The team in the Southeastern Washington region served Benton and Franklin County communities in PY19 by providing robust pre-employment services to job seekers and wrap-around services to local employers at TC Futures, the Youth Re-Engagement Center of the Tri-Cities; WorkSource Columbia Basin, our area’s American Job Center; and the Franklin County Juvenile Justice Center.
Some of the work we are most proud of in the last year includes:
- A pre-apprenticeship cohort in partnership with LiUNA, a local labor union.
- Co-leading an integrated Business Services Team, fulfilling a sector-based model.
- A partnership with Employment Security Department that increased accessibility to services for families receiving SNAP benefits and customers who have been justice-involved.
- A transition of 100% of our in-person service delivery model to virtual accessibility in less than seven days due to Covid-19. We found new ways to serve our customers which are meaningful and efficient while ensuring the safety of our team and community.
PY19 was a big year for us. Through our local partnership with the Benton Franklin Workforce Development Council and Educational Service District 123, we proudly helped stand up TC Futures, the first youth and young adult re-engagement center in the Tri-Cities.
In addition, with the award of the Economic Security for All grant, “Si, Se Puede,” we expanded service delivery into rural communities in North Franklin County through a network of partners providing services for employment, healthcare, childcare, and transportation.
The advent of the pandemic has resulted in new service delivery options and methodology, including the implementation of new software to support communications and enrollment, engaging customers remotely in the ways that work best for them, and working closely with partners to build new service delivery options, such as online workshop content and the creation of virtual one on one appointments available to all customers.
Our staff has also shifted and adapted graciously throughout, supporting important initiatives that not only addressed a local community's needs but that also had a statewide impact. During this unprecedented time, we came alongside job seekers, employers, and partners; and together had a transformational impact on the lives of many, by breaking the spirit of poverty, through the dignity of work.
We prepare people for careers with family-supporting wages by cultivating a passionate and purposeful workforce. We expand job readiness and pathways to meaningful work, while also helping build the capacity to navigate the tensions of work and home.
Enhancing Workforce
Business is at the heart of our service. We engage with employers to understand their workforce needs. Then co-create macro-system solutions to align workforce skills with business needs to cultivate new sources of value creation.
Enriching Communities
We catalyze collaboration with strategic partners for a transformational, system-wide impact on the drivers of poverty and social inequities. As individuals and families are empowered, communities are elevated.
Elena Watkins, age 29, entered the adult program after being unemployed for 2 years. Elena had not had a stable, long term, secure employment for many years. She had worked as a caregiver for the elderly in the past and was ultimately reliant on her husband’s income. After separating, she needed the means to support herself and her children. She wanted a career that would be meaningful and provide her with the work-life balance she needed as a single mother. Elena’s challenges included housing instability, work experience unrelated to caregiving, and lack of confidence.
Elena frequently with her employment practitioner, after being enrolled in the program building a trust-based relationship. While in the program, she received career guidance, resume assistance, interview preparation, employment referrals, assistance with thank you emails, and referrals to housing services.
Elena was referred to Elijah Family Homes for assistance in securing housing, she is now moved into a place of her own. She was provided a weekly newsletter that included content related to job search, education, goal setting, and financial literacy. She received additional support with interview clothing, car repairs, gas assistance, and the purchase of a laptop for job search purposes. She leaned into each opportunity and gained confidence, advanced her job search skills, and employability through coaching.
Elena gained employment with Amazon as a Technical Support/Customer Service Agent. This career allows her to balance her work and family life as a single parent. Elena is working from home in this role due to COVID-19 and can care for her children while they are home from school. She was hired on 6/8/2020 at $15.00 per hour at full-time work with overtime compensation. She was offered health benefits at the time of hire. Elena stated this is the highest wage she has ever earned in employment and she plans to continue her career with Amazon for a long time.
Erin DeClercque, Employment PractitionerWIOA Benton-Franklin
Juan had a varied work history but was interested in going into a trade or union and was especially drawn to the construction and labor industry. Juan and his employment practitioner, Marla, worked on his resume
After successfully completing the training he became an apprentice laborer for the Local 348 Laborers Union. Juan overcame many challenges during his time of enrollment. His sobriety was and is still a challenge, but he has self-recognized what resources and support systems are in place to help him continue to succeed in his professional and personal life.
Juan's determination to address the challenges he faced and, getting the help he needed by leveraging the resources around him was the true success that helped lead him to where he is now.
Marla McMackin, Youth Employment Practitioner
WIOA Benton Franklin
David dropped in on his own time and utilized the computers, snacks, and support provided by the TC Futures staff. OSY Case Manager Kim assisted David with navigating the Carpenter's Apprenticeship application process, and OSY funds were utilized to secure the required tools allowing David to start the apprenticeship immediately upon passing his final GED test. After completing the initial apprenticeship training, David obtained his first carpentry job at Balfour Beatty earning over $20 per hour. In addition, the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business requested to interview him to highlight his success through TC Futures programs.
In recent follow-up conversations with David, he was excited to update his Case Managers that he has now completed his first term of the apprenticeship training and is earning $25.05 per hour.
David has stated that he would like to continue to work with TC Futures and mentor clients who may be interested in the Carpentry Apprenticeship. He voiced that he would not have achieved his career goals and join the Carpenter's Union if not for TC Futures education, career guidance, and support. David is determined to pass down his knowledge and use his own experience to help his peers overcome their barriers and reach their dreams!
Kim Hamann, Youth Employment Practitioner
WIOA Benton Franklin
* names have been changed to protect client confidentiality
There are many partners who contribute to the success of our work in the Eastern Washington region.
Some are formal partnerships such as the Benton-Franklin Workforce Consortium who oversee Operations of WorkSource.
And then there are the numerous strong working relationships with partners who ensure comprehensive services are available through WorkSource Columbia Basin, tcFutures, and Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center.
City of Cornell
Lourdes Health
Tri-Tech Skills Center
WA State STEM Education Foundation
Corporate Headquarters
10 N. Post Street, Suite 200
Spokane, WA 99201
We are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and
services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.
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