HIRE Committee Collaborative

The HIRE Committee has become successful by establishing a network of a community public and non-profit agencies serving people with disabilities who are looking for employment in one network where information is shared and connections are made that will lead to employment.

Bakersfield Association For Retarded Citizens (BARC)

BARC’S Supported Employment provides job skills evaluations and assessments, job development, job placement, job supports and job site training in competitive job situations. After employment BARC provides a Business Coach for job placement success.
Dave Kyle (661) 834-2272 Email

Bakersfield College WorkAbility III

Bakersfield College WorkAbility III provides a supportive environment for students with disabilities to learn skills necessary to compete with the non-disabled population in job search, obtaining and maintaining employment. Denise Crawford (661) 395-4659 Email

Career Services Centers (CSC)

Resource Rooms have Internet access for web-based job searches and resume posting through CalJOBS.  CSC hosts recruitments and workshops; the Disability Program Navigator is a resource for disability training. (661) 325-HIRE 

Cole Vocational

Cole Vocational Services Supports adults with Developmental Disabilities by enriching lives, promoting choices, and inspiring people. Cole's focus is on choices and goals clients have in their lives from (Quality Services, Safe Environments, Innovative Supports, Individualized Services, Relationship Development). We respect each individuals rights, preferences, responsibilities, beliefs, sensitive needs, and most of all ...their potential.
Damon Hill (661) 832-8583 Email

Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)

DOR works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living and equality for individuals with disabilities.
Debbie Plant (661) 395-2525

Employment Development Department (EDD)

EDD Jobs for All Program works with people with disabilities one-on-one to help find them employment.
Curtis Jenkins (661) 635-2662 Email

Employers' Training Resource (ETR)

As well as partnering to provide access to jobs via the Career Services Center, ETR helps people return to work at its Back to Work Center. The Center offers instruction on interview skills, revising your resume, and how to develop a plan of action to land a new job. Clients have access to telephones and job hotline numbers, fax machines, copiers, printers, typewriters, the Internet, current job openings, on-line resume posting as well as no-cost typing test and certification which can be duplicated at no charge. (661)336-6600

Goodwill Industries of Southern Central California

Goodwill provides work opportunities, vocational training in specific industries, situational assessments, supported employment and customized employment services for people with disabilities.
Ken Beurmann (661) 837-0595 ext. 117 Email

Independent Living Center of Kern County (ILCKC)

The ILCKC goal is to educate and empower people with disabilities to live independently within their communities.  The ILCKC has a variety of services promoting independent living skills, job placement, assistive technology, and peer support groups.
Liz Hernandez (661) 325-1063 

Kern High School District’s ABLE Program

A.B.L.E. works with intellectually disabled students between the ages of 18 and 22 years old. Our mission is to maximize independence and productivity through the use of life skill's curriculum and experience training in a variety of community-based activities. A.B.L.E. has  a functional skills curriculum which includes academics that are embedded in real-life activities.  These include training in vocational skills, independent living skills, social skills and community integration.

Chad Blain (661) 396-4420

Kern Regional Center (KRC)

KRC serves people with developmental disabilities to support their full inclusion in the community. As part of that over-arching mission we assist people who want to work in groups, individually, independently, or starting their own businesses.
Aaron Markovits (661) 852-3291 Email

PathPoint

PathPoint offers a wide variety of employment services to help individuals overcome barriers to employment, quickly place them on jobs and provide the training and support they need to keep jobs. The PathPoint job coach learns the job and assists the participant. 
Nicole Thomas (661) 617-6170

Social Vocational Services (SVS)

SVS is a non-profit organization that provided social and vocational training to adults with developmental disabilities in a group and individual setting. 
Laurie Hughey (661) 323-0533

Taft College Transition to Independent Living Program

Taft provides students with an enriched collegiate experience, an interactive and inclusive environment, learning activities that transfer to lifelong independent living skills, job skills. Susan Wells (661) 763-7842 Email

Valley Adult Services (VAS)

VAS Supported Employment Program provides individual or group employment services including job development and job coaching to adults with developmental disabilities. 
Meghan Holland (Individual Employment) (661) 832-2277 Email

The Vocational Services Unit of Kern County Mental Health (KCMH)

The Vocational Services Unit of Kern County Mental Health provides adults with psychiatric disabilities vocational assessment, job preparation and development, benefits counseling and support in securing and maintaining gainful employment, education, or community work activity. Carol Bowman (661) 868-5103, Lilly Castellon (661) 868-5102.

For more information on HIRE Committee Service Providers contact Aaron Markovits (661) 852-3291 Email