S tanding on the corner after being evicted from her home, her possessions in one trash bag, Gwen Holmes hit rock bottom. For ten years Gwen sold illegal drugs to support her family, and she later became dependent on them. That day on the sidewalk she decided to change her life. Not knowing where to turn for help, she contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, who referred her to the JEVS Maximizing Participation Program (MPP). After assessing Gwen’s needs, MPP referred her to Horizon House for help with her drug addiction. Brenda Cooper, a manager at Horizon House, says, “Gwen never dropped a beat. She was doing this for her and her son.” Once she joined the drug and alcohol program, she never looked back. After finishing the Horizon House program, employment became her main focus. Gwen’s MPP case coordinator enrolled her in the program’s employment services where she was assisted with living skills and finding work: “I didn’t want to just sit home and collect a check,” said Gwen. Souleymane Fall, MPP special projects supervisor of employment services, was Gwen’s case manager. He said, “Social work is difficult—it’s frustrating—but Gwen’s story made every social worker proud.” MPP helped Gwen look for work, and also taught her to recognize the importance of short- term goals. Gwen got a job at the Salvation Army as a teacher’s aide and has been drug-free over a year-and-a-half. This past summer, Horizon House offered Gwen an outreach specialist job for the Spring Garden Café. The Café is a welcoming place where the homeless can come in for the night, rest on couches and chairs, get food, watch TV, get a shower, and just talk to someone who cares. According to Brenda, Gwen is perfect for the job: “When you try to help people, they have the tendency to feel as though ‘you don’t know where I’ve been.’ Gwen’s been there.” Gwen’s perseverance earned her the 2008 JEVS Inspiration Award, presented at the Strictly Business awards and fund-raising event last October. She is now living in a home where she pays full rent, no longer living in Section 8 housing. She often visits MPP, inspiring new participants and showing that it’s possible to change. Her 15-year-old son lives with her and attends Central High School, where he plays football. “My son wants to go to Princeton, Yale, or Harvard. How would he do that if his mom is doing things she’s not supposed to? He’s intelligent and wants to do something in life. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure my son doesn’t have the life I was giving him.” “Social work is difficult— it’s frustrating—but Gwen’s story made every social worker proud.” CLIENT SUCCESS STORY JEVS Human Services Making Hope Happen for SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE After struggling with drug addiction for 25 years, Gwen Holmes (middle) turned to JEVS Maximizing Participation Project for help getting clean.Today, she enjoys a new life. Gwen is engaged, works full-time, and stands as a role model to her family. PICTURED: Souleymane Fall and Amber Key of JEVS Maximizing Participation Project INSIDE JEVS PG.6 For more information Maximizing Participation Project / 267.238.3100 “ SOULEYMANE FALL SUPERVISOR OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICES JEVS MAXIMIZING PARTICIPATION PROJECT Gwen Turning the Page from Desperation to Inspiration

Inside JEVS feature success story

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Standing on the corner afterbeing evicted fromher home,her possessions in one trashbag, Gwen Holmes hit rockbottom. For ten years Gwensold illegal drugs to supporther family, and she later

became dependent on them. That day on thesidewalk she decided to change her life.

Not knowing where to turn for help, shecontacted the Pennsylvania Department ofPublic Welfare, who referred her to theJEVSMaximizing Participation Program(MPP). After assessing Gwen’s needs, MPPreferred her to Horizon House for help withher drug addiction. Brenda Cooper, amanager at Horizon House, says, “Gwennever dropped a beat. She was doing thisfor her and her son.”

Once she joined the drug and alcohol program,she never looked back. After finishing theHorizonHouse program, employment becamehermain focus.Gwen’sMPP case coordinatorenrolled her in the program’s employmentserviceswhere shewas assistedwith living skillsand findingwork: “I didn’t want to just sit homeand collect a check,” saidGwen.

Souleymane Fall, MPP special projectssupervisor of employment services, wasGwen’s case manager. He said, “Social work isdifficult—it’s frustrating—but Gwen’s storymade every social worker proud.” MPPhelped Gwen look for work, and also taughther to recognize theimportance of short-termgoals.Gwengot ajob at the SalvationArmy as a teacher’s aideandhas beendrug-freeover a year-and-a-half.

This past summer,Horizon HouseofferedGwen anoutreach specialist job for theSpringGardenCafé. TheCafé is awelcomingplacewhere thehomeless can come in for thenight, rest oncouches and chairs, get food,watchTV, get ashower, and just talk to someonewho cares.According toBrenda,Gwen is perfect for thejob: “When you try to help people, they have thetendency to feel as though ‘youdon’t knowwhere I’ve been.’Gwen’s been there.”

Gwen’s perseverance earned her the 2008JEVS Inspiration Award, presented at the

Strictly Business awards and fund-raisingevent last October. She is now living in ahomewhere she pays full rent, no longer livingin Section 8 housing. She often visits MPP,inspiring new participants and showing thatit’s possible to change.

Her 15-year-old son liveswith her and attendsCentralHigh School, where he plays football.“My son wants to go to Princeton, Yale, orHarvard. How would he do that if his mom isdoing things she’s not supposed to? He’sintelligent and wants to do something in life.I’m going to do everything I can to make suremy son doesn’t have the life I was giving him.”

“Social work is difficult—it’s frustrating—but Gwen’sstory made every socialworker proud.”

CLIENT SUCCESS STORYJEVS Human Services

Making Hope Happen for

SETTING AGOOD EXAMPLE

After strugglingwith drug addictionfor 25 years, GwenHolmes (middle)turned to JEVSMaximizingParticipation Projectfor help gettingclean.Today, sheenjoys a new life.Gwen is engaged,works full-time, andstands as a role modelto her family.

PICTURED:Souleymane Fall and AmberKey of JEVSMaximizingParticipation Project

I N S I D E J E V S PG.6

For more information

MaximizingParticipationProject /267.238.3100

“

SOULEYMANE FALLSUPERVISOR OF EMPLOYMENT SERVICESJEVS MAXIMIZING PARTICIPATION PROJECT

GwenTurning the Page from Desperation to Inspiration