TCLN
Positive Strategies for Managing Change
BEST PRACTICE #3
| Who sponsors it? |
Saugeen Literacy |
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| What is it called? |
FOCUS Groups
(Finding, Organizing, Challenging,
and Understanding Self) |
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| What do they do? |
Through the focus groups, the Adult Learning staff work with Ontario
Works (OW) and Job Connect staff to develop and deliver five-week
training programs for hard-to-serve OW clients.
In the first pilot session, 12 adult learners were enrolled in
the program. Two instructors work with between eight and 12 people, most within
Levels 1 to 3.
The program is divided into 30 modules covering training priorities such as:
- Emotions, change and stress
- Time management and organization
- Self-identification, self-marketing, skills awareness and
self-esteem
- Appearance, presentation and personal hygiene
- Money, budgeting, accessing debt counselling
- Goals, planning and motivation
- Knowledge of and utilization of community supports
- Effective communication and conflict management
- Nutrition
- Personal and group issues that arise before,
during and after the
training workshops
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| Why is it useful? |
- FOCUS Groups provides a venue for consistent contact
hours — after five weeks, it can provide up to 900 hours, while being
well within MTCU mandate.
- It means that the organizations are more visible, locally and
within the province.
- It provides full-time employment for 2 people.
- It also forces all organizations to scrutinize what resources
they have and what they need.
|
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| Name: Maria Bertrand |
| Position: Program Lead |
Organization: Saugeen Shores Adult Learning Centre
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| Tel: (519) 389-2302 |
| Fax: (519) 389-2824 |
Address:
694 Goderich Street, Box 2322
Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C0 |
| E-mail: |
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