By Shelby Smithey…
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida is launching a new program that will help people struggling to find work get back on their feet.
Spirit Works, a regional jobs initiative, will assist people in Pensacola and surrounding counties find and retain employment. The mission of the program is to help people living in poverty achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Executive Director Mark Dufva said that the program will provide services such as employability skills, financial literacy, mental health counseling, resume writing, interview skills and job referrals.
“The most immediate goal is to find employment and retain employment so these people will have a livable and sustainable income,†Dufva said. “We want these people to move up out of poverty.â€
Spirit Works has a five-person staff of professionals at each of its three locations in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach and Panama City to assist members. The staff includes a case manager, career coach, job placement specialist, counselor and administrative assistant.
“What makes us different than other job programs is the holistic approach we take with members,†Dufva said. “We like to call them members instead of clients. It’s an important distinction because we want them to feel like we are not going to give up on them.â€
Spirit Works is funded by a grant from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and is partnered with local workforce boards to better assist members in finding employment.
“We want to establish core employers and work with businesses so they can have a better understanding of why people are in poverty and how they can work with us to retain work,†Dufva said. “We want to make sure companies understand that.â€
Dufva said that people in need of assistance can apply through the organization or church they are affiliated with, or the general public can apply on a first come, first serve basis. Spirit Works is available to people living in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties.
To apply for career assistance through Spirit Works, calls are accepted in Pensacola from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays at (850) 436-6425. In Fort Walton Beach, calls are accepted from 1 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays at (850)244-2825. In Panama City, calls are accepted Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9 to 11 a.m. at (850) 763-0475. Walk-ins are not accepted at any location. For more information, visit www.ccnwfl.org.
