Goddard House is excited to welcome Daniella Rothchild and Transitions to Work to our community. Daniella works as a server in the dining room four nights a week. She feels like “part of the family” at Goddard House and believes she has “found her niche”. Daniella’s goal is to always make the residents smile. Inspired by her 92 year old grandmother, Daniella enjoys interactions with the residents and the lessons and stories they share with her. They inspire her to want to create a meaningful life. She takes pride in her work, focusing on details and the needs of each resident even double checking that each meal is correct before serving. Daniella also values the relationships she is building with her co-workers. She strives to take initiative and be a team player. She felt “welcomed back home” after a recent trip to Israel. Ken Yarvitz, head of Food Service, says Daniella’s personality fits in perfectly at Goddard House: “She has connected with residents, learned procedures and become an integral part of “the Team.”

 

Daniella praises her training with Transitions to Work as “priceless” and “a perfect environment with skills training and support” and is glad she now knows “exactly how to provide customer service.” Daniella is also a graduate of Mitchell College and took courses in the liberal arts and early childhood education. She regularly made the Dean’s List, graduated Magna Cum Laude, and was a member of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society.

Transitions to Work is a collaboration among Combined Jewish Philanthropies, The Ruderman Family Foundation and Jewish Vocational Service, is a high quality, supported employment program for young adults with disabilities, based on an intensive 12-week training and internship. Transitions to Work enables young adults with disabilities to develop the skills needed for employment and places them into jobs that provide earnings and a sense of purpose. The program builds relationships with employers to raise awareness about inclusive hiring practices and engages not-for-profit and corporate partners to consider young adults with disabilities as qualified, committed candidates for employment opportunities.