Next Step instructor Serge Voicechovski teaches rudimentary computer skills.
Next Step to Self-Sufficiency is a Work First New Jersey program designed to offer individuals a comprehensive educational program encompassing career counseling, job development, job training, Employer Customized Workplace Literacy, adult basic education, ESL, and case management services.
Next Step targets individuals who are committed to making positive changes to improve their quality of life and maintain self-sufficiency. To this end, we work with our clients to create a customized plan with a focus on employment and career development that will enable them to become self-sustaining and break the cycle of unemployment or underemployment in their lives.
St. Paul's CDC currently hosts three Next Step subprograms:
ADULT EDUCATION (Since 1990)
The Adult Education Program holds classes in Basic Skills, English as a Second Language (ESL), General Education Development preparation (GED), and computer literacy skills. The program is client-centered with a curriculum based on individual needs. We help students to build self sufficiency with an emphasis on self-esteem, career skills, and investment in their community. Our educational philosophy integrates teaching fundamental skills and critical thinking with cultural awareness and self-reliance.
The Program also administers a customized workplace literacy project in the healthcare field to prepare Work First New Jersey clients to secure and maintain jobs in healthcare.
CASE MANAGEMENT/EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT (Since 1999)
The Case Management/Employment Placement Program is designed to provide case management with a focus on employment referral, continued development, and employment/life skills training for low-to-moderate income families and individuals.
These services form a self-sufficiency program for members of the transient population who are committed to making positive changes to improve their stability and quality of life. We focus particularly on individuals who are facing their five-year limit for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
POST-TANF (Since 2000)
The Post-TANF Outreach Initiative was designed collaboratively between St. Paul's CDC and the NJ Department of Human Services to provide information and referral services to the Work First NJ Post-TANF population. Transitional supportive services include housing subsidies, child care, health care, transportation, Food Stamps, home energy assistance, and assistance in obtaining child support.
In 2009, our Adult Education classes served 547 students. The department also provided 1,584 referrals of Post-TANF supportive services.
Case Story: Marie Doe
Marie Doe transferred from the Next Step ESL class to the Customized Employment Project at Preakness Healthcare Center (PHC) in June 2007 after increasing her English proficiency enough to qualify for the PHC project. She was very excited to have the opportunity to work as a volunteer in the Recreation Therapy Department. Marie took her job very seriously, worked extremely hard and got along well with the residents and staff. Her hard work did not go unnoticed. Her supervisor was so impressed with her work that she wrote a letter of recommendation to the Administrator letting her know how wonderful it was to have her on the team. In September 2007, a position became available in the Recreation Therapy Department and Marie was offered the job as a per diem Recreation Therapy Aide. She has been working for PHC since October 2007. Marie was one of two students chosen to begin a CNA training course at Passaic County Technical Institute which will be paid for by PHC. Marie now has the funds necessary to take care of her five children and the opportunity to further her career in the healthcare field.
St. Paul's Community Development Corporation 451 Van Houten Street Paterson, NJ 07501
