Shown left to right are Jim Brown, Human Resources Manager, Erika Watkins, and Jennifer Watson, Supervisor

A Shining Example!

     Recently, theRichmond County Daily Journal ran an article entitled Work First Works. The article featured a Work First participant named Erika Watkins. Ms. Watkins shared her story of being a single mother of four children and how it is her goal to teach her children that they can be self-sufficient no matter what obstacles they may face. In a quote, Ms. Watkins stated she wants to show her children that they don’t have to depend on the welfare system. Ms. Watkins is well on her way of setting a positive example. Since beginning her employment with Perdue Farms in January, Ms. Watkins has been recognized twice for her hard work, out producing her co-workers in the first week on the job, according to Perdue’s Senior Human Resource Representative, Travis Billingsley.

     With very little work experience under her belt, Ms. Watkins is a participant in the On-the-Job Training component through the Richmond County Work First program. Funded through a Work First Demonstration Grant, Richmond County Work First currently has eight participants earning income through On-the-Job Training sites. “ The premise behind the training is that a Work First participant with little to no job skills will be placed in productive work that provides the knowledge and skills essential to adequately perform the job for which they are being trained,” states Linda Collins, supervisor , Work First Employment Services. Through the Demonstration Grant, Work First participants are able to receive on the job training at no cost to the employer. During the initial 90 days of training, all of the participant’s wages are paid through grant funding. Once the 90-day period ends, the participant becomes a permanent employee with the company. “Work First has been successful in Richmond County due to the collaboration of our community partners,” said Lee Anne Sago, Family Services Program Manager. “Collaboration and team work allow our program to meet the family at the point of their need while assisting the family in developing a strong, healthy foundation for the future.”

     As for Ms. Watkins, well as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Congratulations to Ms. Watkins and her family on being a Work First success story!