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Christopher D was working at a construction company part-time for $12/hour, but he really wanted to pursue a career as a truck driver. He came to Michigan Works seeking assistance for his schooling. Michigan Works! was able to assist Christopher with all the required paperwork and help pay for his CDL training. In roughly 6 weeks, Christopher had completed his training with Road Warriors Truck Driving School and landed a full time job. He is very happy with the assistance Michigan Works was able to provide and he looks forward to moving ahead in his new career!

Mina D has been a Michigan Works! Youth Program and JMG participant since January 2020. She has participated in leadership events, work experience, and has received assistance with transportation and materials that supported her while she was dually enrolled with Kirtland College and employed. Mina recently graduated from Fairview Area Schools in May 2021. When Mina received her Lake Superior State University student aid packet she noticed that aid that she was qualified for had not been applied. When clarifying with the LSSU college financial aid office, she was informed that she had no information on file which indicated her eligibility. Very concerned, Mina reached out to her Youth Career Advisor at Michigan Works for assistance. Over the course of 3 stressful days, Michigan Works Youth Career Advisor Allison Oakes assisted Mina in tracking down and contacting a variety of people at LSSU and other community agencies (DHHS) to address the inaccurate information in her file. After a lot of calls, emails, and persistence, an error was found that inadvertently made her appear ineligible for some much needed financial aid. Once corrected, Mina's financial aid packet was revised and a significant amount of financial aid was applied. Mina was, once again, very thankful for the assistance Michigan Works provided and has learned to always thoroughly review information received from agencies she is working with. With her financial aid squared away, Mina has been accepted to the nursing program at Lake Superior State University and will be starting in the fall of 2021.

When Kathy came into the Michigan Works AEP program, she was homeless and jobless. A single mother of two, now homeless due to domestic violence, she was really struggling and in need of assistance. Michigan Works Career Advisor Jackie Gransden guided Kathy through the AEP program and Career Navigator Chris Southwell provided job readiness assistance, including resume guidance and job search help. Straightaway Kathy got to work on completing and turning in her assignments, as well as job searching. Kathy quickly began receiving job offers and initially started at Family Fare making $10.75/hour, but soon after found a position with Grayling Nursing & Rehab making 30% more. Kathy says she learned that services and support are out there, as well as plentiful job opportunities. Kathy states, "Michigan Works helped me ready myself for interviews and provided me with the support I needed to get back into the field. Thanks Michigan Works!"

Jonathon E. was working as a laborer for a few years, but after a while he felt like he wasn't going anywhere. After wanting to for quite a while, Jonathon decided to finally try and obtain his CDL. He found Road Warriors Truck Driving School after a bit of searching online and decided to contact them. While eager to begin his training, he was concerned about the tuition costs. Road Warriors suggested Jonathon contact Michigan Works for tuition assistance. With the tuition assistance provided by Michigan Works, Jonathon was able to attend school and get his CDL-A without going into debt. After just three weeks of attending Road Warriors, Jonathon completed the state test and in just over a month he had received his Commercial Driving License, allowing him many more opportunities for work. “It was a challenge to learn how to properly operate a commercial vehicle, but it was a challenge I gladly faced head-on and successfully overcame,” reports Jonathon. “I would recommend anyone looking to obtain a CDL who needs financial assistance to go through Michigan Works, as they have helped me accomplish my goal.”

Karen W. was a medical transcriptionist, but her position was eliminated due to lack of work from the COVID-19 pandemic. She was interested in learning new things for a more in-demand career and contacted Michigan Works for classroom training opportunities. Michigan Works! was able to provide tuition assistance for Karen to help her take medical billing and coding courses. Thanks to the assistance she received, she obtained her Certified Professional Coder certificate in Medical Billing and Coding from Central Michigan University. With the help she received from Michigan Works, Karen was able to reach her goal of becoming employed as a Medical Coder and has recently started a new job at Munson Medical/Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord. "Thanks for all your help Michigan Works!" says Karen. “I know I can do anything with hard work and a little bit of help."

