Wedgwood Christian Services focuses on youth dealing with tough mental and behavioral issues. And with financial support from its foundation, Wedgwood Christian Services has raised wages more than 20%, part of an aggressive campaign to fill approximately 65 open positions – more than half in its residential program.
Daniel Gowdy is Wedgwood’s CEO and President. He calls the move bold and ethical with the need for Wedgwood services having never been greater.
“But locally, Wedgwood since January has had to turn away 79 youth abused or neglected, during their most difficult time, solely because we did not have the staff to care for them. That is an ethical crisis in our community.”
Gowdy says salaries will range up to $22 per hour, which adds up to one of the top wages for residential program providers in West Michigan. He says they have seven residential houses that can serve 100 children on their Kentwood campus. They’re now looking for youth treatment specialists and aides, residential clinicians and occupational therapy assistants to help address the crisis.
“So you have this workforce shortage, and that’s one thing when making products. It’s a far more devastating thing, generationally to our community, when we aren’t able to servie these kids during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. Maybe after a suicide attempt, after experiencing being trafficked.”
With the situation at hand, Gowdy again says, they are aggressively trying to fill the open positions with caring individuals that will positively impact the youth.
He says you can visit Wedgwood.org for more information.
