Success
Success Stories for Northwest Arkansas' Work Connection
Mtn. Home, AR from
Allynn Saathoff & Kathy Weaver
Helen M. Garza, with her two small children, recently moved to the Twin
Lakes Area. Ms. Garza came to the Arkansas Workforce Center at
Mountain Home for assistance with her job skills,
We believe this to be a successful match for both the participant and the employer. Good luck Ms. Garza!
Harrison, AR
from DeDe Harris
Tracy Rogers' success story keeps getting better
with time. She applied for assistance in June 1999. As a single
mother of three who had not been employed since 1994. She told me "I
knew I need more education to find a job. I have not worked in six years
and things have changed a lot. I have to change to get a job."
Tracy started attending North Arkansas College fall 1999 working towards a Software Applications Certificate. Her income consisted of child support and food stamps. We assisted her with tuition, books and child care costs. In December Tracy applied for and received Housing assistance. She needed help financially and with household items. Tracy was determined to provide for her children. Ozark Share and Care provided items needed to furnish her home. WIA, family and friends all helped contribute to helping this family get into a house. She also had a good landlord who was willing to work with her until all things fell into place. "All the assistance has helped me to have a brighter future," Tracy said.
January 3, 2000 Tracy started working
at NAC 15 hours a week in Payroll through the Work Experience Program. On
March 10 Tracy called very excited, American Freightways notified her she
was hired and would start to work the next Monday. They agreed to allow
her to work around her school schedule until she finishes in May. Her
starting pay was $9.75 per hour.
In April of this year Tracy no longer needed the Housing Assistance, this
is the end of her Welfare assistance. "I want to thank everyone for
their help and I appreciate everything. I could not have this job without help."
As her case manager I have seen a wonderful change in Tracy. She is very confident and sure of herself in the decisions she has made to make her become self-sufficient.