Rachel Graham was a single mom, who at forty, decided to change careers and enter nursing school. Though she worked, she knew she would not be able to continue working full time, as well as pursue the full time RN classes at NCMC. She struggled with the idea of not having enough income to pay my bills, as well as having immense student loan debt after school was done. In the end, Rachel chose the path of school, part-time work, and searching out as many scholarships as possible to help ease her financial burden. Her search led her to Michigan Works! During her first semester of nursing school, Rachel was awarded class room training assistance from Michigan Works with the help of Career Navigator Rachel and Career Advisor Niki. This assistance helped Rachel pay for her books, uniforms, and necessary supplies for the program. Throughout the rest of the program, Michigan Works assisted with the cost of gas in travelling to school and clinicals, which was very helpful considering her commute. Throughout her nursing program at NCMC, Rachel was repeatedly on the Dean’s and President’s List, receiving a GPA of 3.72 overall. She was a member of the Student Nurses Association and often spoke on behalf of NCMC’s students with guests of the college, as requested by faculty. “Nursing school in itself is a challenge, no one can dispute that,” says Rachel. “Nursing school during a pandemic is a whole other story! I learned that using all available resources is absolutely necessary to be successful, and that often means a little hard work and preparation can make the busiest times less stressful. Having this assistance from Michigan Works! enabled me to focus on school, rather than having to work full-time, which played a huge role in my experience.” “I graduated with high honors and a very small student loan. Even before graduation, I was hired at Munson Healthcare Charlevoix Hospital on the Medical-Surgical floor. I began my career as a graduate nurse one week after receiving my diploma, and even before passing the NCLEX a month later, I had paid off my student loan, which was a huge relief. Now that I am a Registered Nurse, I am in the process of beginning my bachelor’s program in a few months. What a wild ride!“

Emily was referred to the PATH program at the Alpena Michigan Works office by DHHS. After an unexpected extended family leave due to medical issues, Emily could not return to work and she was in need of cash assistance from the state. Participation in the PATH program is a requirement when receiving cash assistance. In the PATH program, Emily worked with her Career Advisor on family issues, finding daycare, and returning to work full-time. Her Career Advisor, Angie Morgan, also worked on communication, customer service, and financial assistance with her. Emily was in the PATH program for only a month before returning to work full time. Emily worked at Mancino's as a crew member before starting the PATH program and returned to Mancino's during her participation in PATH, receiving a pay raise two weeks after returning to work!

Sierra Chamberlain was finding it a challenge trying to figure out how she was going to pay for college, plus all the additional costs associated with the nursing program. Time management was also a concern for her; it was difficult to make time for studying outside of classes and clinicals, as well as all the driving to and from school. To help her with these issues, Sierra went to her local Michigan Works! office in Cheboygan. Michigan Works! was able to help Sierra not only with her tuition costs at North Central Michigan College, but also her books, scrub and tools required for the nursing program, mileage reimbursement, drug testing, and the NCLEX exam costs. Thanks to the assistance she received from Michigan Works!, Sierra received her Associate’s degree and RN license and started working at McLaren Bay Region as a Registered Nurse, making over $33 per hour. Sierra says her biggest challenge was figuring out how she could balance the cost of tuition and other expenses while attending Nursing school, which is quite demanding. She says, it was difficult, but thanks to Michigan Works, I had great resources to help me through it. “I am so thankful for Michigan Works staff and all the help they have provided over the past 2 years,” says Sierra. “It has allowed me to only have to take out a small loan and not be in a lot of debt right out of school. I am very grateful for this Michigan Works program. The Nursing program is very challenging and because of their financial help, I could focus all my time on school and not have to worry about working.”

