Male and female workers with cleaning equipment at a hospital corridor

blog post

Partnership Highlight: St. Joseph Hospital

June 17, 2020

#OCGoodwill’s partnership with St. Joseph Hospital spans for many years.

Currently, the hospital employs two participants in a group setting and four participants in an individual setting. All six team members are in charge of different tasks within the Environmental Services (EVS) Department.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear set in with all our program participants of either losing their jobs or not working in a safe environment. However, the management team at St. Joseph Hospital, Asif Khattak (Southern California Regional EVS Director) and Omar Castro (EVS Director), made it a priority to ensure everyone is working well and safely during the health crisis.

Together, the hospital management team and our Goodwill Employment Training Specialist Omar Sandoval, established several safety protocols and measures to help our participants feel comfortable and safe working during the pandemic, including providing proper Personal Protective Equipment for every team member.

Team member Lauren wearing a mask and cleaning the restroom
The group at St. Joseph’s is in charge of all discharges on the third floor of both the east and west wing of the hospital.

Team member Rogelio focuses on cleaning the rooms and getting them ready for the next patient

Team member Rogelio focuses on cleaning the rooms and getting them ready for the next patient through sweeping, sanitizing all surfaces and changing bed linens. Team member Lauren is in charge of taking out the trash from the room and restroom and cleaning and restocking supplies in the restroom.

Team member Gary disposing of hospital trash

Team member Carlo wearing a mask with cleaning equipments at a hospital corridor

Our individual placements (Carlo, Trung and Gary) take out trash, linens, biohazard material and cardboard, buffer floors, and clean out bins/chutes throughout the entire hospital.

Male and female workers wearing a mask and face shield with cleaning equipments in room

All six participants have been working very hard, sometimes clocking more than 40 hours a week, to make sure all areas of the hospital they are responsible are safe and sanitized. They are supported by their Goodwill job coach Elizabeth L.

Thank you, St. Joseph Hospital for your partnership with Goodwill of Orange County and for the continued support during these trying times.

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