IMPACT SERVICES SEC PROGRAM

Paving the Road to Self-Sufficiency
Much of the effort in Impact’s welfare-to-work programs is directed toward accelerating the rate of positive change in clients’ lives. Although much has changed in this field, Impact has adapted through the decades, continuously finding new ways to help people take charge of their lives and take care of their families. Over the past five years, Impact’s welfare-to-work programs have helped over 5,600 TANF recipients move towards achieving their goals and self-sufficiency.

Continuing its long tradition of piloting new programs targeting recipients of public assistance, Impact’s newest endeavor --the Social Employment Center (SEC) opened its doors in November 2008.

Begun at the request of the PA Department of Public Welfare and with support from the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, SEC is a special project designed to provide TANF recipients who face short and long-term barriers to employment with participation in work activities that help the individuals gain valuable work skills while helping the State of Pennsylvania meet its Federal time and attendance requirements. SEC works with specifically with pregnant women and mothers who have recently given birth.

Participants engage in job readiness training, academic tutoring, and other activities that helps improve their employability, as well as in life skills training addressing issues of health and pregnancy, parenting, and other topics related to motherhood; but the key activity for SEC customers is on-site work activities that are socially beneficial and help prepare the participant for eventual employment.

Since its inception, the SEC Interns have provided free services that have benefited over 72,000 individuals in the Philadelphia area. Services have included processing mailings to individuals to help recruit or advise them of services; assembling folders needed by agencies for use in their projects; packing and delivering toiletry kits to patients in Veterans Hospitals, individuals and families in homeless shelters, and veterans serving in Iraq; and, shredding and recycling documents.

Through our off-site volunteer activities, SEC Interns have helped newly sworn in citizens complete their voter registration forms, cooked and served food to homeless individuals and senior citizens, reconstruct computers to help support child development services, packed kits of fun activities for delivery to children recovering from cancer, and other needed services.

Organizations that have benefited from the free services provided by SEC Interns include: The Ronald McDonald House, Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, United Way, Project HOME, Philadelphia Youth Network, Trevor’s Place, Public Interest Law Center, Dignity Housing, People’s Emergency Center, St. John’s Hospice, Philly Cares, and others.

Working with TANF customers referred through the Employment Advancement Retention Network (EARN) system, SEC continues Impact’s long tradition of helping those in need to move forward to a better life.

Change, acceleration and support. It is gratifying work.