When Kyle was referred to the Keys to Success program last March, he was 19 years old and never had a job. He would be graduating high school in a couple of months and needed to prepare for his future. While he had interviewed for several positions on his own in the past, he had not been hired, had begun to think that he would never hold a job independently.
A Rocky Road
Several obstacles stood in the way for this young man. Kyle has cognitive disabilities, so staying on task and focused does not come easily for him.
Working in tandem with his career development and employment development specialists, Kyle was able to create a resume, get appropriate interview/work clothing and get a bike. He went through employment readiness training, which included working on customer service skills and first impressions, as well as mock interviews.
The Possibilities
His employment development specialist, Rina Grocke, helped Kyle explore the types of jobs that interested him. He decided he would like to apply for a job at Fry’s Food Stores, a Keys to Success employer partner. He applied for a clerk position and was granted an interview.
On the way to his interview, Rina went through one last mock interview to help Kyle prepare. All the training paid off! Kyle got the job at the beginning of July and has been working there ever since! He loves his job and is stoked to have the opportunity to support his favorite professional Arizona teams (Suns and Cardinals) through the connections with Fry’s.
Support When It’s Needed Most
The Keys to Success program goes beyond helping young women and men in foster care find employment. The career and employment development specialists work together to help youth discover their potential, develop job readiness skills and take an active role in determining their futures. They also provide emotional support and connections to other resources that will help them succeed in life and career.
You can support the work of the Keys to Success program by making a contribution to Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation. Individuals can contribute up to $500 and joint filers can contribute up to $1,000 and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on their Arizona state taxes. Give today at affcf.org/give.