Career Horizons Center

09/04/2026

Fact Friday! 💡
Did you know an acquired disability, such as Long COVID, can involve symptoms and health conditions that continue for months or even years?

These ongoing symptoms can affect daily life, work, and a person’s ability to remain in or return to the workforce. Understanding acquired disabilities is an important step toward creating more supportive and accessible workplaces.

Learn more about the Career Horizons Project and the resources available at careerhorizonsproject.msstate.edu



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107.

09/03/2026

Joint pain and stiffness can make everyday tasks more difficult and make movement throughout the day feel exhausting.

For individuals living with an acquired disability, understanding how symptoms affect daily activities and work is an important part of finding the right support.

Learn more about the resources and employment support available through the Career Horizons Project:
careerhorizonsproject.msstate.edu



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107.

09/02/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Castle, Co-Principal Investigator for the Career Horizons Project! We are proud to have you as a part of CHP!

We are excited to celebrate Dr. Madeline Castle, Assistant Professor in our Rehabilitation Counseling program, on her newest publication!

Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1177/17446295261428179

Congratulations, Dr. Castle, on this accomplishment and your continued contributions to the field of Rehabilitation Counseling. We are proud to have you as part of our department!

09/01/2026

📢 New Training Announcement 📢
Webinar - It's Not Just About the Job: Unpacking SDOH and Long COVID
🗓️September 16, 2026 ~ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT ~ Microsoft Teams

How can understanding social determinants of health strengthen employment supports for individuals with Long COVID? Join us to explore Mississippi’s rural, statewide model and identify strategies that may be transferable to communities across the country.

🔗 Register here:
d1b83817-906f-4637-ba2a-fd38fd1c0111@ed51dbb0-af86-45a2-9c97-73fb3935df17" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d1b83817-906f-4637-ba2a-fd38fd1c0111@ed51dbb0-af86-45a2-9c97-73fb3935df17



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107.

08/27/2026

"📢Last Chance to Register & Join Us Live on Microsoft Teams! 📢
Lunch & Learn - Beyond the Individual: How Family and Social Context Shape Long COVID Employment Outcomes
🗓️ August 31, 2026 ~ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CT ~ Microsoft Teams
CRC Credits: 1 Credit Hour

Are we looking at the whole picture when supporting individuals with Long COVID? Join us for our upcoming Lunch & Learn as we look beyond the individual to explore how family and social context influence employment outcomes—and what VR professionals can do to reduce those barriers.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1) Identify at least three social determinants of health that shape Long COVID recovery, family stability, and employment outcomes
2) Apply practical ways to leverage family engagement and CHP/community resources to reduce SDOH-related barriers to competitive integrated employment (CIE).

Deadline to register: Monday, August 31, 2026 by 9:00 AM CST
🔗 Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/RZGp9MJNFi



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107."

08/26/2026

🌟 Meet Our PAC 🌟
We’re excited to spotlight Lydia West, a member of the Project Advisory Council (PAC) for the Career Horizons Project.

Lydia serves as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Public Health Association (MPHA). She is a registered dietitian and public health practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in community health, child nutrition, and health management. Her current consulting work includes support with statewide health and wellness projects as a culinary nutrition expert specializing in school nutrition programs, recipe development, culinary training as well as demonstrations.

Lydia chose to serve on the CHP PAC because she values being a connector and collaborator and believes in bringing diverse voices together to support Mississippi residents experiencing Long COVID.

As a leader with MPHA, Lydia is also glad to be part of a council that expands career pathways, improves access for underserved communities, and builds cross-sector partnerships.

We’re grateful for Lydia’s leadership, expertise, and commitment to strengthening opportunities across Mississippi!



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107.

08/26/2026

You don't want to miss it! It's going to be a great day, and we can't wait to see you all!!

Come see us tomorrow for the opportunity to speak to all these amazing vendors. Going to be a great day! Dont miss out on learning about all the resources Starkville has to offer!

08/26/2026

Do you know someone who wants to work but has had to stop working or is struggling to maintain employment due to a disability accompanied by or resulting from Long COVID? If so, refer them to the Career Horizons Center to receive competitive integrative employment (CIE) placement or retention services by completing our online referral form. Learn more here: https://www.careerhorizonsproject.msstate.edu/

08/25/2026

The Career Horizons Project is excited to introduce our new On-Demand Learning Library!

Our on-demand library features recorded webinars, Lunch & Learns, and Community of Practice sessions focused on Long COVID and employment, available to watch at anytime.

Whether you missed a live session or want to revisit a topic, these resources are available on-demand to support continued learning and practice.

🔗 Explore the On-Demand Learning Library: https://www.careerhorizonsproject.msstate.edu/resources/demand-learning-library



Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant Number H421F240107.

08/24/2026

The Career Horizons Project will be a vendor at Starkville in the Spotlight! Stop by to learn more about the free employment services we offer!

We can't wait to see you!