From the outside looking in, observers might view employment as the centrepiece of building a stable life. With a job in place, all the other things seem to fall into place. For many, that’s easier said than done.
While employment is a crucial cog in that machine, there are other aspects at play towards building a sense of stability.
Food security, housing, mental health and treating addictions are other important aspects of people’s lives.
Pre-pandemic, Agilec’s employment office in Orillia did some community outreach, but as many places closed down, they remained open as one of the few service providers still accessible. As many faced challenging times, Agilec ramped up their outreach efforts in recent years.
But work is only one piece of the puzzle. Theresa Bott is the community outreach coordinator and a job coach at Agilec in Orillia. She works with many local community partners to help candidates with more than just employment.
“We have some phenomenal community partners that are experts in mental health, addictions, housing and food security. It’s helping individuals get connected to those services,” Bott said. “Instead of just passing a card and saying: ‘Call this number,’ we want to walk side by side with them to get that connection and have that strong relationship with that community partner.”
Many individuals in Orillia face a wide range of barriers relating to finding meaningful, sustainable employment. With inflation rates soaring, housing and food security are two extremely important barriers right now. Access to simple technology like a computer or a phone is another.
Another barrier for many is simply confidence. Knowing their worth, whether it’s in skills, experience, or both, can be challenging for many candidates. Bott works with them closely to help them realize their potential in the workplace.
“Helping someone find confidence and knowing their strengths and empowering them to know their skills and what they’re bringing to the table to that employer is really important,” Bott said. “We all struggle talking about ourselves sometimes. Highlighting those skills and empowering them to know them and to be able to speak to them is important.”
Agilec has connections to various community partners in Orillia, whether it’s Ontario Works, The Sharing Place, CMHA, Empower Simcoe, Catholic Family Services, Welcome Centre, ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program), or the Orillia & District Literacy Council, to name a few.
Their job coaches can place referrals to any of these partners for candidates who need help with food assistance, shelters, workshops, and more.
In cases where someone might not have access to a computer to type up a resume or check email to see if an employer has reached out to set up an interview, Agilec offers access inside their Orillia office for anyone who needs it. A community phone is also available for those needing a phone number for interviews.
Some have taken advantage of their virtual services over the last few years, while other still prefer that one-to-one connection. In cases like those, Agilec job coaches can meet folks at their office or at public places like a library or coffee shop to ease that barrier.
Bott feels honoured and privileged to have people trust her to help them get connected to the resources they need. Watching someone realize their worth and witnessing that positive change is the most rewarding part of the job for her.
“Often someone will look at a job posting and see this laundry list of things they need to have and be before they can connect with that employment,” Bott said. “Often, there are some pieces missing or they feel like something’s missing.
“But when we can actually look at what their skill set is and talk about transferrable skills and help them see that connection, it tends to open a lot more doors and open their eyes to a lot more opportunities.”
Learn more about Agilec online here.