Human Resources, Labour, and Employment
May 7, 2010
Transition to Work
through Community Network to Receive Funding
To help address the specific
challenges those with mental health issues confront in finding and
retaining employment, the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment, was in Clarenville today to announce a
commitment of $25,000 to the Transition to Work through Community
Network.
"Persons with a serious mental illness face many barriers to
employment," said Minister Sullivan. "These barriers include gaps in
work history and limited employment experience. The Williams Government
is pleased to make this funding commitment because we understand that
achieving true inclusion is about ensuring everyone can fully
participate in all aspects of our society and our growing economy."
Transition to Work through Community Network is a sixteen-week
collaborative project involving the Department of Human Resources,
Labour and Employment, Ability Employment Corporation, Canadian Mental
Health Association — Built Networks, Eastern Health, and six employer
partners - Clarenville Co-op, Clarenville Inn, Home Hardware, St. Jude
Hotel, Rodways, and Cabot Pharmacy. The project will be overseen by an
advisory group of mental health and employment and career specialists.
Ability Employment Corporation will provide participants with a
combination of skills development, personal development, specialized
career planning services and exposure to diverse work places through a
job shadowing component with local employers.
The program includes three components:
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An eight-week online
program will enhance employability skills while offering support
from within the group and input from health care professionals and
employment specialists.
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Two weeks of workshops
are offered in a group setting to cover such areas as first aid;
occupational health & safety; Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHIMS); healthy eating; budgeting and money
management; communications and employer expectations.
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A six-week job shadowing
component which will see six employer partners offer participants
the experience of working in diverse work environments for a period
of one week.
"This is a great
announcement for our organization, and for our clients," said Camilla
O'Shea, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ability Employment
Corporation. "The program funding will allow participants to explore and
experience diverse employment placements, while also offering a
supportive environment to transition back into the workforce or make the
very first attachment to the labour market."
"This funding will provide important supports for persons with
disabilities as they seek meaningful employment, achieve greater
self-reliance and contribute to the Trinity North region," said the
Honourable Ross Wiseman, MHA for the District of Trinity North. "I look
forward to seeing the results of this program, and I also look forward
to the creation of more opportunities for persons with disabilities
throughout the province."
The Ability Employment Corporation is a non-profit corporation that
provides career counseling and job development services to persons with
mental, physical, and learning disabilities. The corporation has been
supported by the local office of the Department of Human Resources
Labour and Employment in Clarenville and Bonavista for eighteen years.
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Media contacts:
2010 05 07
11:30 a.m. |