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WorkOne Success Stories
Performace Milestones
The Terre Haute WorkOne office, Department of Workforce Development, has
met or exceeded Performance Standards since 2000 in number of Employers
Served, number of Job Orders, number of People Placed or finding jobs through
our office and Customer Satisfaction.
The Terre Haute WorkOne office is on track to exceed performance standards
again this year, making this the sixth year in a row.
Four hard working, Employment Specialists contact employers and send qualified
job applicants to employers with job openings. As of January 2005, the office
has served more than 365 employers with 1,025 separate job orders and has
been responsible for directly or indirectly placing 2,650 people in jobs.
The Terre Haute Office has processed 59,189 unemployment claims in the past
six months. 16,967 claims were processed in January 2005. A total of 8023
new claims have been processed in the past six months. The high week total
of January 8, 2005 was 4023. In January 2418 new claims were processed.
Five Employers have utilized WorkKeys testing for 1001 customers with a
total of 3100 assessments.
The Information Resource Area Employment Counselors have helped over 1500
customers with resume, interviewing and job search skills.
Mallory Workers Complete Training
Recently, twenty-seven workers, dislocated by the closing of the Vishay-Mallory
Plant in Greencastle, IN completed a thirty week training class to update
their reading, math, writing, communication, office procedures, blueprint
reading and computer skills. For many, this was their first effort at classroom
training since high school, and they discovered that their self-esteem and
confidence were enhanced along with their technical skills.
Each participant received a Certificate of Technical Achievement (CTA) issued
by the governor. A CTA provides a portable certification that documents
the learners’ knowledge and technical skills in a statewide recognized
format approved by the Indiana Workforce Proficiency Panel.
The cooperation of the WorkOne partners and the Vishay-Mallory management
team resulted in the receipt of Trade Adjustment Act dollars that made procurement
of this type of training possible.
Providing Support and So Much More
Before coming to the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) Program, I was a 22-year-old,
single mother of two children. I was lacking in a high school education.
I did not even possess a General Education Diploma (GED). I had no computer
skills and no job experience. I was on Temporary Aid for Needy Families
(TANF—Welfare), food stamps, and Medicaid. I lived in the family housing
units. I had very low self-esteem and did not know where to start putting
my life back together.
I began the FSS program not knowing exactly what the program was all about.
I had heard good things about the program, but was still unsure. My FSS
case manager first encouraged me to get my GED and go back to school. I
attended parenting classes that helped me understand how to become a better
parent. I took budgeting and credit counseling classes. I completed a wonderful
class called Adventures in Attitudes, which helped tremendously with my
self-esteem and my way of thinking in a positive manner. They helped me
prepare for the workforce and provided the tools I needed to get a job.
Some of the skills I learned were job search skills, creating resumes, cover
letters, and interviewing skills.
Toward the end of the program, I attended home ownership classes that provided
information I needed to achieve my goal to buy my own house. For all these
classes, childcare and transportation were available.
Aside from all these classes, they gave me the most important thing, SUPPORT.
Just knowing there were people there that believed in me and were willing
to do “Whatever it takes” helped me become self sufficient!
By the time I graduated form the program, I had earned my GED and graduated
from Ivy Tech with an Associates Degree in office administration. I landed
a good paying job with benefits and purchased a home for my children and
I.
For the first time in my life I am off all forms of public assistance and
am setting a good example for my children. It is all thanks to the excellent
FSS program for helping me with the motivation and support to do it!!!
B.H.
Breaking Down Barriers to Success
My name is Lonnie and I am a participant in the FSS Program. I had recently
been married for the second time with a history of repeated dead end jobs
and problems holding down a job and needed a lot of support and help. I
had lost my job again and because I had a family I went on welfare assistance
to help take care of them. I was referred to the FSS Center for IMPACT—a
program to help welfare recipients get a job.
I didn’t like the idea because I already knew how to get a job and
I didn’t think I needed any help. However, my FSS case manager saw
a potential in me and provided valuable assistance that began to open doors
for my family.
My family’s living conditions were not very good. We were fortunate
to be accepted for the Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher
(Section 8) rental assistance program. Our living conditions immediately
improved. We were able to rent a nice place for an affordable rent. This
also opened the opportunity to participate in the Family Self Sufficiency
Program. After I became a FSS participant, I was selected for a training
employment position at the FSS Center.
I have now been on the program for over two years and have received training
and established a stable work history that I never had before. Through the
help of the FSS Center, I have been able to work through many difficult
barriers.
The staff here at the FSS Center has encouraged me to go to college, and
now I am currently enrolled at Ivy Tech in the Criminal Justice Program
with the hope that I can possibly go into law enforcement when I finish.
I have been able to set and achieve goals. This would not have been possible
without the support of the FSS Program. They have made my life more livable,
desirable, and worthwhile.
LMII |
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