The Achieve Program

The Achieve Program, operated by the nonprofit Towards Employment in Cleveland, Ohio, is an employer-based retention program that includes supportive services as a key program component. Towards Employment developed the concept for an employer-based program that is operated at the worksite in 2000 and piloted the program in 2001. It was invited to include the Achieve Program in the Employment Retention and Advancement (ERA) project, a demonstration and evaluation supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

Achieve is operating in 11 sites that are primarily in the long-term care industry. The program seeks to significantly reduce turnover among frontline workers and the costs associated with that turnover. Program components include worksite-based case management, lunchtime workshops for workers on topics such as workplace skills and financial literacy, training for frontline supervisors, and supportive services to address barriers to employment. Case managers bring an in-depth knowledge of community resources to the job. They assess workers' needs and determine how to meet those needs, which may be by referring workers for services or by directly paying for services.

The goal of this program is to increase entry-level employee retention, promote skill building for employee success, and reduce employee absenteeism and turnover.

Early findings from the ERA evaluation suggest that entry-level workers in the Achieve Program were more likely to retain their jobs than workers in the control sites, and short-term retention gains tended to be greatest among recently hired employees. Employers also report improvements in morale and productivity. Five employers that have received Achieve services have elected to continue the program on a fee-for-service basis, which enables these employers to work with Towards Employment to customize Achieve services to meet specific employer and employee needs.