Chelsea attended her AEP PATH Orientation at Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium in September 2023. She was considered a single-parent of three children at the time because her significant other, Mathew, had been arrested for possession of controlled substances. She was unemployed, but had a history of working in housekeeping, healthcare, and the food industry.
Mathew completed probation before he attended his AEP PATH orientation in November 2023. He wanted to become a more supportive father - both financially and emotionally - and to be in his family’s lives.
The two had no childcare for their three children except for a willing family friend. However, they had no backup plan. Their Michigan Works! Career Advisor referred them to Great Start to Quality and to DHHS for assistance. Mathew and Chelsea were borrowing a family member’s vehicle for transportation and Chelsea would drive to transport their family, because Mathew’s driver’s license was rescinded through August 2024.
In October, Chelsea was assigned to the Work Experience Program activity at New Life Pregnancy in Gaylord, where she remained as a volunteer until March 2024 when she was hired as a full-time employee.
Mathew struggled to gain employment due to his background. He wanted to return to the construction or production fields, but due to the time of year and his history, he wasn’t getting any responses to his applications. He was disheartened by these results and needed much encouragement. His Career Advisor worked one-on-one him to create a new resume in order to entice more employers to consider him as a potential employee. In March 2024, the hiring manager at GDS Construction visited the Michigan Works! office in Gaylord in search of individuals to hire. They were provided Mathew’s new resume which included a concise history, listing of skills, and work experience. Because of this, GDS Construction hired Mathew the same day as a full-time, year-round employee and were willing to transport him to and from worksites.
Through their journey, Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium was able to assist with work attire and tools, transportation funds, and job search skills. But the most important thing that allowed Chelsea and Mathew to gain self-sufficiency was the support they gave each other through it all. Chelsea tearfully told her Career Advisor, “If it wasn’t for your help, we wouldn’t be where we are now. We wouldn’t have what we have today”. The two are still employed and are now happily married.
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