Collaboration

Hood County is blessed to have many agencies and organizations that minister to the same people we do.  We work together with many of these agencies and organizations to provide our students with the help they need without duplicating the services offered by others.  Following is a list of organizations and agencies we cooperate with to best minister to our students.

  • Many local churches.
  • Cresson PODS – We collaborate by attending events, sending appropriate volunteers to assist with classes.  We are different because they focus on residents and their children who live at the PODS.
  • Granbury Chamber of Commerce – The Chamber enhances and promotes the business environment and economic well-being of our community, while we focus on life transformation through education that empowers employment.  We collaborate on a multitude of levels with Chamber of Commerce that include the following:
    • Coffee & Connections – networking
    • Ambassadors – practice interviewers for our Jobs for Life Classes
    • Women in Business/Rising Leaders – attend informational seminars, events, etc.
    • In general, we advertise in the directory and have all our events on their community calendar.
  • Granbury Independent School District – We collaborate by teaching the Stars Accelerated High School Students Powered for Life classes.  They are different because they are part of the Granbury Independent School District and we are an elective.
  • Hood County Senior Center – We are not similar in services but support them by collaborating through the United Way.
  • Hope Center, Weatherford – We have tried working with Hope Center in the past when they offered their Careers Now program (training/opportunities in the trades).  COVID put a temporary hold on that partnership and they have since started that program back up.  We are in introductory phase with them and trying to incorporate that into our offerings.  They do the same thing we do, but also offer food pantry, rent/utilities/medical expense assistance and additional employment-centered classes.
  • Jobs for Life National – We are a Jobs for Life site and receive curriculum and training (CORE, Mentor and Instructor) from the organization.  We also attend all Site Leader Meetings and Dignity of Work Barriers to Employment webinars.  We only differ from them in the respect that we conduct the classes in our local community, for which they provide materials and training, and they focus on expansion of site globally.  We also provide training in other employment related subjects.
  • Lake Granbury Medical Center – We collaborate by partnering with Workforce and providing information relating to hiring of our students and programs that provide financial assistance for individuals they hire.  They are different based on focusing on medical resources.
  • Lake Granbury Ministerial Alliance – This Ministerial Alliance brings together the leaders on many ministries, agencies and churches to promote mutual awareness and collaboration.
  • Leadership Granbury – We collaborate by being on the Board of Directors and sending staff to attend their yearly Leadership Class.  They recruit practice interviewers for our classes.  They are different because they focus on supporting Granbury Businesses.
  • Many Mansions – We collaborate by recruiting their single Moms for our classes and referring programs to them that assist the well-being of their Moms.  We are different because their ministry is 100% focused on single moms and their children.
  • Mission Granbury – We collaborate by utilizing their programs for needs of our students, such as the food bank, clothing vouchers, etc.  We are different because they are the emergency resource for Granbury.
  • Ruth’s Place – We collaborate with them by sending our students to them for medical and dental care.  They are different because they have a clinic and focus on health care needs.
  • Tarleton University – We work with Prof. Cessna Winslow for marketing/communication interns.  We have occasional situations for which we qualify to receive interns in that capacity.  We continue to be on the list for interns as potential candidates become available.  Tarleton State University is a public research university with its main campus in Stephenville, Texas.
  • Texas Workforce Solutions – We collaborate and partner with them to provide options for our students that graduate and have barriers to moving forward for education and career, trades development.  They also assist with counseling and financial support and job placement.  We are different because they have financial resources to serve our students.
  • United Way of Hood County – We collaborate within their requirements as we are a recipient of grant monies from that agency.  They serve the entire eligible non-profit sector.
  • Upbring Headstart Preschool – We have spoken to groups of parents about High School Equivalency, English as a Second Language and Jobs for Life classes at our facility.  Upbring Head Start is a program for low-income families to help children be ready for school.  Head Start uses a criteria selection system along with categorically eligible factors to determine acceptance into its program.  We work with low-income families (parents) to learn about God’s design for work and the dignity in that work, that leads to stable, flourishing family life.