop Career Center locations throughout New Jersey. (Greater Raritan is NOT among those  locations.) Appointments and pre-screening are required; no walk-ins will be served. 

Customers will be contacted by NJDOL representatives with their appointment location, date and time.

Customers who need to file new Unemployment Insurance claims, update existing claims or have questions about their claims should go to https://myunemployment.nj.gov. Customers unable to access the Internet should call the following numbers: North Jersey, 201-601-4100; Central Jersey, 732-761-2020; Southern Jersey: 856-507-2340. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 

There are also numerous state and community programs and resources available to those who need additional support. For information on assistance in the areas of family, food, child care, health, substance use disorder, rent, housing, utilities, and specialized services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and survivors of domestic or sexual violence, please visit myunemployment.nj.gov/morehelp.  

Weekly text alerts highlighting career and job opportunities in Somerset and Hunterdon counties are available by texting “onestop” to 565-12. Contact the Greater Raritan Workforce Development Board at info@thegrwdb.org or 908-541-5790.

For more information about services for employers, go to the GRWDB website here. For more information about services  for job seekers, go here.