The problem  

 Each year, Crittenden County community partners demonstrate their unwavering commitment by providing Christmas for the children of around 65 families who cannot afford to purchase gifts for their children. To receive Christmas for the children, parents must participate in three classes throughout the year. Whenever the program was originally started, it was meant to be a shorter program for families who found themselves in crisis. However, many of the same families need this service each year as they continue to be either unemployed or underemployed.

The educational program response

The Community Christmas Committee met to discuss how we could provide Christmas for these families' children and improve their overall chance of success beyond Christmas.  After much discussion, the committee decided to make Positive Employability: Ten Soft Skills for Success a mandatory class for each participant this year.  The additional requirement was created with the goal to help  those who are unemployed develop skills to help them be more employable and those who are underemployed more eligible for further employment and continued employment

The participants/target audience:

The target audience for this program are lower income and socially disadvantaged participants.

Other partners (if applicable)

Community Christmas Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Marion Baptist Church and the family  resource center all partner with us for this program either by advertising  or offering space to hold the classes or incentives for attending the class.

The problem  

 Each year, Crittenden County community partners demonstrate their unwavering commitment by providing Christmas for the children of around 65 families who cannot afford to purchase gifts for their children. To receive Christmas for the children, parents must participate in three classes throughout the year. Whenever the program was originally started, it was meant to be a shorter program for families who found themselves in crisis. However, many of the same families need this service each year as they continue to be either unemployed or underemployed.

The educational program response

The Community Christmas Committee met to discuss how we could provide Christmas for these families' children and improve their overall chance of success beyond Christmas.  After much discussion, the committee decided to make Positive Employability: Ten Soft Skills for Success a mandatory class for each participant this year.  The additional requirement was created with the goal to help  those who are unemployed develop skills to help them be more employable and those who are underemployed more eligible for further employment and continued employment

The participants/target audience:

The target audience for this program are lower income and socially disadvantaged participants.

Other partners (if applicable)

Community Christmas Committee, Chamber or Commerce, 

Program impact or participant response.

We have been pleased with the success of the classes and the enthusiasm of those who have attended the class so far.  One hundred percent of participants from three courses reported learning new skills to prepare or improve themselves for the workforce.   They also state that they now know more about soft skills.  Ninety-two percent reported to have a better understanding of managing time to increase productivity.   Ninety-two percent also reported the class improved their professional skills as well as expressed a plan to change their behavior in the areas of empathy, professionalism, and communication and empathy.  They also plan to use soft skills more to participate in a more productive workplace.  Conversation during the class also expressed interest in wanting to attend all classes in the series.