Get Healthy: Workforce Program case manager's mission: Linking employers, jobless

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal's Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to our community's health.These days, Lynn Ellis is busy doing a job she loves, and she wants to make sure that many other Carson City residents can say that as well. Since the beginning of this year, she has been the Workforce Program case manager at Carson City Health and Human Services, helping place people for employment by providing them with rsum tips, interview skills and job-search resources.Ellis is calling this the “year of partnership” in Carson City, and she's working to network with other local agencies, including Nevada Job Connect and JOIN, to bring together employers and job seekers in the area. She believes that the perception that there aren't any skilled people to fill jobs is false. Her mission is to link the people looking for work with the businesses that need employees. Spend any time talking to Ellis about the Workforce Program and you'll see how passionate she is about doing so.The program offers classes from 2-4 p.m. every Wednesday for prospective employees to help them hone their interviewing skills and fine-tune their resumes. Some class participants already have been hired at local businesses. “People who have taken the class come back smiling and tell me they got an interview, and that they felt comfortable and confident. When they're smiling, that makes me smile,” Ellis said.Right now, the job fair taking place Friday is at the top of Ellis' thoughts. “We have over 30 employers signed up, and more emails keep coming in,” she said, adding, “this is huge!”In an area where many are jobless, it certainly is huge. Reducing unemployment in Northern Nevada is a big job, but the Workforce Program, and its very enthusiastic case manager, are committed to doing everything possible to get people back to work.Mark your calendars for the job fair, set for 2-4 p.m. Friday at the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Drive. For more information about Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCHHS. CARSON CITY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESWhere: 900 E. Long St.Call: 775-887-2195.Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays and Fridays; call for appointments. Well-child visits are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays.Men's clinic: 4-6 p.m. Mondays.Immunization Day: 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-4:30 p.m. Thursdays.DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTHWhere: 1538 Highway 395 North (at of Spruce Street and Cemetery Lane).Call: 775-782-9038.Hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.Monday is Immunization Day: It's from 1-4:30 p.m.; no appointment is needed.