Since 1973, the Alcona County Commission on Aging (ACCOA) has strived to provide its community with quality programs and services, including home delivered and congregate meals, in-home services, adult home help services, advocacy counseling, exercise programs, social and recreational programs, Volunteer Programs, and educational programs. ACCOA employs 20 employees, and serves older adults and family caregivers within the county of Alcona. ACCOA has found it very difficult to connect seniors and their families to programs and supports they may need within the district. Since the Commission serves as the point of contact for information and assistance, service request, and service navigation, they decided to take action. They identified an opportunity with Everyday Life Community Health Workers INC to train four existing employees as certified Community Health Workers. Community Health Workers (CHW) play a crucial role in the community they serve. Many of their goals and activities are tailored to meet the needs of the clients within the community. The role of a CHW is to promote and identify services their clients may need and anticipate future needs. CHWs must be able to understand and navigate clients to service programs within their community, as well as provide information on issues like public health, advocacy, housing, and social services. CHWs must understand how to make connections between vulnerable populations and healthcare services, facilitate social services system navigation, provide managing or transition care for vulnerable clients, stimulate social inclusion by reducing social Isolation among vulnerable populations, and educate the community about health system providers and disease prevention information. With the help of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium, ACCOA was able to move forward with the training thanks to an Incumbent Worker Training grant. Three staff completed the Community Health Worker training; two of the positions filled were supervisory department heads, and one position is a Community Liaison and Supports position. Executive Director Lenny Avery states, "ACCOA's Community Health Workers are members of our team who specialize in a particular area of expertise. These workers are trusted members of our community and serve as liaison between the client needs and the services we provide. Whether it is health care services, Medicaid applications, Communication between community members and partners, or everything in between. Our CHW are the Swiss army knives of our agency. Having these trained Community Health Workers is not only a benefit ACCOA, but the community as a whole." During the training process Lenny says they really learned to “be flexible, no matter what!” “You have to be able to adapt to any circumstances that come your way. Community Health Workers possess a unique ability to meet people where they are. They can reach residents where they live, eat, play, work, and worship. Alcona County has over 7 Community Health Workers and 5 are at the Alcona Commission on Aging all thanks to the Incumbent Worker Program!”

During his seasonal layoff period, Joseph T. was assigned to attend a RESEA class at Michigan Works! During the class, Michigan Works! Career Navigator, Kelli Gallagher explained how Michigan Works! can offer classroom training assistance, such as financial help paying tuition costs, mileage, and more, if pursuing an in-demand degree. Shortly after his RESEA appointment Joseph returned to Michigan Works! and was enrolled in the WIOA Adult program. Thanks to the classroom training assistance offered by Michigan Works!, Joseph is very excited to be pursuing his goal of obtaining his Heavy Equipment Operator’s license, as well as his CDL.

When Austin Pahl was let go from his seasonal employment he decided he wanted a change. He wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement. After speaking with a few current police academy cadets, he solidified his decision and took their advice – he went to his local Michigan Works! office to see if they could assist with his job training. Gaylord Michigan Works! Career Navigator, Chelsea Bertagnoli, and Career Advisor, Tracy Bohl, enrolled Austin in the WIOA Adult program and Michigan Works was able to assist with the tuition costs to attend the Kirtland Community College’s Police Academy. Austin said the process was quick and easy to receive financial assistance thanks to the Michigan Works! staff. Thanks to the assistance he received, Austin is now employed full-time in a career as a Police Officer with the Gladwin County Sheriff’s Department.

Emma was a high school senior looking to gain work experience and to have a chance to explore a career in nursing while completing high school. She began working with Michigan Works! Youth Career Advisor Jessie Trumble to accomplish her goals. She was enrolled in the WIOA In-School Youth Program and Jobs for Michigan Graduates (JMG) Program and they got started on developing a plan. With Jessie’s help, Emma was offered work experience at The Brook, an assisted living center in Grayling. Jessie also helped Emma to complete high school and her post-secondary prep with supportive services, including transportation assistance and scrubs for her job. Thanks to the support and guidance she received from Michigan Works! and Grayling High School, Emma has graduated, has full-time employment at the Brook, and is aiming to start Kirtland Community College in the fall to begin studying in the Nursing Program. Emma was grateful to have gained experience that most youth don’t have a chance to and is excited to have a concrete idea of what her future plans are.