Thrive Background

 “Thrive” is the branded name for an cooperative economic and talent development effort amongst nine counties in north central Ohio: Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca and Wyandot. This region, like many others in Ohio, has been experiencing the economic challenges of the 21st century. It greatest asset has always been its people, but the knowledge and skills now required of workers in virtually every industry demands a radical new approach to meeting employer needs. Traditional systems and structures must be challenged in this process, and all programs and resources realigned to support the region’s economic and talent development strategy.
                                                         
Thrive is the regional component of the Ohio Skills Bank, a state-driven initiative that operationalizes Governor Ted Strickland’s goal to “seamlessly link education, workforce development and the needs of business.”  The primary drivers include a regional education and training consortium of more than 30 institutions and programs. Also critical are the regional economic development agencies coordinated through the state’s regional economic development office. And there are countless businesses, workforce investment agencies, and other supporters of this initiative.
Career Pathways and the Thrive Portal
Thrive/OSB relies on a “Career Pathways” framework to foster regional alliances between employers and education and training providers. A Career Pathway system is a series of connected educational and training programs and support services that prepares and enables individuals, often while they are working, to secure a job and advance over time to successively higher levels of education and employment in a specific industry.
Career Pathways are best captured in a single summary map for each target industry. The first regional pathways are in healthcare, soon to be followed by advanced manufacturing. However, the map is just the starting point. Career Pathway goals are to increase access, awareness, affordability, resources, and alignment for high school students, adult learners, and the incumbent workforce. As such, this portal attempts to capture all these key components on a regional basis through the following pages:
 
Internship Site. Co-ops and internships make college more affordable, provide real-world experience and skills needed for employment, and an opportunity for a job after graduation. This site will allow employers to advertise, and students to apply for, internships completely online. Employers interested in posting to this site can start the process of creating a user account here .
Credentialed Worker (Coming Soon). The Thrive Advanced Manufacturing Career Pathway team is working towards a uniform “regional certification” which to help standardize training/education across north central Ohio for key manufacturing disciplines. This will make it easier for students to move from one institution to another while working toward certification. This site will allow a regional employer to search from the desktop for students who have attained certain certifications.
Search By Job. This section allows the user to “drill down” through the various regional pathways under a high-level industry, such as healthcare, by moving the cursor over the wording. The user can view detailed pathway maps; short career videos; regional projections (by county) for wages and annual openings; and links to the regional programs training for that career.
Search by School. This section provides an alternative means to drill down based on the geographical preference of the user. It allows the user to pinpoint specific institutions, the programs they offer, and regional projections for wages and openings.
Thrive Updates. This section will update users on the radical changes in the talent development system happening both in our region and around Ohio.
Career Services. This section links the user to regional resources for career development, including career assessment, advising and counseling. It also provides links to online career development assessments, resume preparation, networking tools, etc.
Transfer and Articulation. Thrive/OSB will facilitate development of a regional educational system through adulthood where courses and credits are more uniform to eliminate confusion and disparities and enhance transferability.
Costs and Financial Aid. This section provides estimated education/training costs at each regional institution, as well as links to a variety of local, state and national financial aid sites.
Support Services. This links the user to support services and other benefits that are critical components for the adult learner. These include matters such as child care, emergency assistance, food assistance, homeowner's assistance, transportation and legal services.
Medical Supports. This site links the user to various free and low-cost benefits to meet various medical needs.
Surviving a Layoff.  This site provides information, tips and services to transitioning workers -- including means to steps to obtain tuition assistance for retraining.
Money Management. This site provides local and online resources for improving budgeting and overall financial management.
Entrepreneurship. There are hundreds of business starts in our region each year, and more than 20% of regional businesses are sole proprietors. This site will provide advice and local links to launching a business.
Veterans. There are numerous education, employment and social benefits available to our region's veterans.
Basic Skill Building. Regional colleges and adult education programs are piloting pre-college certificates to serve as a starting point for many adult learners as they continue their education. These certificates create a foundation which the learners will build upon to increase their chance in postsecondary education and in the workplace. In addition, this site provides links to free online courses for building skills in computer literacy, academic skills such as math, and many applied workplace skills.
Youth & Parents.This section is specifically designed for youth, parents and guidance counselors. It provides career awareness and preparation options written at the youth level, and suggestions for adults to best help children prepare for postsecondary training.