CVS Health opens career hub within Goodwill of Greater Detroit

CVS Health has opened its newest Workforce Innovation and Talent Center in collaboration with Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit, offering comprehensive skills training, job placement and community health services. The innovation hub features a mock retail store, pharmacy and other professional education settings. Offering workforce development trainings, certifications courses and professional education programs, The new CVS Health WITC is now available for use by the Detroit Metro community, with enrollment open for programs beginning July 2023.

“We recognize each person’s value and help individuals unlock their full potential through our collaborative approach to workforce development,” said Ernie Dupont, executive director of Workforce Initiatives at CVS Health. “Providing comprehensive workforce development and job placement opportunities, especially to pools of talent who are often overlooked or face barriers to employment, has the power to transform lives. To be most effective and build healthier communities, we need to work closely with leading community organizations, like Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit.”

[Read more: CVS Health opens Workforce Innovation and Talent Center in Pittsburgh]

The new WITC is housed within the headquarters of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit at 311 Grand River Road and is tailored to the specific needs of the community. The center is a local demonstration of the company’s commitment to address social determinants of health, such as employment and economic stability, by providing Detroiters access to opportunity and inclusive pathways to meaningful careers.

Programs are specifically designed for individuals facing barriers to opportunity — like people with disabilities, mature workers, youth, veterans and returning citizens—who may not only need jobs, but also additional support to help ensure long-term success. The CVS Health Second Chance Program will provide training to returning citizens, which works with justice-involved individuals and prepares them for gainful employment with greater success.

“Goodwill of Greater Detroit is proud to partner with CVS Health to launch this innovative training program for area residents,” said Dan Varner, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. “This new WITC, one of only a handful in the country, is more evidence of our shared commitment to giving people a hand up to achieve their aspirations. It builds a new pathway to meaningful work—one of many we will launch over the next 18 months—and we welcome all who want to take advantage of it.”

[Read more: CVS Health study finds people taking control of their health]

In addition to the new WITC, CVS Health has made several recent commitments to address social determinants of health across Michigan. Earlier this year, the company invested more than $11 million to build a 53-unit multifamily affordable housing community in Detroit’s historic Brush Park neighborhood. In addition, the company’s Aetna business also recently awarded $250,000 in grants to 10 community partners across the state, including Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit. The grants support organizations that work to meet health and social care needs, such as those related to physical and mental health, food security, workforce training and housing stability.

For nearly two decades, the company’s Workforce Initiatives program has helped thousands of people in historically underserved communities overcome barriers to employment and access meaningful career opportunities. Workforce Initiatives partners with community organizations, state and federal agencies, schools, universities and faith-based groups to offer a variety of programs that promote successful employment transitions, career development and advancement for people with diverse backgrounds.

CVS Health WITCs demonstrate the company’s commitment to economic development within diverse communities, by building upon the company’s successful local collaborations across the country. In addition to the new Detroit location, CVS Health operates WITCs in Boston; Cleveland; Jackson, Tenn.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Woonsocket, R.I.