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WDB HMO
News & Opportunities
Stay up to date with the latest job opportunities, training, and more on our website!
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WDB HMO NY Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (SCION) Grant
Disability Resource Coordinator Julia Fernandez
Achieves Work Incentive Practitioner Credentials
On October 2, 2025, WDB HMO Disability Resource Coordinator Julia Fernandez was granted full credentials as a Work Incentive Practitioner from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations Institute on Employment and Disability.
Julia can now assist customers who want to work and are receiving Social Security Disability (SSDI and SSI) benefits. Many people who are receiving disability benefits fear they will lose their benefits if they go to work. This is not the case. There are incentives in place that help to ease people off benefits if working is sustainable for them, and Work Incentive Practitioners are trained to help people navigate through this process.
Congratulations, Julia!
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Congratulations Owen Getti, Conant Rose, and Chris Duda!
Congratulations, WDB Oneida County Re-Entry Taskforce Program (RTF) Coordinator Owen Getti, RTF Credible Messenger Conant Rose, and Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) grant Case Manager Chris Duda for successfully completing the Ready, Set, Work! and Career University: Advancing to the Next Level Facilitator Training!
Held in Albany from October 22–24, this intensive three-day program was facilitated jointly by the DCJS – Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives (OPCA) and the NYS Department of Labor. The training featured classroom instruction, small group activities, and a teach-back component—equipping facilitators with the skills and certification necessary to deliver job readiness programs for justice-involved individuals, helping them find and keep employment through skills training in areas like job applications, interviewing, and job retention planning.
"We’re proud of Owen, Conant, and Chris for representing our teams with excellence and helping expand our capacity to prepare participants for meaningful employment and long-term success in the community," RTF Director Jeremy Esch and ATI Director Christina Spagnuolo said.
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Congratulations, New WDB Disability Resource Coordinator NY Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (SCION) Grant Program Director Paula Ford!
The NY Systems Change and Inclusive Opportunities Network (SCION) Grant is helping to expand the capacity of the Working Solutions Career Centers to provide services that will assist workers with disabilities along their career path.
The program assists and trains Working Solutions career center staff on topics including, but not limited to, rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Ticket to Work (TTW), accommodations, assistive technology, and assessments.
To learn more, contact Paula at Ext 148 or pford@working-solutions.org
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Congratulations, Fiston Makoma, New Deputy Director of the WDB Greater Mohawk Valley Childcare Grant Program!
This program aims to implement systems change in workforce development efforts for residents located in the Greater Mohawk Valley region of New York State who are utilizing childcare as well as those that work within the Child Care Sector.
To learn more, contact Fiston at Ext. 153 or fmakoma@working-solutions.org
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Madison County Working Solutions Success!
By Madison County Working Solutions Workforce Development Counselor Autumn Moon
Mark has been a Career Center customer for about a year now. During this year, he has accomplished great things!
Mark came in looking for help finding employment. Once we started working with him, we discovered that Mark needed more intensive services. Mark is an intellectually disabled man who has relied on his mother for most things in life but no longer has her support.
The career center has helped him get case/care management through OPWDD, get a job coach from other agencies like Acces-VR and the ARC, start a bank account, get set up with a primary care doctor, and finally get approved for SSI.
Our time with Mark was a long and very educational one and we could not be prouder of Mark for achieving his original goal of becoming employed. Mark was offered a part-time cleaning job, and he is very excited about starting work!
Congratulations, Mark!
The Career Center welcomes all who need help becoming self-sufficient, contact us to see how we can help you!
| | Opportunities for Job Seekers | | |
WDB Free Training Grant Programs:
NOW ENROLLING!
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The Workforce Development Board has learning/training grants that you may be eligible for!
View our Training Grant Programs Here and contact us to find out how we can help you jump start your career in a field you love.
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| | Herkimer Working Solutions | | Utica Public Library November | | | | |
Happy November!
Next Month's Issue:
Do you have something you'd like to share? A hiring event, learning/training opportunity, announcement, or community news? Photos are always welcome! Please email Jodi Delapaz,
Communications Coordinator:
jdelapaz@working-solutions.org
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Workforce Development Board,
Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties, Inc.
209 Elizabeth Street
Utica, NY 13501
www.working-solutions.org
This workforce product was funded by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. This product was created by the recipient and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Equal Opportunity Employer/Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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