Results: 75% of our participants find employment
74% keep their job for more than 1 year
82% increase their wages after just 6 months
86% do not return to prison after 1 year (nationally 56% is standard)
Programs: Pathways to success: a comprehensive personal and professional development course serving adults (men and women) transitioning from generational poverty, incarceration or domestic violence. Services include workforce readiness training, cognitive skills building, job placement and retention, health & wellness, financial education, skills training and transitional employment. Outcomes include full-time employment, stable housing, improved health, family reunification and financial stability. Other programs available upon completion of this training include:responsible fatherhood training: this service was added in 2011 based on the need of absentee dads to become functioning fathers to their children. This is accomplished through an evidence-based curriculum developed by the national center for fathering and facilitated by certified trainers. Breakfast club: a unique job club for participants seeking employment facilitated weekly by the employment specialist and job coach with opportunities for job shadowing, networking, mentoring, financial education, updates to the case management plan and other informational interviews. This weekly gathering is especially helpful to those having difficulties in the job search process. Participants also have access to the computer lab at the connections to success office. Mentoring: this service is offered through a program called 'connections to living'. Many project studies have concluded that success is enhanced when mentoring is incorporated into a holistic rehabilitation program such as the one offered at connections. Volunteer mentors engage with participants in a number of ways. Connect: weekly meetings where mentors and participants come together for a light meal, conversation, workshops and other social activities. Sweet success: a social enterprise developed to provide training and short-term employment in the making and selling of various gourmet bakery items including cookies and breads. Transportation: a van service provided by connections to success to participants limited by lack of personal transportation. Assistance includes traveling to/from connections to success offices, job interviews, job fairs, and other approved resources/appointments. Constructing futures: a program that provides training and short-term employment in basic home remodeling of abandoned single family homes in urban communities. Wheels for success: a unique car ownership program providing vehicles donated to connections to success, then awarded to participants achieving milestones in their career development plans.
dress for success midwest and kansas city: provides business clothing and accessories to low-income women preparing for employment. Referrals are received from over 200 nonprofits throughout the region. Each woman receives a like-new business suit with all accessories. This program has served over 25,000 women since beginning. Currently, boutiques in st. Charles, st. Louis and kansas city serve over 1,500 women each year. Other services available to women coming through dress for success include:professional womens' group (pwg): pwg is a job retention program designed for entry level women once they are employed to provide a network of support, practical information and inspiration to achieve self-defined success in career and life. Pwg meetings are held once a month in the evening to provide on-going support. Going places network (gpn): engages low-income, unemployed or underemployed women providing a curriculum of workforce readiness, career development, job placement assistance and financial literacy. Upon completion of gpn, participants are then eligible for other programs including connect, breakfast club, mentoring, transportation and skills training.
program replication: provides training and technical assistance to third party organizations in replicating pathways to success program. Currently are engaged with four agencies located in topeka, wichita and garden city, kansas in replicating pathways program.
