The Power of Perserverance

Tyleena came to us as a single mom with very limited work experience. She had worked as a store clerk for only a few short months, earning $13 an hour. With minimal support from family or friends, she faced significant challenges in finding childcare and stable employment. Determined to provide for herself and her son, Tyleena applied for assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) early in 2023. She was approved and entered the PATH program.

Although Tyleena participated diligently in the PATH program, she encountered a major hurdle: she needed childcare for her son before she could secure a job, but the program required her to have employment before providing childcare assistance. This catch-22 situation made her job search even more challenging.

Despite receiving coaching, attending workshops, and receiving mileage reimbursement through the PATH program, Tyleena was unable to find employment and was eventually termed out of the program. Undeterred, she sought assistance through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program on September 6, 2023, and continued her job search.

Working closely with her coach, Tyleena dedicated several hours to refining her resume. Without a computer at home, she relied on her flash drive and physical copies of her resume to apply for jobs. She attended individual and group activities through GST Michigan Works!, applied for numerous positions, and went on several interviews. However, securing childcare remained a significant obstacle.

Her coach suggested she follow up with the places she had interviewed, and Tyleena intensified her efforts. Finally, her perseverance paid off when she secured a full-time position at Kindercare as an assistant teacher. Remarkably, she could bring her son to work with her daily, resolving the childcare issue that had been such a barrier in her job search.