They were very patient and helpful throughout my healing process until I was work ready. They worked with me to maintain my basic needs for my children and myself while going through therapy, classes, gaining housing and working on obtaining stability. I was able to work on myself during this time to be better prepared for employment which ensured my children's needs were met.
When Tamara first connected with Forward Service Corporation, she wasn’t just looking for a job—she was fighting for stability, healing, and a better future for her four children.
At the time, she was surviving on very little income with no means of transportation, no driver’s license, and no stable housing. She was also navigating her own sobriety journey while trying to ensure her children’s overall health and well-being remained her top priority. The weight of it all felt overwhelming, but Tamara was determined to reach out for help.
A Referral That Changed Everything
Tamara was referred to our Wisconsin Works (2-) program through working with the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program—a Medicaid initiative designed to support children and adults living with mental health or substance use disorders through individualized, community-based care.
Since enrolling in W-2 , her case worker became a consistent and steady presence in her life. That consistency mattered. Healing and growth don’t happen overnight, and Tamara needed time, support, and patience to focus on becoming work-ready.
Stabilizing the Foundation
Before employment could even be a possibility, stability had to come first.
Her W-2 case manager helped ensure Tamara’s basic needs were met. She received assistance obtaining the documentation she needed for her W-2 benefits. She was connected to proper medical care and received the diagnoses necessary to address health barriers that had been holding her back. She participated in therapy and group classes. When she began to feel overwhelmed, she didn’t withdraw—she reached out.
Her case manager noticed the shift. Tamara became more consistent, more engaged and more hopeful. Instead of retreating to old habits, Tamara began taking proactive steps, asking, “What do I do first?”. This change in mindset would become her superpower.
Building Confidence and Taking Action
As her stability improved, something else began to grow: her confidence.
With encouragement from her case worker, Tamara started exploring the different employment options that were at her disposal. She was connected with a local Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) office to expand her opportunities. Conversations about jobs shifted from uncertainty to possibility.
Her outlook became more positive during appointments. Discussions about finding work were no longer intimidating. They were now hopeful.
And then, it happened.
Tamara secured stable housing and successfully moved into a new apartment without experiencing homelessness in between. For a family that had been on the brink of instability, this was a tremendous milestone.
Still Climbing, Still Dreaming
Tamara’s journey has never been about instant transformation—it’s been about steady, intentional progress. She prioritized healing, sobriety, parenting, and personal growth so that when the time came to pursue employment, she was truly ready. With that foundation in place, her goals are clear: to fully support her family without relying on public assistance and to secure a position with opportunities for long-term career advancement.
Along the way, her case worker witnessed something powerful: someone beginning to believe in her own potential. Her confidence grew through meaningful victories: attending classes, keeping appointments, asking for help when she felt overwhelmed, and continuing to show up even when it was hard.
Her children have always been her “why.” Every step forward has been rooted in her determination to provide stability not just for today, but for their future.
Tamara’s story is about more than employment and finding stable housing. It’s about healing, stability, and the courage to keep moving forward.
About Wisconsin Works
Through Wisconsin Works (W-2), families like Tamara’s are able to access the structured support, financial assistance, and employment-focused services they need during critical seasons of transition. W-2 is designed not just to provide temporary assistance, but to help parents build skills, remove barriers, and move toward long-term self-sufficiency.
Ready to take that step towards self-sufficiency? Learn more here.
