Orange Grove Center Will Host Job Fair On June 17

  • Monday, June 14, 2021

Orange Grove Center will be hosting a Job Fair this Thursday, June 17. Held in the Fragrance Garden on their main campus at 615 Derby Street, the fair will be open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Potential applicants will be able to learn about open positions for LPNs, RNs, BAs, DSPs, and Special Education teachers, and will even have the opportunity to complete their initial interview on the spot. Once hired, Orange Grove offers special new hire bonuses for DSPs and nurses who successfully complete the hiring process, orientation, and a full 30 days. DSPs will receive $500 after 30 days, and an additional $1,000 after 180 days. Nurses will receive $1,000 after 30 days, and an additional $1,500 after 180 days. These competitive programs will expire on July 17. 

Officials said, "Since 1953, Orange Grove Center has been dedicated to the innovation and expansion of services and care for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Reaching beyond the basics, it is their mission to recognize, support and celebrate the qualities of each individual they serve so that they can lead multifaceted, rewarding lives within the greater community. The center’s scope has steadily grown since its early days, with a widening footprint that now encompasses counties in neighboring Georgia, including Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield, Chattooga and Gordon Counties. Today, Orange Grove serves 1,000+ adults and children, with supports running the gamut from school-age services, to job training and employment placements, to residential, healthcare, and retirement programs. 

"An expanded scope necessitates a full and dedicated staff, and Orange Grove currently employs over 700 individuals. A team of this size is not always easy to maintain however, and in recent years, an increase in job openings and shortage of applicants has created an ongoing staffing crisis at the center. The economic slowdown and drastic reduction in the workforce that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation: before the pandemic hit, there were 65 job openings, now, the number of vacant positions has climbed to over 200.

"Few careers can be as rewarding as those which prioritize the well-being of individuals who are often left out of the collective conversation. By setting the standard for person-centered, creatively executed programs and services that are tailored to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, Orange Grove actively imagines a more inclusive and productive community. Perhaps no one knows this better than Orange Grove’s CEO Tera Roberts. Ms. Roberts came to the center 27 years ago as a DSP, and during her time there has come to recognize the very human needs of the individuals we serve."

Ms. Roberts said, “Beyond shelter and food, the sense of security that naturally comes from love, comfort and understanding is at the forefront of our mission and services.”

If you are unable you attend the job fair, you can browse Orange Grove’s current job openings by visiting https://www.orangegrovecenter.org/www/careers.


Happenings
Vintage Base Ball Opening Day For Chattanooga Clubs Is April 6
Vintage Base Ball Opening Day For Chattanooga Clubs Is April 6
  • 3/28/2024

The Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga and the Mountain City Club of Chattanooga will begin the 2024 season of vintage base ball (yep, two words) on the historic 6th Calvary polo field (6 Barnhardt ... more

4 Bridges Arts Festival Returns April 20-21
  • 3/28/2024

The Association for Visual Arts will present the 24th Annual 4 Bridges Arts Festival at the First Horizon Pavilion on the southside of downtown Chattanooga this April. The festival will take ... more

Volunteers Needed for American Battlefield Trust Park Day
  • 3/28/2024

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is seeking volunteers for American Battlefield Trust Park Day. Sign-up will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the intersection of Woodland ... more