Illustration by Meg Davis, megan-davis.com
Ashley is a single mother on public assistance with two small children, but highly motivated to get off of assistance and into a job and career.
“I don’t want my kids to see all this,” she said, referring to what goes on in her economically struggling neighborhood. “I want them to have a better life.”
So, she made a decision. She recently turned to the Perry County Literacy Council, which stepped in to help her start anew.
“Our formal mission statement is to provide educational programs for Perry County residents and families,” said Executive Director Kathleen Bentley. “But the truth of the matter is that my job is to help motivated men and women get unstuck.”
Ashley came to the office about seven months ago. Not being a high school graduate, she first needed to obtain a GED. That’s where the challenge began. To take the GED, she had to obtain a photo ID. But she had no way to get to a place to get that photo ID.
Stuck.
The next problem: to get a photo ID, she needed a birth certificate and a Social Security card. And, to set up transportation and make appointments, she needed a cell phone.
Stuck again.
Transportation is a huge problem in a rural county like Perry. Public assistance housing is outside of town, so, with almost no public transportation, it’s difficult to get around.
The council staff helped Ashley get her ID and the other material she needed to begin work on her GED. But Ashley needed months of tutoring (six hours a week) to pass the test. Again, with no transportation, she couldn’t get to the office for classes.
The council staff arranged transportation through the Volunteer Drivers Project, a group of local drivers. So, Ashley was able to travel to the classroom to work with tutors and study for her GED.
But, as a single mother of two, Ashley needed childcare. The council staff was able to work with the Public Assistance Office, and Ashley was approved for subsidized childcare.
Unstuck.
“The point I’m making,” Bentley said, “is that there are huge barriers for people trying to get off of public assistance. For many, these barriers are too high, and they give up. I look on it as my job to bust through those barriers and give highly motivated people like Ashley a chance. With our help, many are able to make it off of public assistance and on to a brighter future.”
Ashley worked hard and completed her GED. She wanted that job. She wanted her independence. The next step for Ashley was to begin work with the council’s partners.
Web of Services
Once Ashley received her GED, she needed training for employment. She enrolled with the Title I Workforce Investment Act career manager and was referred to classes that prepared her to take the WorkKeys tests.
Developed by the American College of Testing (ACT), WorkKeys measures the skills that are crucial for job success. Postsecondary schools and businesses then could evaluate Ashley’s potential for success and know what they were getting when they hired her.
“I learned in my years working in nonprofits that you need a team in order to obtain funding to help people,” Bentley said. “Here in our building, we have Tech Bridge, which helps at-risk youth ages 16 to 21 with pre-employment training, job search and transition to postsecondary training and employment.”
The council also offers Experience Works, which provides placement for low-income residents, ages 55 and over, to train for employment in not-for-profit agencies.
“We can help place almost anyone once they have attained the workforce certification,” Bentley said.
Moreover, this web of agencies resides under one roof, working together to help ensure an applicant can quickly and easily move from one to the other, minimizing the need for transportation.
“When we moved in to our current building, I wanted a joint operation with all of the organizations—an opportunity for one-stop shopping,” Bentley said.
Not Over Til It’s Over
Once Ashley completed her workforce certification testing, she interviewed and searched out a career opportunity as a pharmacy tech.
She will take the courses online, but needed transportation to get to a job, so she needed a car. Before she could get a car, she needed a driver’s license. Before she could get a driver’s license, she needed driver’s training.
Stuck once more.
The council was able to help her with all of that. She soon will enter training and an internship program with a large drug company. And, with a car, she can work while attending training.
“My concern is that Perry County is replete with people like Ashley,” Bentley said. “They don’t want to be on public assistance or go back to jail or get hooked on drugs again, but the barriers for these people are enormous.”
Each year, the council helps 100-plus dedicated people make the journey out of poverty and onto the employment rolls, said Bentley, “but it requires teamwork among a number of agencies and an agency like ours to drive the program.”
“We believe that every person who walks through our door must be treated as a person and not just a number,” said Dawn Beaver, the council’s tutor coordinator. “If a client is willing to do his part, we will do everything possible to help that person be successful.”
The Perry County Literacy Council is at 133 S. 5th St., Newport. Call 717-567-7323 or visit www.perryliteracy.com.
Race For Reading
Over its 30 years, the Perry County Literacy Council has helped hundreds of residents increase their literacy levels or obtain GED credentials to improve their standard of living. While government funding, private foundations and cost-sharing strategies support the bulk of the programs, the council must raise about 35 percent of its own budget every year.
The Race for Reading, the council’s annual fundraiser, greatly helps that effort. It’s held on Kentucky Derby Day, this year at the Little Buffalo State Park Reception Hall on Saturday, May 3. Doors open at 5 p.m., and guests are treated to a buffet dinner and a silent and live auction for $35.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see the community rally in support of the Literacy Council,” said Leslie Heimbauch, the council’s office manager. “They know how important it is that we are able to continue these innovative programs to help Perry County residents get off assistance and earn a living wage.”
