Career Services Helps Parents Get Extra Cash
Recently, Jill found herself juggling a cell phone to each ear, engaging in two phone conversations, including one with a plumber trying to find a leak at the apartment building – all while trying to pick up her children at their back-up babysitter.
It’s not easy juggling work and home with a new job and two preschoolers. But the former WorkFirst participant is determined to succeed with a little help from WorkFirst’s Career Services Program.
After holding the same job for more than five years, Jill found herself unemployed and needing help from WorkFirst for herself and her daughters.
Jill was eager to find another job, so she took advantage of her local WorkSource’s job-finding services. But sometimes opportunities present themselves in unlikely places. In a casual conversation with a property manager, Jill impressed the manager so much she was hired on the spot even though she had no experience with property management. What she did have, however, was a great personality and more importantly, an eagerness to learn. According to Wade Shaw, Jill’s WorkSource Specialist, “Her eagerness to succeed was obvious from the start and her grit helped her to get where she is today.”
After starting her new job managing a large apartment building, Jill signed up for Career Services, a program designed for WorkFirst parents who have left cash assistance with a job. Career Services helps parents stay employed and advance in their careers. Career Services is also available to parents eligible for Diversion Cash Assistance and those receiving basic food assistance.
As a Career Services participant, Jill received $50 a month for six months to help her with one-time expenses needed to keep her job and move ahead. Additionally, Jill received "bonus" payments after she met with WorkSource staff for employment support services. Jill was thankful for the extra cash, using it to purchase new clothes (“I needed business attire for my new job”), getting her car fixed, and helping with other expenses until she got her first paycheck.
According to Shaw, Jill set her goals, planned her path to meet those goals, and followed through with her plan. For her efforts, Jill has already received a promotion and a raise.
Getting a little help from the Career Services Program has bolstered Jill’s commitment to provide a better life for her daughters. For more information about the Career Services Program, visit.
