"As a Work Ready caseworker at STEP, Inc., I am incredibly proud of the accomplishments and success I've had the opportunity to support over the past year. Many participants enrolled in our programming have made significant strides in their journey to self-sufficiency. Several have successfully transitioned into the retention phase of programming, and a few have successfully completed programming,” said Amanda Long.
Over the past year, Amanda has supported 15 participates in obtaining or maintaining employment. Together, they have created resumes, practiced interview skills, and completed job applications. With assistance from the County Assistance Office, many participants were able to secure work attire and mileage assistance with SPAL incentives (Special Allowances for supportive services). As a result, several participants were able to secure stable employment and transition into the retention phase of programming.
Another barrier that was focused on this year was housing stability. Several participants, along with their children, enter the Work Ready program while experiencing unstable or unsafe housing situations. Through extensive networking and challenging barriers, Amanda was able to assist at least three participants in securing both stable housing and utility assistance.
One of the standout successes this year was a participant who came to the Work Ready program with a goal to complete her HISET (High School Equivalency Test) and start nursing school. She not only met her goal, but she exceeded her expectation and completed her HISET all on her own before she was scheduled to start GED classes. She obtained her Diploma, applied to the Pennsylvania College of Technology, and was accepted into their nursing program with classes scheduled to start in January 2026.
