Success Strategies:
Career Models - Barriers:
The workforce system can help people engage in a significant upward mobility career path if it can demonstrate how others have accomplished this. This modeling is especially important for populations with the following barriers to employment: persons with prior convictions, people with access/disability issues, and non-native English speakers. Success by others is a powerful motivator to keep people focused on upward mobility, give them hope of being successful themselves, and prevent return to past behavior or dependencies. The East County One Stop Career System (ECOS) interviewed 40 individuals from January to May 2002. A research technique called "process mapping" was incorporated to identify the strategies these persons used to achieve successful outcomes. Brief profiles of each person interviewed are included below. Their names have been changed to guarantee anonymity and protect the confidentiality of the interview process. Their complete stories as well as a cause and effect diagram that presents a snapshot of each journey to success is available on-line. Click on an individual's journey or story to connect to this research via the Internet. This research project was made possible through funding from the Oregon State Lottery through the Multnomah-Washington Regional and Rural Investment Board for the purpose of promoting economic and community development.
Career Models: Employment Barrier - Felony conviction Each of the following individuals was incarcerated for a period of time, several for many years. They all reported drug and/or alcohol addictions. Although many of their success strategies are similar, they each took a different path to success. Most will cite a positive connection with someone early in this path that made the difference between success and backsliding to former life styles and behavior patterns. Homer Cardova After being released from prison, Homer worked as a machinist, was promoted to foreman and now has a well paying managerial position. He is highly satisfied with his life, has a good job and plans to purchase his first home. Homer's employer and skills he acquired in the military have helped him with his life and career. See his journey Valerie Mooney: Valeria says her life is the best it has ever been. She has defeated a long-term drug and alcohol addiction and is well on her way to fiscal solvency and self-sufficiency. She had a few relapses but was able to recover and get herself back on track. Clackamas County ETBS was a supportive component for her. See her journey Sam Patton: Sam was a drug dealer for over 10 years. He is now very happy with his life, is clean and sober, has dealt with his anger and overcome the barriers to employment that came from doing jail time and living with a felony record. He credits the Men's Resource Center and the Oxford House for helping him most. See his journey Warren Andresen: Warren served 15 years in the state penitentiary for murder. He used and dealt drugs, activities that resulted in the murder conviction. Warren was able to take advantage of programs both within prison and post release that helped him find a career strategy that is working. Central City Concern and the One Stop Career System have been solid supportive agencies for Warren. See his journey Kenneth Carney: Ken is finishing his education and working to improve his life spiritually as well as economically. He has relapsed twice, but is back on track gaining the skills he needs to move forward in a technical career. He also owns a small business. Other people in recovery, his family, and finding his own passion have contributed to his success. See his journey Toni Armour: Although not yet commanding the salary that she would like, Toni is working full time for an employer that she likes and is getting full benefits. She is addressing her substance abuse and health issues related to her former life style. She was released from prison eight months ago and is on parole. She has four felony convictions for robbery, forgery, assault, and theft. Toni thanks Better People, ASAP and Oxford House for helping her change her life. See her journey Ben Watkins: Ben has an inexpugnable felony offense on his record. Clean and sober for over 7 years, Ben now has a very good job, owns his own home and is able to help others through volunteer activities. He feels that he is exactly where he wants to be in life. He earns $17.50 per hour and is in good health. The Summit Program and state Employment Department were helpful to Ben, as well as his employer. See his journey Barry Yves: Barry had multiple felony drug possession and delivery convictions as well as numerous additional charges (theft, trespassing, shoplifting) relating to active addiction. He had active heroin and alcohol addictions. Barry now earns over $30,000 per year working in a technical position. Central City Concern, the Recovery Assistance Program, and key mentors helped Barry overcome his barriers. See his journey Tina York: Although only "half way there" Tina is achieving her goals. She intends to buy a house and further her education. Her addiction issues ultimately got her sentenced to the Day Reporting Center where she enrolled in a class on cognitive restructuring. She considers this a turning point in her life. See her journey Louise Walters: Louise has utilized powerful self-affirmation techniques to motivate her towards a very different life from what she was living. Her parole and probation officer was a significant influence in her decision process. She is now healthy and drug free, a graduate of PSU and working for a state agency. See her journey Patricia Baldwin: After serving a prison sentence for murdering her abusive significant other (to save her own life), Patty is pursuing a college education and a career in the criminal justice system. She is frequently called upon as a motivational speaker on issues such as domestic violence and addictions. She has a job she enjoys, is earning about $30,000 a year and is proud of her achievements. The in-prison support programs helped her most. See her journey Carol Everett: After loss of her children, addictions and probation for possession, Carol now has a great job at a bank, has reconnected with her kids, and is saving to buy her own home. Life is good for her and she credits support from ETBS in Clackamas County, her community health nurse and a strong belief in herself for helping change her life. See her journey Jerry Baker: Four years after completing a twelve-year prison sentence, Jerry has built a new life. He started a successful business, developed new and healthy relationships