OnRamp: Connecting People with Careers
Mary (not her real name) wanted to rebuild her life after escaping domestic violence. She had a safe place to stay with a friend, but she needed a new start in her career. She also needed a safe, permanent home for her family. Mary reached out to the Virginia Career Works Center for job-training assistance. They referred her to the Onramp program.
Helping Mary navigate her choices
The Virginia workforce system has a lot of career-training programs and services, and maneuvering through the system can be difficult. Onramp provides a personal navigator to each client. This person guides clients and refers them to supportive services. Mary’s navigator referred her to TAP’s Domestic Violence Services, where she received case management and group counseling. Her TAP-DVS case manager helped her set a goal of getting a job in healthcare. Mary applied to a nurse aide training program.
Mary receives extra support through her career training
While Mary was in the training program, her Onramp navigator connected her with Feeding Southwest Virginia. They helped her contact the local Department of Social Services office to apply for SNAP benefits. Onramp also helped Mary with transit costs, so she could get to her classes. After gaining her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, Mary got a job in a nursing home.
When a person is working to rebuild their life, gaining employment is only one step in the process. Referrals to supportive services play a key role in their success. The additional services Mary accessed with the help of the Onramp program allowed her to begin to build a stable life.