Mobile Job Resource Van Brings Support to Mosaic Patients in Prineville

Looking for a job can be hard, especially without access to transportation, internet or computer skills.

Now, a van parked outside Mosaic’s Prineville Health Center is helping locals overcome those obstacles.

For the past two years, Matt Olsen has been driving around Central Oregon bringing job resources to those who need it most. The Mobile Employment Resource Van is an on-the-go WorkSource unit with three computer stations and even a big-screen TV in the back for trainings and workshops. Matt and his team help people look for jobs, practice interviews, build resumes and find training programs.

Now, with their new partnership with Mosaic, those services will be available to Mosaic patients in Prineville every other Tuesday, just a few steps away from the health center doors.

The program is run by the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) and paid for by state and federal grants. Inside the van are computer workstations, internet access and one-on-one support from staff who can help people find jobs or start a new career.

“We’ve had people walk up to the van, ask what we do, sit down with us, and within an hour we’ve created a resume, searched for jobs and applied to positions,” says Matt Olsen, who drives and operates the van throughout Central Oregon.

Bringing Services Closer to Home

The van was created to help bring job services to people living outside Bend and Redmond.

In the past, WorkSource Oregon ran offices in some rural communities, but maintaining physical office locations became difficult. That meant many people had to travel a long way just to access job help.

“If you live somewhere like Warm Springs, that can be more than an hour drive, especially if you don’t have transportation,” Olsen says.

Now, instead of traveling across the region, community members can get support closer to home in Prineville, Madras, La Pine, Sisters, Warm Springs and Bend.

Free Employment Services Available

The Mobile Employment Resource Van offers many of the same services available through WorkSource Oregon offices, including:

• Job search help
• Resume development
• Interview preparation
• Career guidance
• Training assistance
• Mock interviews tailored to specific employers or industries

The van also connects people to additional community resources, including benefits navigation, computer classes and training scholarships.

Training Opportunities for In-Demand Careers

In addition to helping people apply for jobs, the program also helps people train for better paying jobs.

One of the most popular training opportunities is commercial driver’s license (CDL) certification. According to Olsen, some participants have increased their pay from about $17 an hour to more than $26 an hour after training.

“We’ve seen people improve their situations dramatically,” Olsen says. “One client used our training support to obtain her nursing license. That’s a huge step forward for her and her family.”

Programs like STEP (SNAP Training and Employment Program), available to some SNAP recipients, may also help pay for things people need while looking for work, like internet service, phone bills or gas.

Supporting the Whole Person

At Mosaic, we know health is connected to more than medical care alone. Having a job, stable housing and reliable transportation can improve a person’s health and quality of life.

That’s why partnerships like this matter.

By bringing employment services directly to the Prineville health center, Mosaic and COIC are helping people get the support they need to find jobs and build more stable lives.

Visit the Mobile Employment Resource Van

The Mobile Employment Resource Van is located outside Mosaic Community Health in Prineville every other Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Services are free and available to community members seeking employment support, career guidance or training resources.

For questions, contact Matt Olsen at 541-280-8419 or molsen@coic.org.