Page 14 - WI 2020 Highlights Report

Embracing the Digital World
HOSA (Health Occupational Students of America) 2020 INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
The 2020 International HOSA Leadership Conference engaged more than 6,000 students, educators and business leaders at their virtual event held in June, 2020. CVS Health Workforce Initiatives, the premiere pharmacological partner with HOSA, annually sponsors the pharmacy competition at the conference, awarding scholarships to outstanding students. Ted Mower led the Workforce Initiatives virtual participation. “We were honored to engage over 6,000 individuals and award five scholarships at this year’s virtual HOSA Conference. Although we sincerely missed the chance to engage these students in person, they consistently bring an unbelievable amount of energy and enthusiasm to this event. The students are truly the future health professionals that we hope will be joining our team at CVS Health in the future.”
ABILITIES IN ABUNDANCE VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
The first Abilities in Abundance Town Hall meeting was held virtually on October 30 by the co-leads of the Abilities Talent Pipeline Group (TPG) Stacey Butler, Workforce Initiatives Advisor, Duane Rohr, Workforce Initiatives Advisor and Rick Laferriere, Workforce Initiatives Director and Sr. Advisor to Abilities.
The Town Hall event presented an open discussion on how Abilities has worked to increase the awareness of CVS Health’s commitment to developing innovative pipelines of talent from the disability community, and how this message can be amplified beyond our networks. Prominent was the information about Cognitovia, a virtual platform created for people with disabilities, and input from students about how a pilot program using this application is being accessed. Also front and center in the meeting was the “Abilities in Abundance” video that has merited award recognitions, and is widely used to illustrate the benefits of VA partnerships. Participating in the Town Hall were representatives from the Tennessee Vocational and Rehabilitation Center. Located in Smyrna, TN, the Center has been an integral partner in implementing expanded services to people with disabilities.
In the spirit of the season, attendees participated in a Halloween theme, wearing costumes and disguises. In keeping with the theme, the Abilities team channeled The Wizard of Oz with Butler appearing as Dorothy, Rohr as the Tin Man and Laferriere showed up as the Scarecrow.
DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP FORUM
Rick Laferriere, Workforce Initiatives Director, led the 7th Annual Diversity Leadership Forum in August 2020. The virtual event “Evolution of Belonging at CVS Health” was an invitation only presentation designed to enhance the competencies and capabilities of CVs Health senior leadership so that they may advance the mission of Strategic Diversity Management and CVS Health.
Over the course of two days, leaders from across the enterprise
heard from CVS Health diversity champions. Also on the program were diversity and inclusion experts who provided attendees a better understanding on how pursuing workforce diversity and creating a culture of belonging has evolved over the years. Additionally explored was the role of corporate senior leaders in the CVS Health journey as the enterprise goes forward.
Among the many topics featured in panel discussions during the virtual forum included the work of the Talent Acquisition team and the mission of the Colleague Resource Groups. The outreach and success of the Workforce Initiatives team was prominently highlighted.
What our partners are saying...
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
The CVS Health Workforce Initiative
led by Lena Barkley in partnership
with Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) has yielded opportunities in retail and pharmacy that would have otherwise not been available. Programs designed to best serve low- income single parents, disconnected youth and long-term unemployed
adults helped explicitly to engage those populations on career paths at a rate higher than any other DESC partnerships. The development of apprenticeships, customized training and specialized
job coaching have been successful in securing employment with CVS Health. Lena’s participation in DESC’s summer youth employment program over the past 10 years has contributed to more than 8000 youths being placed in meaningful work experiences. We consider CVS Health Workforce Initiatives as a valued partner as we pursue our goals for workforce development service delivery systems to achieve racial and socio- economic equity across the City of Detroit.
– Terri Weems, President
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
14 | CVS Health Workforce Initiatives 2020 Highlights