Goodwill's Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program is a partnership with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division, Wisconsin Division of Rehabilitation (DVR), the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the University of Wisconsin - Madison. When Zeudi entered the program in March 2017, she was working three part-time jobs, attending Alverno College pursuing a nursing degree and raising four children.
When her employment specialist, Keith Schroeder began working with Zeudi, the first questions he asked was how she balanced all of it. Zeudi shared that it wasn't easy. She requested IPS services for help reaching her employment goals and staying focused on finishing school. One of the first things Zeudi and Keith set out to solve was turning her three part-time jobs into one better-paying job. In July 2017, she began working as a home health aid for Caravel, where she worked with special needs children and their families. This move allowed her to better focus on her studies at Alverno as well as manage her busy schedule of work, school and children while lowering her anxiety and stress.
In January 2018, she applied for a paid internship position at St. Luke's Hospital, allowing her to combine her education and employment goals at one location. Upon graduation, she was offered a job. After working at St. Luke's for six months, she and Keith met with a representative from DaVita Dialysis at a job fair and Zeudi was offered a position. She also worked with her DVR counselor Vickie Jackson, who assisted with job development and ongoing support. Zeudi successfully completed the DVR services after three months of working at DaVita Dialysis. DVR further assisted her with the purchase of a new stethoscope and paid for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. She passed the exam and in November 2018 began working at DaVita Dialysis full time as a registered nurse traveling between various locations around the city. Zeudi enjoyed helping others and working for DaVita which allowed her to get to know patients and improve their standard of living and health.
In the spring of 2019 Zeudi felt it was time to move on to a position that involved less travel. Zeudi successfully applied for and was hired as a full-time nurse at Milwaukee Public Schools in August 2019 caring for students at one school in the morning and another in the afternoons. This way Zeudi was able to blend her children’s school schedule with her work schedule, being at home with them at the end of the school day. Zeudi began her master’s degree at Western Governors University in leadership and management and once again became a student herself.
In March 2020, the effects of coronavirus led to the closure the MPS schools. Zeudi looked to IPS for guidance in dealing with work issues during this stressful time and began working with a new employment specialist, Julie Loth. Zeudi continues to move forward; now at Quest Diagnostics she is administering flu shots at upcoming flu clinics and Virginia Highlands Health and Rehabilitation Center.
Her advice for those considering IPS services is: 'Just do it. If you work with someone you will find nontraditional jobs with better opportunities and room for growth."
