Rural Opportunities Inc.
Jeannette Roman

Finding herself in what she felt was an unstable domestic situation, Jeannette Roman loaded her three children in her along with as many other possessions she could fit and left.

She relocated to Harrisburg with her children ages 10, 8 and 3, moving in with an aunt and uncle. During the process of applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, she was referred to Rural Opportunities Inc. (ROI) and its Supported Work Program (SWP).

That was March 10, 2003.

With the help of her SWP caseworker, Jeannette soon gained a new perspective on life. Because of a need identified by ROI in the community programs were already in place to help the 26 year old began to think positively, taking classes on self esteem. She also attended classes on Life Skills, Resume Development, and How to Find Get and Keep a Job.

Jeannette also began to set goals, one of which was to get a job that would allow her to become self-sufficient. She also wanted to find safe daycare and a place of her own for her family.

“She had great perseverance in completing the challenges before her” said her, Jeannette’s ROI caseworker. “She saw she had an ability to listen, assess and give hope to those around her.

When a job opened up at ROI, Jeannette was encouraged to apply. After a panel interview, she was hired. Jeannette herself became the newest member of the ROI Support Work Program staff.

Jeannette has been able to draw upon her own her resources of courage, perseverance and steadfast determination to educate others about her experiences. Working for more than a year now, Jeannette has taken control of her life with unstoppable determination.

Jeannette and her children have their own apartment and she receives no government or agency assistance beyond childcare. And she’s not stopping there. Jeannette plans to enroll in the Family Savings Account Program. She also is considering the possibility of owning her own home through the Rural Opportunities Home Ownership Program.

Jeannette said SWP encouraged her to never give up. It provided her with extensive counseling that gave her the self-esteem and motivation to go forward. She now is giving back – providing encouragement to others who find themselves in the same situation she not so long ago experienced first hand.

Rural Opportunities, Inc. is a Community Action Agency serving 15 counties in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Ohio guiding people out of poverty with programming such as the Supported Work Program.