Warren-Forrest Counties Economic Opportunity Council
Monica Coy

In January 2003, Monica Coy decided she needed a change. She worked full-time as a housekeeper for a personal care facility, still she struggled to make ends meet for her family of three.

Monica, 41, first turned to the Warren-Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council (ECO) in 2000 receiving subsidized child care through its Child Care Information Services. She also received Dollar Energy and Department of Community and Economic Development and Penelec Warm Weatherization services.

Achieving financial independence was important to her, but she also knew she couldn’t do it alone. Deciding it was time for a more significant change in her life, she again turned to the EOC – the Community Action Agency for Warren and Forrest counties.

Monica contacted the EOC’s Client Services Department where they talked about her goals and while she enjoyed her work it didn’t pay enough to support her children, Dylan, 13, and Savannah, 4. With the proper training and assistance, Monica was confident she could secure employment in the customer service field where she had prior experience.

Because of that determination and dedication, Jeff Berdine, the Client Services director and Monica’s case manager, knew she was the perfect candidate for The Job Advancement, Retention and Rapid Re-employment Program (JRARE). Recognizing her barriers, EOC set out to give Monica the skills and training she needed, confident that she would succeed.

With help, Monica stabilized her transportation issues and received career counseling. She also updated her skills to facilitate her move into the customer service field where the skills and technology are constantly changing. She set goals for herself and found herself quickly achieving them. Monica maintained employment for six months, but she continued to seek that change in employment that would free her financially.

“Monica was positive about her job search efforts and displayed a great deal of determination and perseverance while involved in the Job Advancement Program” Berdine said. “Her ability to grasp the job market and maintain her focus on the goals she set until something in her field of interest came open should be commended.”

Then Monica got a hot job tip – National City Bank was looking for a customer service coordinator. Monica immediately followed up on the lead submitting her resume. Her resume may have gotten her the interview but her skills she learned through ECO helped her ace it.

Monica is now working full time for National City Bank. She achieved her goal of not only becoming financially independent, but also of obtaining a position that is more than a job – Monica now has a career.

“Community Action has allowed me to make myself a better person and become more self-sufficient,” Monica said. “I really have appreciated their helpfulness and I know that they would be there in the future for me if I needed assistance.”

Since first walking through the doors of the Warren-Forest County Economic Opportunity Council, Monica has benefited from supportive services, case management, job prep/readiness, career counseling, Weatherization services, energy education and financial assistance from programs such as Subsidized Childcare and Dollar Energy.

“I feel that if the EOC was not available to assist me I would be no better off than I was back in 2000 when I first came to them for assistance,” Monica said. “I definitely would not have been able to make ends meet. I do not know what I would have done or where I could have gone for help.”

As a Community Action Agency, the Warren-Forrest Economic Opportunity Council works within its the community to mobilize resources that help its neighbors become self-sufficient.