Beginning July 3rd, our new county-wide CalWORKs Employment Connection Team (Job Services unit) began serving referred WTW and certain GR clients in Job Club (see the related Spotlight on Job Club story for more information about Job Club). Participants referred to Job Club (JCL) or Supervised Job Search (SJS) come to us with varying degrees of motivation and often with multiple barriers and life challenges that make getting motivated to find a job a difficult feat. Some however, come with just the right attitude for success! Read on as we spotlight how “Suzy” and the couple “Miguel and Carmen” are making good use of this opportunity to build a better life.
Suzy's story
“Suzy” (a CalWORKs/WTW participant) is committed to improving her future for herself and her family, and recognizes that a paying job that can provide for her family is her ticket off of welfare and to a bright future.
Job Services team members have provided her with a motivating environment of learning and encouragement, and introduced her to goal setting tools and tips on how to be successful in securing a job and in life. She has learned the importance of setting personal and financial goals, to stay motivated and reach for her dreams.
Suzy is like most people: she wants to work for a good company with plenty of opportunities to grow and advance, and wants a place an affordable place of her own to live in with her children. She has learned during JCL that making healthy choices in life such as eating well, getting plenty of rest and exercise, as well as spending quality time with her children and positive friends who help bring her up, are all essential in keeping her focused on her goals. During workshop, she shared some elements of her five-year goals, which are: to be settled in her own home, with a newer car, take her children to Disneyland for the first time, let go of negative feelings and have a better attitude towards life, find new interests and meet new people, volunteer at her children’s school and ultimately, for her children to be proud of their mom so they know that they mean the world to her.
Suzy is certainly determined to not give up, no matter what life throws at her. Job Services staff shared that she arrived to JCL on Day One eager to find employment and very willing to participate during workshop. She dressed professionally and served as a role model for other JCL participants. She job-searched extensively outside of class hours, and took advantage of the tools and resources available in our Connection Center. She received resume assistance, followed through with required appointments, and maintained regular attendance during JCL. She quickly learned that the retail jobs she was pursuing had a smaller path to self-sufficiency, due to their limited earning potential, so she decided to pursue job opportunities in customer service in the banking industry instead. Suzy’s hard work paid off as she recently succeeded in landing a job as a loan clerk with a local Payday Advance company. She recognizes that this is a starting point, and already has her eyes set on the next-level job opportunity.
Miguel & Carmen's Story
“Miguel and Carmen” have been in a relationship for some time, and both love the children they have together. They have faced many struggles, including some poor choices in life that ultimately resulted in their children being removed from the home and placed in foster care. The WTW CES referred them to our Job Services team to participate in SJS as mandated by the CWS plan. Miguel and Carmen are being served by both Child Welfare Services (CWS) and WTW under our CWS/CW Linkages program, which brings both programs together to ensure our mutual efforts are in line to support the family reunification goals.
Miguel met with Job Services staff very motivated and determined to secure employment so that he could afford a safe home and demonstrate to CWS that he was going to do what it takes to reunify with his children. Job Services team members were quite impressed with his drive and openness to receive their assistance. One day while working in our Connection Center searching for more job leads, Miguel received a call from one of the businesses he had been busy applying for. He utilized the skills he was taught at the Connection Center during the call. Carmen and a couple of Job Services team members were only steps from him and were encouraged to hear him handle the call very well. When he hung up the phone he turned to them and said that he was offered a job and that they wanted him to start the next day!
Miguel's new job as a full-time diesel mechanic just may be his ticket to a brighter future! He is currently going through paid training at his new job, and continues to have visitations with his children. Meanwhile, he continues to participate in alcohol and drug abuse counseling and is looking forward to reunifying with his children in the near future.
Job Services staff contributed to this story.