Options To Succeed
What Is The Options Program?
The Options to Succeed Program offers a multi dimensional approach to reaching both employed and unemployed residents of Sault Ste. Marie who will benefit from improved literacy or essential skills. JHS is partnered with Program Read to upgrade skills and JHS has partnered with Zellers for employment placements.
All unemployed participants will have a training plan developed following an assessment of skills. Clients facing the greatest deficits in literacy and essential skills will be offered the most intensive services. JHS will provide 8 weeks of skill enhancement services followed by a 12 week employment placement and/or support to return to school.
Employed individuals will be offered social skills workshops to improve their use of essentials skills in the workplace. If these employees identify a need for further training, we will offer them access to literacy and essential skills training.
The Options to Succeed Program is a true example of a win/win scenario, bringing the private and public sectors together, by offereing wraparound services to both employers and employees to combat unemployment.
Why Does The John Howard Society Run This Program?
Over the past 25 years the John Howard Society has seen fluctuations in the economy and how it can impact the wellness of our community. Throughout our years of working in the community we have extensive experience providing services to multi-barriered individuals as well as providing supports to employers and employer groups. It is our experience that literacy and essential skills deficits lead to further barriers.
Who Is Eligible?
Individuals 18 years of age and over, who are living in Sault Ste. Marie where any combinations of the following barriers exist:
- low levels of reading, writing and numeracy
- lack of skill in document/computer use
- conflict management difficulties
- economic issues
- poor/no work experience history
- poor communication/people skills
- poor decision making/problem solving skills
- conflict with authority
The Options to Succeed program offers group workshops to employers and their employees to help increase essential skill levels, with the goal of increased employee productivity and employee retention:
Personality Dimensions – Team Building
- Personality assessment tool designed to help you understand yourself, and to find what strengths you have to offer an employer and your relationships. This 3-hour workshop is beneficial to groups that work together, to achieve and maintain a healthy and productive work place.
Conflict Resolution
- A process of working through opposing views in order to reach a common goal or mutual purpose is an important tool that helps with workplace communication and productivity.
Part 1:
This workshop focuses on making the connection between thoughts and beliefs as well as feeling and behaviors. Identifying rational and irrational thinking are key components to further understanding ones behavior.
Part 2:
This workshop will help individuals to learn about stress and anger in workplace relationships by identifying their physical symptoms. Participants will develop a personal prevention plan. In addition steps to identifying and solving problems will be explored.
Additional workshops available
