Alix Didrich | Democrat AMANDA WARD, LEFT, a recruiter from The Center for Discovery, discusses career options with Tiffany Parker, 19, of Livingston Manor.

Hemlock Rodge hosts healthcare job fair

By Alix Didrich
LIVINGSTON MANOR — November 23, 2007 — According to Regina Korn, the manager at Hemlock Ridge Apartments in Livingston Manor, the rate of unemployment in her area is quite high.
Korn decided it was time to do something about that and the first semi-annual Hemlock Ridge Job Fair was born.
On Thursday, November 15 Hemlock Ridge hosted its first job fair offering health employment opportunities to local residents.
Several potential employers attended including the Center for Discovery, Sullivan ARC, Crystal Run Village and Wellness Home Care agency.
Hudson Health was present, as well, looking to inform uninsured families about their services.
The Center for Discovery has a New York State accredited schooling program on campus with positions open for special education teachers in subjects across the board. Other job offerings include intake social workers, accountant, nurses and aide positions.
Amanda Ward, who represented The Center for Discovery, informed those interested of the available educational opportunities saying, “We are not just another job, we offer you the prospect of a career.”
Ward spoke to Tiffany Parker, 19, of Livingston Manor, about the various career possibilities offered by the Center for Discovery. Parker is currently pursuing a career in speech pathology at Sullivan Community College.
“I’m interested in the career building programs at the Center for Discovery,” she told the job recruiter.
Sullivan ARC is a not-for-profit agency that provides support and services to individuals in Sullivan County with developmental disabilities. Toni La Ruffa, intake coordinator for ARC and Maureen Stewart, the program director for the Sullivan facility, attended the event.
La Ruffa stated, “It’s refreshing that people are interested in what we offer and not just looking for a job,” when asked how she felt the job fair was progressing. Stewart added, “It’s been a steady flow.”
Home health care is an industry where high turnover of employees is common, making continuous recruitment a necessity.
Wellness Home Care came to the job fair hoping to fill a home health care aide training class in December. They also have several openings for nurses, both RN and LPNs.
“It’s a good opportunity for those who have been out of the work force to get back into it with highly flexible requirements. All you need is a phone and a car,” stated Wellness representative Miles Moody, speaking about the home health care aide-training program.
He added that while not an easy job to do, one of the rewards is the knowledge that you are helping people. It is also an ideal entry-level employment gateway for mothers with school age children in need of flexible scheduling.
Affectionately known as “Miss Regina” by many of the apartment complex residents, Korn also saw the Job Fair as a networking opportunity. People who came for the job fair also had a chance to look over vacant apartments that were furnished by Manor House (formerly Marty’s) Furniture store in Livingston Manor.
Affordable housing and a chance at finding a job seem to go hand in hand in keeping with Korn’s vision.
Besides bringing job and housing opportunities to the people, Korn has been investigating the possibility for certain employers to provide transportation if enough people were to get jobs with them. She commented that Achieve, a rehabilitation facility in Liberty, does just that.
So far, this idea is still in the discussion stages. Korn plans on continuing to look for ways to make life better for those in her community.
Korn arranged the fair hoping to turn it into a semi-annual event. “I wanted to do this as a community service because there are people in Livingston Manor that do not have jobs,” she says, “I’m looking to make a difference (for them).”
Despite the cold rainy weather she felt that the job fair was a success and looks forward to repeating the event in the spring.
For those that were unable to go to the job fair but would be interested to find out more about the employment offered by the agencies that attended you may contact Center for Discovery at 794-1400 ext. 8304, Sullivan ARC at 796-1350, Wellness Home Care at 294-8364 or apply to Crystal Run Village via their website at www.crvi.org.