Rebuild Iowa Office: WORKING TO RECOVER: HELPING IOWANS GAIN EMPLOYMENT
WORKING TO RECOVER: HELPING IOWANS GAIN EMPLOYMENT
Emergency Public Jobs Program Places Maquoketa Woman in Flood Recovery Work
(DES MOINES) – Alicia Atkinson, 27, of Maquoketa credits the Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) program for helping her gain the confidence and recommendations she needed to train, and now work, as a certified nursing assistant.
The EPJ program was implemented last May when it was funded with a portion of money from a $17.1 million Tornado/Flood National Emergency Disaster Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, explained Carol Paulus, who supervises the program for Iowa Workforce Development.
The Emergency Public Jobs program (EPJ) is scheduled to continue through June of 2010. The program focuses on putting dislocated workers to work repairing, renovating or restoring areas which sustained damage from the tornadoes and floods that occurred from May through August of 2008.
Atkinson, who had been unsuccessful in finding a job in the 15 weeks before she found out about the EPJ program, was hired through the program to do work in the field for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The agency also had her assist with assessments on grass waterways and other conservation practices damaged during the 2008 floods.
“Working at NRCS gave me more confidence in terms of getting out and actually working,” she said. “I had been a stay-at-home mom and was doing small temporary jobs here and there before I started with the program.”
While working for the NRCS, Atkinson completed the required Defensive Driving Course, USDA Privacy Basics FY08 and USDA Computer Security Awareness Training FY08, all training she needed to do her job duties. She describes her work experience “as a really big resume builder” and a great way to build references for a future career.
Atkinson’s experience also gave her the confidence to later pursue training in the certified nursing assistant program.
Atkinson is now employed by Developing Alternative Choices, where she works with disabled individuals. She hopes to eventually get into human services work.
Statistically:
Alicia Atkinson is one of 1,522 individuals who have worked in disaster-related jobs through the Emergency Public Jobs program since July of 2008.
The Emergency Jobs Program has placed workers at approximately 1,000 disaster-impacted work sites.
The Emergency Public Jobs program puts Iowans to work for up to six months. Program details can be found on the Iowa Workforce Development Web site at www.iowaworkforce.org/reco
(DES MOINES) – Alicia Atkinson, 27, of Maquoketa credits the Emergency Public Jobs (EPJ) program for helping her gain the confidence and recommendations she needed to train, and now work, as a certified nursing assistant.
The EPJ program was implemented last May when it was funded with a portion of money from a $17.1 million Tornado/Flood National Emergency Disaster Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, explained Carol Paulus, who supervises the program for Iowa Workforce Development.
The Emergency Public Jobs program (EPJ) is scheduled to continue through June of 2010. The program focuses on putting dislocated workers to work repairing, renovating or restoring areas which sustained damage from the tornadoes and floods that occurred from May through August of 2008.
Atkinson, who had been unsuccessful in finding a job in the 15 weeks before she found out about the EPJ program, was hired through the program to do work in the field for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The agency also had her assist with assessments on grass waterways and other conservation practices damaged during the 2008 floods.
“Working at NRCS gave me more confidence in terms of getting out and actually working,” she said. “I had been a stay-at-home mom and was doing small temporary jobs here and there before I started with the program.”
While working for the NRCS, Atkinson completed the required Defensive Driving Course, USDA Privacy Basics FY08 and USDA Computer Security Awareness Training FY08, all training she needed to do her job duties. She describes her work experience “as a really big resume builder” and a great way to build references for a future career.
Atkinson’s experience also gave her the confidence to later pursue training in the certified nursing assistant program.
Atkinson is now employed by Developing Alternative Choices, where she works with disabled individuals. She hopes to eventually get into human services work.
Statistically:
Alicia Atkinson is one of 1,522 individuals who have worked in disaster-related jobs through the Emergency Public Jobs program since July of 2008.
The Emergency Jobs Program has placed workers at approximately 1,000 disaster-impacted work sites.
The Emergency Public Jobs program puts Iowans to work for up to six months. Program details can be found on the Iowa Workforce Development Web site at www.iowaworkforce.org/reco