Goals
Introducing The Benefit Bank® of North Carolina!
Connectinc is proud to be the State Affiliate for The Benefit Bank of North Carolina (TBB-NC)! A new poverty-fighting program brought to North Carolina by the Work Supports Initiative, TBB-NC offers free tax preparation and assistance in applying for work supports like Food and Nutrition Services and FAFSA. TBB-NC is a free service offered over the telephone, on-line, or at local businesses and community organizations. Click here to learn more about TBB-NC: Your Connection to a Brighter Future.
The 4 Goals of Connectinc Customers.
Our customers strive to set and achieve goals in four areas: reemployment, career advancement, job retention and asset accumulation.
Re-employment is often the first goal established by a customer who enters our programs. Sometimes customers need nothing more than encouragement, such as when a customer was convinced he was not qualified for a job lead provided by his representative and only applied because she insisted; after two interviews, he landed the management position. Other times, customers need help surmounting exterior barriers, such as our customers with criminal records who are unaware that bonding themselves makes them more employable. Work Central provides job leads, resume preparation, interview coaching and other services to aid in getting the job.
Job retention is aided by reviewing support systems, promoting problem solving skills, and supporting longevity on the job. We offer mentoring on issues like how to ask for raises, how to make oneself stand out from the other employees, and how to interact with management. Staying healthy and being able to work despite chronic health concerns is another component of job retention. Any Work Central customer who needs it is referred to our Health Central program, where we help uninsured or underinsured customers access free or reduced cost medication from pharmaceutical companies. Job retention is measured by using the ESC wage reporting system to determine if customers remain in their jobs for six months after hire and twelve months after hire.
Asset accumulation is critical for moving out of poverty. We connect our customers with checking and savings accounts, financial counseling, and car and home ownership opportunities. We refer our customers to credit counseling, banks, and other assistance agencies. In addition, we assist every customer in applying for EITC every year. Having assets connects customers to their communities and creates an emotional connection with their work goals.
Career advancement is especially important for those who need to upgrade their skills to remain competitive in the changing workforce. We promote career advancement by exploring new career paths with our customers, helping them develop and follow educational plans, and connecting them with training opportunities. A prepared and ready workforce with a habit of pursuing job training and professional development opportunities is highly attractive to potential businesses that consider moving into a community. Furthermore, defining a career ladder helps workers become invested in their employer and leads to wage progression and a habit of learning. Education is also crucial to economic advancement, and we strongly encourage our customers to pursue educational and training opportunities.
