by Analisa Herndon
Special to The Leaven
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — What does it take to achieve financial stability? For most people, it starts with a steady job and fair wage.
Yet, for those with limited education, living in poverty or a history of incarceration, this goal seems out of reach.
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas aims to strengthen individuals so that they can overcome these types of barriers to employment. Through its Workforce Development programming, the agency offers the resources, connections and support needed to guide individuals on the path to self-sustainability.
“We provide tools to those who are looking for work or trying to improve their professional skill set,” said Rick McKenna, Workforce director.
Under the Workforce Development umbrella are two core programs: St. Rita and Employment Services. The St. Rita program helps individuals advance their education in skilled trades, health care or information technology.
On average, the program runs four to six months, but that timeline may be extended depending on the selected field of study. Upon completion, participants have the knowledge and skills to successfully attain employment in a field that’s in high demand, and thereby secure a stable, well-paying position.
Employment Services supports individuals who may need assistance finding any type of job, or who need help with the job search. The program provides short-term career coaching services such as resume development and interview preparation.
The agency’s Shalom House Transitional Living Program has utilized an intensive version of this programming to help men who are unhoused get on the right track and secure a job before they have completed their stay at Shalom House in Kansas City, Kansas.
One of the distinct aspects of Workforce Development is its holistic approach. In addition to career training and job placement services, participants benefit from individualized case management. Case management provides one-on-one career coaching, financial assistance, access to the IMAGO soft-skills training platform and more.
“What makes our program unique is the trust and support we provide. Many of the clients I work with are single parents juggling school, work and family, or couples who have hit hard times. My role is to connect them with resources, develop their job skills and guide them toward employment that aligns with their goals,” said Crystal Hays, Workforce specialist in Lawrence and Topeka.
The program’s partnerships with institutions such as Johnson County Community College and Washburn Institute of Technology in Topeka offer participants even greater access to professional training and career resources. Other program incentives include job referrals to community partners and weekly access to Catholic Charities food pantries, ensuring that basic needs are met while clients focus on their goals.
The Workforce Development team prides itself on its solid list of community partnerships. The team works with institutions that will help its clients, providing supplementary support such as soft-skills training or assistance with placing a client in a job post-hire. To support long-term success, the team has implemented 30-, 60- and 90-day check-ins with both clients and their employers, ensuring a mutual fit and long-term employment.
Hope stories from the program reflect the transformation that occurs when individuals are given the tools to succeed.
One client shared, “With the help of my Workforce specialist and the St. Rita program, I was able to have tuition, fees, scrubs and more covered to complete my education.”
Another client who became the sole provider for her family while she was in school, credited St. Rita with allowing her to focus on her studies. Once struggling to afford rent, she now earns $37.50 per hour after securing a nursing position following her graduation.
Since its inception, the Workforce Development program has expanded significantly, now serving 200 clients annually throughout the agency’s 21-county service region, including Atchison, Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. “We’ve reinvented ourselves and are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our clients,” said Rachel Leavitt, Workforce manager. “In the last fiscal year, our program has generated a total economic impact of nearly $4 million.”
Highlights from the past year:
• 206 individuals boosted their job skills and advanced their education through the St. Rita program, including a record 91 participants who attained their academic or certification credentials.
• 69 clients were served through the Employment Services program.
• 121 individuals obtained employment in Workforce programming, earning average wages of $21.69 per hour with full benefits for full-time roles and $19.44 for part-time.
The Workforce Development team has plans to introduce paid internships, apprenticeships and internal training programs in the near future. Expansion into more rural areas is also on the horizon. To learn more about these programs, go online to: catholiccharitiesks.org/workforce-development.