and is reconnecting to his family, other people, and God. He credits the Employment Department Incarcerated Vets program as well as cognitive skill training that he received in prison for helping him change his life. See his journey Henry Potter: Henry is a supervisor for a county corrections program. He owns his own home, is self-sufficient and able to save for his retirement. He had to overcome long time addictions, homelessness, and relationship problems to create a new life. He cites his employer, a belief in God, and support from his younger sister for helping him make it. See his journey Mario Torres: Following conviction on a murder charge and a long prison sentence, Mario has successfully overcome his addictions and past. He has a good job, a supportive wife, is clean and sober and is working to help others. He credits prison rehab programs and his current employer for his success. See his journey Mona Chown: Mona is now an active mentor for persons in prison, visiting with them to help them overcome the obstacles that they will face upon release. She overcame her own addictions, a felony offense that resulted in prison time, and lack of job skills to become a grounded and successful person that is able to give back to those going through problems like her own. See her journey Career Models: Employment Barrier - Disability Elaine Lastow: : Elaine has short-term memory and learning disabilities as a result of a traumatic brain injury. She has been able to overcome her inability to get and keep a job through assistance from vocational rehabilitation, schooling and control of addictions. See her journey Julie Grissum: Overcoming a mental breakdown and hearing disability have been her key challenges to getting and keeping a job. She is also on DUII probation. Julie is now getting the education she feels she needs to move into self-sufficiency. She is taking advantage of classes offered through the MHCC Transitions Project. See her journey David Stone: David was diagnosed with a spinal tumor at the age of 40. He has had to totally reorganize his life and occupation to accommodate the partial paralysis created by this tumor. He has to deal with issues of personal safety and security as well as self-esteem and self-identity. He has found many resources that have helped him copy with this significant life change. See his journey Ginny Munez: After facing serious life changes due to Multiple Sclerosis, Ginny has learned to be open with herself and think about what is important. She is well established in a new career and is assisting others with disabilities. She cites her Aging and Disability Services case manager for helping her made the transition. See her journey Shirley Strom: Shirley has overcome both a learning disability and addictions that led to felony arrest and conviction. She is highly satisfied with her life due to clarity, focus and simplicity. She has set goals and is attaining them. She credits her own initiative and a supportive employer for the success she currently enjoys. See her journey Liz Worley: Disabilities, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug abuse and high anxiety were issues Liz had to overcome in order to be a good employee and keep a job. She has done this and credits her return to school, networking and support from Vocational Rehabilitation for her success. See her journey Susan Schultz: A car accident in her early teens left Susan a level C67 Quadriplegic. She has accommodated this life-changing situation in many ways and is able to care for herself, live alone, and support herself. She is eager to help others find the resources they need to have similar success. See her journey Paula Forester: Paula was diagnosed with MS about six years ago. This condition has required her to re-invent herself and discover what she can do, rather than what she can't. She is satisfied with her life, but needs to find work that is less stressful. She credits IAM CARES and Vocational Rehabilitations for helping her through difficult life transitions. See her journey Dennis Vinton: Dennis overcame serious alcohol addictions and is now a successful supervisor with a local habilitation center. He credits a supportive employer, AA, and his church family for helping with his recovery and successful transition from making a living selling drugs to a life of self-sufficiency. See his journey Career Models: Employment Barrier - Limited English/language barrier Abdul Askandah: Abdul is a refugee from Iraq. When he arrived in the US, he spoke very little English. His motivation to succeed in this country has led him to a good job that pays enough to support himself, save for retirement and send funds back to his family in Iraq. IRCO was a great help to him upon arrival to this country. See his journey Corina Solas: After arriving in the US from Puerto Rico, Corina successfully created earning opportunities for herself and her family. Her strong belief in the importance of getting an education was instilled in her children. See her journey Mohammed Majoura: Mohammed is a Kurdish refugee. He came to this country without a high school education and limited skills in English. He credits self-determination, hard work, high aspirations and IRCO for his success. He now makes a good living, is taking continuing education classes at PCC and is working towards getting his US citizenship. See his journey Jimi Lopez: With an annual salary of over $45,000, Jimi is able to support his family, save some money and help his 10 siblings, all of whom are now in the US. He is a Mexican National that came to the US in order to earn enough money to bring the rest of his family here, escaping a life of abject poverty in Mexico. He credits hard work and a positive outlook for his success. See his journey Doria Martinez: Currently working on her electives, Doria plans to become a register nurse. She started working at the age of 9 in Mexico and has continued to advance both her education and her language skills in order to gain a better life for herself and her family. See her journey Serena Tomez: At age 53, Serena is a successful professional Latina. She overcame many barriers by enlisting in the Air Force and engaging in a upwardly mobile career path with the Federal Government. She now earns over $55,000 per year with a career path that would work for many Hispanic women seeking entry to the US workforce. See her journey
The preparation of this document and support for this program was funded at least in part by the Oregon State Lottery through the Multnomah-Washington Regional and Rural Investment Board for the purpose of promoting economic and community development." |
