Back to Work graduation opens doors for homeless individuals

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is holding a Back to Work graduation ceremony November 9. Partnering with the Phoenix Center and its Lotus Program at Serenity Place, DEW’s Back to Work program is a six-week boot camp that teaches homeless individuals job-earning and job-succeeding skills.

Rep. Bill Chumley, R-Woodruff will be the featured speaker when graduation diplomas will be handed out Friday morning at Long Branch Baptist Church in Greenville. The result of a public-private partnerships, these certificates  are passports to a more productive life for participants who have been coached to overcome barriers to employment such as criminal records, lacking transportation or a more formal GED or high school education.

Four people will graduate Friday November 9 at 10:00 a.m. at the Long Branch Baptist Church located at 28 Bolt Street in Greenville. During this intensive job training program, DEW staff taught participants subjects such as soft skills, diversity in the workforce, conflict in the workplace, resume writing, mock interviews, dress for success and other job skills.

A key element in this initiative is that participants receive an individual career-readiness assessment that demonstrates their strengths and weaknesses, and points to the types of jobs that would allow them to reach their potential.

A unique feature of the Back to Work program is in the final stages of the boot camp. DEW and partner agencies – the Phoenix Center here in Greenville – work together to host a job fair with local employers. This critical step affords participants the opportunity to experience a hiring event and the interview process in a personalized setting, and it allows businesses to get to talk with several potential employees to find important workforce assistance.

For many, Friday’s ceremonies may be their first graduation. The goal of DEW’s Back to Work program is that the lessons being taught help participants get back on their feet with a clear path to employment so that they can better their lives for themselves and their families.

The Phoenix Center assists the citizens of Greenville County and the surrounding area in the prevention, treatment and recovery from substance use disorders by offering effective and affordable services. Their vision is that the individuals that they assist live free from the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and other drugs.

The Lotus Program is an out-patient program, including interim housing at The Villas, which focuses on recovery after successful completion of residential treatment at Serenity Place. Serenity Place is The Phoenix Center’s residential facility for women and children.

During their time with the Lotus Program, the women are encouraged and challenged to move toward improving their quality of life by gaining skills necessary for stable employment, continuing their education, connections with community resources, finding adequate housing and establishing a recovery network. Being in the Lotus Program can be a life-changing experience, or it could be one of several attempts to make the changes in their lives that they are hoping to achieve.

About DEW

The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency invests in building a pipeline of quality workers, matches workers with jobs, and is a bridge for individuals who find themselves out of work for no fault of their own. This promotes financial stability and economic prosperity for employers, individuals and communities. DEW is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services that meet the needs of the state’s businesses, jobseekers and those looking to advance their careers.