Employment & Education Services

River Valley Resources (RVR) is the agency Court Services participants are referred to for education and employment services. In order to be successful in the future, a participant must become self-sufficient. 

High School Equivalency (HSE)

RVR currently offers 24 hours of daytime and 9 hours of evening High School Equivalency (HSE) classroom instruction per week in Jefferson County. Classroom instruction is supplemented with online instructional tools. River Valley Resources makes every effort to help a student earn their HSE in the shortest time period possible.

Adult Education Program

Graduates from the Adult Education program are offered the opportunity to advance their education by earning a portable, short-term certification in a high demand career. Certifications include: Heating and Air, Dental Assistant, Microsoft Certification, Certified Production Technician (MSSC), CNC, Certified Nursing Assistant, Hospitality Certification, etc. Scholarships may be available for this purpose.

Rural Works

River Valley Resources offers “Rural Works,” a proprietary poverty-to-self-sufficiency employment program. The Rural Works model is a natural fit for participants in that it emphasizes a holistic approach to serving clients with multiple barriers to employment. 

The goal of the Rural Works program is to prepare and place individuals in employment that pays a self-sufficient wage, with benefits.

Qualified applicants to Rural Works will successfully pass a drug screen and submit to a background check. RVR has a network of employers who will employ Rural Works graduates.

Program Model

The program model is a 4 step process:

Step 1: Job Readiness

Participants are required to attend a one week, 30 hour workshop. The goal of these workshops is to simulate a real-world work environment. In order to successfully graduate from the Rural Works program, participants must attend and participate in every module, are to be on-time, dressed, and behave appropriately.

Step 2: Job Search

The Rural Works program incorporates structured assistance with job search. Until a participant becomes employed, this includes access to River Valley Resources’ services:

  • Application assistance
  • Core group of employers (employers who will hire and mentor our graduates)
  • Internet
  • Interview feedback until a participant becomes employed

Step 3: Job Retention

RVR provides regular contact for at least one year with each participant and employer to help ensure employment retention. Re-employment services are provided following job loss.

Step 4: Advancement

Once the participant retains the same job for one year, staff assists with a plan to improve a skill, behavior, or educational component to increase marketability and earning power.