12/18/2009
Arbor Sponsors the Mega Job Expo in Maryland

12/07/2009
ResCare – New Deal in the UK

12/01/2009
2nd Arbor E&T Bake Sale raises $500 for SHARE

11/25/2009
Notification of Breach of Private Information

11/23/2009
Mon Valley Bridge Open House

11/20/2009
SuperJobs Seasonal Hiring

11/18/2009
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2009, Allen County

11/16/2009
Arbor Welcomes New Texas Regional Vice President

11/06/2009
A moment to honor our veterans

10/22/2009
Arbor Fights the Flu

10/16/2009
ResCare Comments on Indiana Governor’s Announcement

10/07/2009
In the News: Arbor and Green Guide Network

10/01/2009
Tremendous Project in Cincinnati

9/28/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Five

9/22/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Four

9/15/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Three

9/15/2009
Arbor Sponsors Literacy Gala

9/08/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview Two

9/01/2009
Five Project Directors: Interview One

8/26/2009
Snohomish County Enlarges Dislocated Worker Program

8/20/2009
Pennsylvania Governor Visits Harrisburg Summer Youth Program

8/18/2009
Canoga Park Job and Resource Fair

8/13/2009
VIPs in SuperJobs Cincy

8/12/2009
U.S. Department of Labor’s 2009 United We Serve Initiative Begins

7/28/2009
An Innovative Summer Youth Project in Oregon

7/21/2009
Tulsa iJobs Program in Full Swing

7/20/2009
ARRA 2009

7/17/2009
Green Strategies Workgroup

7/15/2009
Green Jobs

7/6/2009
Arbor TANF Partnership in Nebraska Receiving Positive Feedback

7/1/2009
Arbor E&T is Thinking Green

Five Project Directors: Interview Three

By Jamie M. Barnes

This August, while working on another assignment, I was able to interview five of Arbor’s project directors (PDs) in four different programs. I learned so many interesting facts and had such a great time doing the research that I decided to share the fun with you.

JB:  Ms. Garza, thanks for the interview! How long were you with CCS in East Texas?

CG:  I served as the Project Director for East Texas Child Care Services from October 2002 to May 2009.

JB:  What sort of management style do you have?

CG: I guess it depends on who is asked. I would like to think that I allow staff to do their job without “micromanaging,” but I’ll follow up as needed to ensure that we meet deadlines and complete assignments timely. As for the participants, I believe that they’d say I always responded to their inquiries, though at times the outcome was not what they desired.

JB:  Speaking of outcomes, what is your greatest success so far, as a Project Director?

CG:  When I arrived in East Texas we were under sanction for performance. After some hard work we were able to come off of sanction within a few months, and are able to maintain excellent performance in terms of the benchmarks established by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), and our quality of work also met performance standards. We typically have excellent monitoring reports from TWC and our funding source, Workforce Solutions of East Texas. The team did a fantastic job, and as a result of our efforts we were able to gain the trust and respect of our Board staff as well as that of the Board of Directors.    

JB:  Wow! Great success story! You and your team must have been very proud of those positive changes. How would you describe the CCS program to someone who has never heard of it?

CG: The Child Care Services program is designed to assist families with the cost of child care.  Participants must be working, training or in an educational activity, as well as meet income guidelines to qualify.  CCS has agreements with many child care facilities in the area, so parents can choose whichever one they prefer.  Parents may also use an eligible relative provider to care for their children.  CCS staff determines eligibility for services, sign agreements and recruit child care providers, and make payments to our participating child care facilities.   

JB:  CCS sounds like a great program. Who typically walks into the Center seeking CCS assistance?

CG: The largest customer base for the Child Care program is self-referred parents. These are parents who are working, engaged in training or are in an educational component, and who meet income guidelines as well as other program requirements. The CCS program also receives referrals from the Workforce programs including Choices (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF), Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). We also receive referrals from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).  The program has experienced a shift in customer base as the referrals from the Workforce Centers are declining, and the number of self-referred parents is increasing.  In the months before I accepted my new position with Lower Rio, we experienced an increasing number of single fathers who applied for services.  

JB:  What is a typical day as a Project Director like?

CG: Unpredictable! I can count on the fact that my day will not go as planned unless I am out of the office on leave.

JB:  With that unpredictability, you must have some interesting days. Describe the most memorable day you experienced in the CCS program.

CG: One of the most memorable days for me was when we hosted a staff development day for our child care providers. We had terrible weather that day, but had an outstanding turnout of child care professionals. It was great watching them interact with the presenters, particularly with those who required audience participation.  I am proud that we were able to host such activities for our child care professionals, and pleased at how much they enjoyed and appreciated our efforts.

JB:  What is the funniest thing that happened during your time as CCS PD?

CG: When the Child Care staff first moved to the East Texas Workforce Center everyone in the building experienced “unwanted visitors.” Someone was going after our stash of chocolate! Well, it wasn’t hungry CCS workers - our visitors were RATS!! We were blamed for the chocolate eating hoard, but they just wandered in from the wooded area by the center. 

JB:  Ha! Great story! What is the best thing about being Project Director in your program?

CG: The best thing was working with my team of Child Care professionals, Workforce Center staff, and Board staff. I felt privileged to be working with a group of individuals who believed in the programs we offered to our participants, and in the benefits the programs provided our participants.

JB:  How and when did you decide on your career path?

CG: I didn’t plan my career path - it just happened. I started off as a case manager and after three years I decided that I needed to do something else – that is when I was offered a job in the Child Care program that at the time was administered by the Department of Human Services. When the program was transitioned to the local Workforce Board I was hired as board staff, and later accepted a job with a contractor.  Having worked for all those agencies, I’ve found my job with Arbor to be the most challenging and the most rewarding.

JB:  That’s great – it sounds like your career has led you to some interesting experiences. What “words of wisdom” would you like to share?

CG: Always do your very best and if you need help ask for it.

JB:  And finally, what do you do when you are not wearing your Project Director hat?

CG: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, as well as time at the spa for my regularly scheduled massage (Which is usually much needed!).