ARISE

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

ARISE stands for Application, Resume, Interview, Support and Employment. The program is the result of a partnership between the El Paso County Department of Human Services and Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado. Goodwill is contracted by DHS to administer the Employment First program. ARISE was designed to have a greater impact on the Food Assistance program with a concerted effort to help participants earn employment and reduce recidivism. ARISE works in conjunction with the requirements of the Food Assistance Employment First program which requires a “support group” one time a month for participants in the program. The requirements ask that we review the themes of employment including mock interviewing, application and presentation. We enhanced this program by adding a job fair with five to six employers, community resources and a presentation by employers. The event is held up to two times a month. On site interviews are conducted along with a presentation of current employment opportunities. The program started in July of 2013. So far 7,195 people have attended an ARISE event of those 4,782 have reported employment.