Natalie was looking for a new path and did not know which way to turn. Everywhere she looked seemed to lead toward a dead end: she needed employment, reliable transportation, and a new place to live.
- FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET) provides employment and training services to enrollees. These services look different for each participant depending on their needs.
- When a participant enrolls in FSET, they are assigned a case manager who will help identify the participant’s immediate needs and match them with available resources.
Cory Roloff, a case manager out of Jefferson, was paired with Natalie. Together they discussed what Natalie needed most. Natalie says, “Cory was very helpful and always got back to me within a timely manner. The environment was a safe space that made it easy to be open and honest about my career and life goals. I felt listened to and genuinely cared about.”
- This is part of Forward Service Corporation’s core mission. One tenet of our impact code states, “We will be for everyone.” See more.
- Participants and case managers create a path to employment by mapping out a participant’s dreams and breaking it down into manageable steps to accomplish it.
Natalie was relying on her roommate to get to and from jobs and appointments. Her path to a new place to live and better transportation started with finding stable employment. She and Cory used FSET to find the right fit.
“[FSET] has assisted me more than once and ultimately until I found my current job which I absolutely love,” Natalie says.
- FSET provides job preparation services like building and improving resumes, writing cover letters, and practice interviews. It also works to eliminate barriers to searching for and obtaining employment. Based on a participant’s needs, they can receive vouchers for transportation (bus tokens, gas cards) and clothing for interviews and job necessities.
FSET gave Natalie more freedom to job search by helping her purchase a new vehicle and providing gas cards to get to and from interviews. She also received vouchers to buy new clothes for her interviews. The effect of these services soon took hold.
- Sometimes the path to stable employment means trying a few things before discovering the right fit.
Natalie began her search and found a few options that interested her. She was looking for a job that valued her work ethic. While the first try wasn’t for her, Cory encouraged her to keep exploring.
“At times it was difficult because ultimately you are the one that has to put in the work and want to succeed for yourself but this program helps you through the process. But, Cory kept sending me the “hot jobs” lists and recommendations… My favorite thing about Cory is that she’s a ‘real person’. She was very nice, helpful, and seemed to truly care about me and the journey I was on.”
- The process works. When a path to employment is broken down into a number of steps that can be taken care of one at a time, great things can be accomplished.
Having expressed an interest in health services and childcare, Natalie sought potential jobs in that field. She soon found herself interviewing for a job as a nanny for a family with two children.
With her new car and work clothes, she landed the job, which allowed her to secure an apartment. All of the things she identified in her first meeting with Cory had come to fruition.
“I am so happy and can honestly say I love my job,” Natalie says. “I highly recommend this program to anyone receiving FoodShare and in the process of job searching.”
- Once a participant finds employment, they enter a 90-day job retention phase where they continue to receive necessary services and resources to ensure they can navigate personal and professional obstacles. This also creates space to set all-new goals.
Natalie is thriving. She has come out of her shell and is taking control of her own destiny. She wants to stay independent and always try to better herself.
