Cheryl Garr, director of vocational services for Goodwill Keystone Area was the featured speaker for the August meeting of Lehigh County TRIAD, a partnership of law enforcement, older adults and community organizations dedicated to improving safety and quality of life for seniors.

People usually think of stores when they hear the name Goodwill, said Garr, but Goodwill is much more than that.

Part of an international network, Keystone area Goodwill is one of 166 such organizations in the United States. Each Goodwill is independent, and Keystone serves 22 counties in Pennsylvania.

The concept was pioneered by Reverend Edgar Helms in 1902, based on the idea of giving people "a hand up, rather than a handout," Garr said.

Goodwill has three divisions: mission services, of which vocational services is a part; business services and retail services, comprising the well-known thrift stores.

"Retail services are essential to mission services," Garr said, explaining the stores provide some of the needed funding for their operations. Other funding is provided by local agencies such as the Office of Vocation Rehabilitation and the Office of Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.

Garr gave a detailed description of the services provided by Goodwill-Keystone area, which recently purchased Good Shepherd's facility at 1901 Lehigh St., providing employment services for people with disabilities or handicaps. Most of the individuals served have mental health disabilities, she said, leading to a sporadic work history. Others have had a career but can no longer do the work because of an injury or disability.

Employment is important to quality of life and self-esteem for the disabled, said Garr, and Goodwill's vocational services help them to be as effective an employee as possible. She explained the process for a client seeking help with employment.

Clients are first assessed to determine their interests and abilities, as well as their work behaviors and attitudes. Goodwill then works with participating employers to allow clients to learn job skills through supported employment. Someone may work with the employee, or allow them to do just part of a job.

Generally these clients go through an adjustment phase, during which they need help getting to the point where they are competitive in a job. For instance, they may need help in understanding work relationships or how to use public transportation. Clients are also given help with problem-solving and job search skills.

Clients are given help with both finding a job and holding onto it. Some require job coaching, said Garr, meaning someone will go with the employee to the job, usually for about nine days. Goodwill follows all clients for at least a year and much longer if necessary. The county provides some funding for longer-term assistance.

Some employment takes place at the sheltered workshop on Lehigh Street, rather than at the employer's location. Work is performed there for employers like Crayola and Just Born.

Goodwill Keystone Area also provides The Clubhouse of Lehigh County, a day program and evening drop-in center for persons with mental illness. Modeled on New York City's Fountain House, The Clubhouse offers a place for members to socialize, perform meaningful work and have a sense of belonging.

Any type of work is essential for the mentally ill, said Garr, as is social contact. Much of the work at the Clubhouse is done by members, such as helping prepare lunch, cleaning, watering the garden, working on the newsletter or reporting statistics.

The evening drop-in center provides computers and a staff to help with job searching, as well as entertainment like movies, games, speakers, even a trip to Musikfest.

Another program, Project Search, started five years ago and has won national awards, said Garr. This program serves high school seniors with handicaps and focuses on teaching work skills and preparing them for employment after graduation.

Goodwill's Business Services Division acts as a contract staffing service and provides workers for jobs like cleaning office buildings, often under Federal contracts.

Following Garr's presentation, Martha Lieberman gave an update on re-implementation of Project Lifesaver, a recent TRIAD initiative of which she is chairman. Funding has been secured for both the Allentown and Bethlehem police departments to restart the program, which uses bracelets and tracking equipment to find mentally-challenged individuals when they wander. The program was begun 10 years ago, but had been discontinued and was in need of updated training and equipment. Lieberman thanked Captain Daryl Hendricks from the Allentown Police Department and Officer Kristopher Shirk from the Bethlehem Department, who were both present, for their work in restarting the program.

Hendricks said TRIAD Chairman Judith Lieberman was important in starting the program 10 years ago, and had encouraged the police department to apply for a grant for new equipment. He asked that audience members "get out and talk to clients" about the program. Although it will not be up and running for a couple of months, he said, people should be referred to Martha Lieberman if they have a relative who might benefit.

Lieberman also said Project Lifesaver has a new program for associates. This allows municipalities to receive the training without the cost of purchasing the equipment. They can then arrange with a nearby municipality to borrow the equipment when they need to find someone.

TRIAD Chairman Judith Lieberman then took the floor.

"I'm ecstatic about the news on Project Lifesaver," she said, and added her thanks to the two police officers and her daughter Martha. She then sought input on the question of the time and venue for TRIAD meetings, saying people had complained about the meeting time, 8:30 a.m., with Continental breakfast served 8 a.m. She said she had received offers from two alternative venues for meetings at lunchtime or in the late afternoon. A vote was taken, and most seemed to favor exploring the option of moving the time to 9 a.m. at the current venue, Emeritus Senior Living in Allentown.

Lieberman said TRIAD has been very busy accepting engagements at health fairs and other community events. On Aug. 6, TRIAD and Project Lifesaver were asked to participate in National Night Out in Coplay, she said. She reminded the audience TRIAD can provide speakers for clubs, usually within 24 hours.