"May and June. Soft syllables, gentle names for the two best months in the garden
year: cool, misty
mornings gently burned away with a warming spring sun, followed by breezy afternoons
and chilly nights.
The discussion of philosophy is over; it's time for work to begin."
- Peter Loewer
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“'You must first go through the storm in order to see the rainbow.'” When I felt I had no where else to turn in order to get my life together for my son, it was the Richmond County Work First Program that helped me see there was an alternative. I can truly say my life and my career would not be the same if it had not been for Work First and the wonderful and caring staff that they have. This is a program that teaches you not only about volunteering and how to obtain a job, it teaches you how to sustain your life and make it more fulfilling for you and your family. I’m someone who has come from a monthly check and food stamps to a Social Worker II at the same place I signed up to receive assistance." Lirosia Wall, Social Worker II
Richmond County Child Protective Service Unit
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Work First is a statewide program
designed to help people on welfare
take responsibility for
themselves and their families
by finding and keeping jobs.
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| May is National Mental Health Month | |
Celebrate Children's Mental Well-Being!
You may not realize it, but chances are a child or adolescent you know has a serious
mental health need. In fact, mental health problems affect one in five young people.
Mental Health problems can be emotionally, socially and spiritually painful,
especially for children and adolescents. It is not uncommon for children with a
mental health problems to feel isolated and rejected, experience feelings of guilt
or shame and to have a loss of self-esteem.
There are many things that parents and caregivers can do to support children's
emotional health and well-being. Make a commitment to help the children and
adolescents in your life. May, officially recognized as "Mental Health Month" by
Congress since 1949, is the perfect time for parents and caregivers to focus on
children's and | adolescents' mental health. You can show your support for Mental
Health Month by:
Learning more about mental well-being in children.
Celebrating the accomplishments and strengths of children.
Fostering self-worth and independence in children.
Helping children express their feelings.
Promoting mutual respect and trust.
Recognizing the strengths in all children.
Appreciating each child's uniqueness.
Encouraging individual talents.
Helping children set goals based on their abilities and interests.
Showing confidence in their ability to handle problems and tackle new experiences.
To learn more about mental well-being in children, please call 1-800-789-2647 or
visit mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/child.
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Subsidized Employment
A Win-Win Situation
Richmond County is one of 23 counties across the state of North Carolina receiving a portion of federal stimulus money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Richmond County is poised to offer a unique employment opportunity to low income families as well as to local employers. The Work First program will be placing as many as 40 local residents into subsidized employment. By definition, subsidized employment means employment for which the employer receives subsidy to offset some or all of the wages and costs of employing an individual. Work First will be reimbursing employers 100% of the hourly wages paid to new hires. Depending upon the job skills needed, the subsidized period could be anywhere from 3 months up to 12 months while the individual is being trained. The outcome is most definitely a win-win situation. The new employee is earning a paycheck and the new employer has not invested any money in employee training. Currently, jobs available through the subsidized employment program include, but are not limited to, industrial, healthcare and the hospitality industry. Do you want to be a part of the win-win situation? For more information on the Work First subsidized employment program, call Lee Anne Sago at 910-997-8478 or Linda Collins at 910-997-8428.
If you've been in our agency recently, you have probably seen
this little dynamo with her cleaning cart! We'd like to welcome Mechell Young to
our staff! Ms. Young began volunteering with the housekeeping staff in September
2009 and was officially hired in January 2010. Way to go, Mechell! Another example
of a successful alternative work placement leading to employment!
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 Reminder! May is:
May 1st - National Scrapbook Day
May 6th - International No Diet Day
May 8th - No Socks Day
May 9th - First Newspaper Cartoon was printed in the USA on this date in 1754
May 10th - Clean Up Your Room Day
May 11th - Twilight Zone Day
May 16th - First US Nickel was minted on this date in 1866
May 19th - The Ringling Bros Circus opened on this date in 1884
May 21st - American Red Cross was founded in 1881 by Clara Barton.
May 24th - First Morse Code message was sent from Washington to Baltimore in 1844
May 25th - National Missing Children's Day
May 27th - Golden Gate Bridge opened on this date in 1937
May 31st - World No Tobacco Day
Work First client working as a vehicle sales person |
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 Kudos to Jennifer Glover for doing
an excellent job in her volunteer placement. How do we know?Read what her supervisor said below:
"It is busy as never before here but I had to stop and take time to tell you how
Jennifer Glover has brightened our day around here at the ESC/JobLink.
Jennifer is never late, usually early. She usually has to be told to stop work.
Never has she had a sour attitude but instead is always smiling, positive and
professional. What a rare treat it is to have someone come in and just jump right
in to the work, always dressing professionally, always with an even personality (no
drama) and customers seem to love her! Even more rare is that she never has to be
reminded to perform a certain task or to "go check on customers". Jennifer goes to
them. She doesn't wait for them to approach her.
Let me sum it up this way . . . . .I wish we had the money in the budget to hire her
and anyone else like her. Some company is going to get a super employee and I am
going to be happy and jealous at the same time."
Thank you so much for sending Jennnifer our way.
Mike Railton
Assistant Manager
Richmond County ESC/JobLink
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Work First is no longer a way of life.
To learn more about Work First and how to get involved, contact your Richmond County Work First Program.
The Work First program emphasizes the importance of work and personal responsibility.
Work First offers time-limited financial and employment-related resources to families.
Families must work towards self-sufficiency while receiving Work First.
Families receive assistance in obtaining and maintaining employment.
Work First offers short-term services to families to assist in a quick return to the labor market.
Work First assists in locating Non-Custodial parents.
Parents are encouraged to spend quality time with their children.
Building from a strengths-based perspective, Work First works with parents to strengthen and preserve families.
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