Development Counseling Services (DCS) is a personalized resource offered through Deseret Industries that helps associates make meaningful progress on employment goals and self-reliance. Through DCS, credentialed professionals known as development counselors help associates:
Address barriers to employment.
Set career goals.
Plan for long-term success.
Navigate challenges that affect employability, such as anxiety or grief.
Development counselors play an important role in guiding associates in their personal and professional pursuits. They help individuals make lasting progress through efforts like assessing needs and overall functioning, providing counseling, and offering vocational assessment and educational support.
Development counselors are embedded in every DI job training facility. This close proximity to associates allows for regular interactions and formal check-ins, ensuring development counselors better understand each individual’s unique needs. Working closely with operational supervisors, they tailor support to improve:
Work habits.
Emotional response.
Interpersonal skills.
The purpose of the DI job training program is to help associates overcome barriers to employment, many of which are not unique to the workplace. For example, associates may face loss, life changes, mental health challenges, or physical disabilities. Development counselors offer real-time support by providing:
Strategies for managing emotions.
Tools for building life skills and strengthening independence.
Referrals to community resources for long-term assistance.
Development counselors assist associates in identifying their strengths and interests by administering vocational assessments. Based on the results, counselors collaborate with associates to:
Create effective development plans.
Determine on-the-job training opportunities.
Identify vocational programs in the community.
Access financial assistance for certifications and other training.
With the personalized guidance of development counselors and DI staff, associates are empowered to succeed in the future. Whether associates are returning to the workforce, seeking a career transition, or navigating a life change, development counselors play an important part in helping them move forward with confidence.