Jobs First Employment Services

10 years ago, the JFES program changed Kamia’s life. “It was getting to the point where I wasn’t able to pay my rent, I wasn’t able to get any food for my son, and I was scared to talk to anybody ’cause I didn’t want them to take him from me, ’cause that’s how, basically how we got taken away from our mother.”

Kamia, a single mom, had a limited work history and was about to be evicted from her home. She was provided with employment services that gave her the opportunity to learn how to work in an office setting. She later obtained a full-time office position. 10 years later, Kamia is still employed at that office and has reached many milestones.

“I have my own apartment. I have my little small family, my, my son, my daughter. I have job security, and I should be graduating in July of next year with my bachelor’s degree. 10 years ago, I didn’t have a paycheck. I was facing evictions. Being in the JFES program, it helped me become a stronger person, and it’s empowering.

It really is. Don’t give up. Take it day by day. Take it slow. Start trusting people, ’cause that’s the only way you’ll get what you want out of life. I feel really powerful, and being a role model for my kids, that is a great feeling.”

Naomi was a single mom of two children when she came to the JFES program. “I applied for cash assistance because I was not working at the time. I just had a new baby, so I was just unsure of how I was going to handle the things that I need to handle in life with no income coming in.” She had a difficult time obtaining a job because she did not have childcare or transportation.

“One of the things that, that my case manager helped me with, which I feel like was my number one barrier, was with childcare. I did not have my Care for Kids active at the time. She also sat with me, and we went through the whole application. I did not have my driver’s license, and my case manager, she’s the one that helped me fill out all the paperwork and make the calls that I needed to so that I did have transportation daily for my children and I.”

With her barriers resolved, Naomi obtained full-time employment at a childcare center. “Coming off the JFES program, I feel like I am in an entirely better place in my life. I feel like I’m a better person and a better mother overall. The JFES program actually helped me turn everything around.”

Chris was a single father who struggled to find work after he was laid off and exhausted his unemployment insurance benefits. “I went to work one day after 19 years and when I went in that morning, I was called into the office. There was like three of us. We all had gotten laid off with no return date, no nothing. Just done after 19 years. Was trying to find a job. So out of work for about a year. I had to apply for cash assistance and I really wasn’t too happy with that at that point ’cause I didn’t, that was like my last resort.” Chris participated in JFES job search assistance workshops, which provided him with the skills necessary to reenter a changed workforce.

“It taught me how to make a resume and how to present yourself to, you know, current employers. Showed me how to use a computer, how to set up a email. How to, you know, do online job searches. It helped in a big way. I mean, I learned a lot. My case manager was great. She gave me the extra push that I really needed, that somebody believed in me that I could actually better myself.”

Chris took advantage of the subsidized employment program. Soon after, he was offered a full-time job. “I was able to go off cash assistance, support myself again. It’s a great program and if you’re willing to work and pay attention and learn, you can make yourself a better person. Don’t give up hope. Hard work pays off in the end.

I feel proud of myself that I actually came from rock bottom and now I’m on top again.”

Julianne began working part-time at Atlas Stamping and Manufacturing through the JFES subsidized employment program. The company was so pleased with Julianne’s work that they hired her full-time. “JFES enrolled me into the subsidized employment program at Atlas. I started working with them part-time, but then the CFO called me that she was very proud of how I was doing at my job, and they decided to hire me directly full-time in the company.”

One of the opportunities that Julianne was afforded was we do a lot of on-the-job training. So she’s learning accounting and skills that she can take and use in other jobs or at home. And she was doing a great job when she came in. She just really needed the confidence. “Since I’ve been employed, my family life has changed.

Now we have our own apartment, and I have liberty now. I have my own space. For anybody that’s in the JFES program that just wants to quit, I would just say keep going. Take advantage of the programs. They have a lot of opportunities which could help you grow. For me, it was awesome. It was a very good experience.”

Ashley is a JFES case manager. Before she became a case manager, Ashley was a JFES participant herself. “When my daughter was two years old, I was stressed out being a single mom, and I was struggling to make ends meet while going to school for a bachelor degree and trying to work part-time jobs. And it got to be too much.

But I also didn’t want to apply because I felt as though my pride was being pushed down. I wanted to be able to take care of her by myself without any help. While I was in the Jobs First program, I was able to graduate with my bachelor’s. And during my last day of cash assistance, I had actually gotten hired as a case manager through the Jobs First program.”

“As a case manager, my clients get assigned to me, and I begin working with them after orientation. My experience through the JFES program has helped me with my clients because I’m able to relate to them. I’m able to explain to them, “I sat where you’re sitting. I can understand the struggles just trying to get by and take care of your kids and still needing to come in here and do what you need to do to find work.””

“If I can give some advice to somebody starting the program, I would say to meet with your case manager. Really put it all out there of what you’re looking to get and where you’re coming from. Your case manager has a lot to offer, and if you don’t come in, we can’t show you the resources and tools that we have to give you.”

“I feel really good. I feel very accomplished of how far I’ve come just in a short amount of time. I’ve been able to purchase my own car and we bought a house. I have been able to give my daughter her own bedroom, and that’s a big accomplishment for me because I didn’t think I would ever be able to do that, especially being a single mom.

It makes me feel really good to see how happy my daughter is and how well she’s doing, and to see the life I’ve built for myself.”