Denise Hayes: Keep Pushing Foward
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Denise Hayes was at a crossroads. After eight years of working for a local Nursing Center, she was laid off, and with schools transitioning to remote education, she had a childcare barrier to consider. While staying home with her children, she attempted to find part-time employment, but opportunities were scarce due to her remote location.
After 18-months of unemployment, and once her children returned to in-person schooling, Denise applied, and was approved, for Temporary Assistance (TA) benefits. As a TA participant, she qualified her for the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program. Having previously worked in a nursing facility, she had some knowledge of the medical field, and was interested in a Phlebotomy program at a local community college. MWA not only helped pay for Denise’s training program, they were also able to help with the gas expense, as she had 120-mile round trip in order to attend classes. When Denise got to the point in her program in which she needed scrubs, MWA was also able to help cover this expense.
Denise recently began work at River Oaks Nursing Center, and is preparing to take her state test for her Phlebotomy certification, after which, she has plans to apply elsewhere. As a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), she will have more stable and higher-paying job opportunities.
Denise is grateful for the financial assistance MWA provided during her journey. She also credits the MWA team with pushing her to practice “accountability,” and motivating her to believe in herself. She says they continuously pushed her forward, and it truly made all the difference.
This publication/program is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
The Missouri Work Assistance Program is Missouri’s employment and training program for Temporary Assistance recipients. The MWA program is funded through the Administration for Children and Families, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant.
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