top of page

Worker Wellness Blog thru May 17, 2026

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness blog takes a look at how alcohol is a public health threat in the USA—to the importance of self-care—to how the workplace needs to prepare for an aging workforce.

 

Focal Point: Over the next week or so, we will see several stories concerning high school and college graduations. One of those stories that caught my eye had a rural perspective. Having worked in the workforce development arena for the better part of my career, I connected with the account linked below.[1] This serves as just another tale of how people who understand the issues others are up against can step up and pay it forward. Although the term ‘simple fix’ is mentioned herein, there is nothing simple about moving future grads in small communities from dead-end prospects to life-changing careers in construction. In my opinion, the real work comes in the form of sustaining the program. It is not enough to merely recruit and then run bodies through a ‘program’. We must focus on OUTCOMES vs inputs and outputs!

 

It is important to note that this story is unfolding in Missouri. No surprise to me, as ‘we’ designed, developed, and implemented the BUD program over 12 years ago in St. Louis. This program has now morphed into the Apprentice Ready Construction program in 4 metro areas across the state.  Soon, the Apprentice Ready Manufacturing program will expand beyond St. Louis to Kansas City. None of this success was done in a vacuum! While internal and external partners are key to sustainable workforce development, the most important ingredient is willing and capable program participants. Hats off to our recent grads!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact Dr John Gaal, Chief Learning Officer, at stlbtwc@gmail.com with related questions or comments.

 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page