MANSFIELD, Ohio – Two programs designed to help Richland County residents find employment were highlighted at The Rehab Center on Wednesday, during an informational breakfast hosted by Progress Industries and Success Unlimited Programs.
The two programs, “One Strike…and You’re Not Out!” and T.R.E.E.: Training, Readiness, Employment and Experience, are both designed to provide employment preparation particularly to individuals with compromised backgrounds. Dan Dickman, director of Success Unlimited, explained that without outreach programs to this population of people, the whole county is adversely affected.
“We are a county that has a prison system, so that means we are going to at times have more individuals coming out of our system that will have compromised backgrounds, said Dickman.
“We know the things that stop people going back to prison are education and employment, but if we don’t have those pathways for individuals then we set not only them but also our county up to continue to struggle.”
The “One Strike…and You’re Not Out!” program is a non-profit initiative through Catalyst Life Services that seeks to provide employment preparation to individuals with compromised backgrounds by understanding their barriers to employment and providing honest and realistic guidance to improve an individual’s access to potential employment.
The program also offers assistance in filing for ensealment and/or the Certificate of Qualification for Employment (CQE).
The second initiative, T.R.E.E., is a program through Success Unlimited that offers basic instruction on various topics including computer skills, banking basics, interpersonal skills, and employer expectations.
Dickman explained T.R.E.E. hopes to create partnerships with employers so that training reflects an employer’s individual needs. Participants in these programs have access to work experience opportunities that provide hands-on job training, and will benefit area businesses by preparing applicants to present the best version of themselves throughout the hiring process.
Dickman said the image behind T.R.E.E. is that of a strong foundation with branches that will help an individual on the right path.
“For all those that have compromised backgrounds, the more experience we can give them, the more opportunities we can set up for them, the better we are and the better they are,” said Dickman. “Our goal is to help individuals we serve to plant roots, and the roots that they plant are roots of success.”
One person who benefitted directly from Success Unlimited’s programs is Kary, who spoke on Wednesday of her tumultuous past before receiving the help she needed to move forward. Kary, who declined to provide her last name, shared her story of drug and alcohol abuse that led to her participation in Richland County Drug Court.
“I was at a very hopeless stage of my life when I applied to Progress Industries,” said Kary. “But after filling out an application…and being interviewed and explaining my situation, I was given a second chance at life. I was hired and my life has been back on track ever since.
“I work at Progress Industries and I can’t say enough about what they do for the community and Success Unlimited,” she continued. “Both programs are wonderful and they help so many people to get back on their feet, and I really appreciate it.”
The value of employment leading to a successful future was reiterated by Judge Ron Spon. He explained in his 23 years on the bench, the most important lesson he’d learned was the power of giving someone practical hope for a better tomorrow.
“There are a lot of people that are having difficulty finding hope in a very practical way because they have no way forward,” said Spon. “If we’re going to help families, one of the most important questions we need to ask is, what does it really mean to be a human being?
“In the end, it’s about meaning – do I fit into my world somewhere? It’s about dignity; it’s about hope for the future,” he continued. “These programs that are being launched are all about providing hope.”
