June 24th, 2006 Across the country Stand For Children Day events will raise awareness about building safer, healthier communities, and push toward programmatic solutions. If you are interested in receiving more information about Stand For Children, e-mail Sheri Boelter or call 247-4787. Click here to view the Needs Assessment (2.2MB PDF file) Please email questions or comments about this site to webmaster or call 247-4732.

HOME     |     ABOUT US     |     CONTACT         Testimonials: Youth Program TIFFANY Tiffany entered the District 7 WIA Youth Program in February of 2003. She is a single mom of a young child and she had recently moved to Montana. She had worked entry-level jobs like housekeeping and fast food, but this did not allow her to support her family. She did not have her high school diploma or her GED. She wanted something that could support her and her family until her daughter was in school, so she could go back to school to become a respiratory therapist. Tiffany was set up at a work experience at the Montana Migrant Council to gain experience in clerical work. She excelled in this position. Tiffany has natural organizational skills and is very detail oriented. She was given more and more responsibility there, and lived up to the expectations. Tiffany also entered the GED program at the Lincoln Center and in eight weeks she tested for and passed her GED. She passed with excellent scores that could offer her a chance at scholarships. Tiffany also represented the youth in the program during a television interview by a local news agency. She represented herself and this program professionally. About the same time Tiffany finished her GED she applied for an unsubsidized position with the District 7 HRDC WoRC program as a client service worker. As reported by the supervisors in that program she interviewed and presented herself the best out of all the candidates interviewed. She received the position in June and by all reports is doing a great job. Her income increased by more than $2 an hour and after probation she will receive benefits. Tiffany has completed her educational goals and work goals in a very short time frame, while learning to balance motherhood and the work world. STEPHANIE In April of 2001, Stephanie was enrolled in the WIA Program after being referred to the program by her mental health case manager and school counselor. She was homeless and had been living on the streets for six to nine months before coming to the program. She had just returned to the Alternative High School to try to work on graduating. Stephanie came into the program with no prior work experience. She had done volunteer work with her treatment center in Wyoming. This volunteer work had been at a greenhouse, which she really enjoyed. Her long-term employment goal was to become a florist or work in a greenhouse. After entering the program, Stephanie was placed in a work experience with one of the work sites close to her school. She was at this site briefly due to struggles with her mental health issues and the fact that she had very low self-esteem. She then was placed at the Billings Studio Theater, which reached to her artistic side and they were supportive in her efforts at working on her mental health issues. She worked at this site for over a year. She was very proud of the fact that she was able to keep her job for that length of time. Shortly after coming into the program Stephanie quit going to school at the Alternative High School. She had struggled to fit in and she was fighting her depression and anxiety disorders. She felt that she could not handle high school. After she became more stabilized at the theater she enrolled in GED classes at the Lincoln Center. In July of 2002 she obtained her GED. Not only did she pass the test, but also scored high enough to qualify for scholarships. Since obtaining her GED she entered into a Floral Design School and completed the program. Her instructor stated that she has a natural talent for floral design. She has obtained a job with a floral exchange company and continues to work there. The whole time in the program she has lived on her own and successfully paid rent and kept her apartments. She has upgraded to nice places. Stephanie has overcome many barriers to achieve her goals of high school graduation along with becoming a florist. She has had many adversities in her life, however she did not allow them to stop her. She is a true role model for other youth and someone to be admired for her strength and persistence. JAMIE Jamie came into the Youth Program in March of 2003. Adult Basic Education referred Jamie to the program because of the tremendous progress she had made in her educational development in the six months she had been there and wanted Jamie to experience the same success with her life and vocational skills. At the age of 18, Jamie entered Adult Basic Education with levels of kindergarten spelling and third grade reading. With good attendance, she was able to quickly increase her reading and spelling scores and progress to the point where she began to feel her confidence boost, which made learning even more desirable. Jamie was recently featured on KULR 8 News when they did a piece on illiteracy. Jamie was chosen by one of her teachers to talk about the barriers she faced when she struggled to read and what it has been like since. One of the things that Jamie commented on was her desire to continue her education to help not only herself, but to be able to help special needs kids as well because of her own experiences with the feelings of failure and success. Jamie has been an active member of the Youth Program since enrollment. Her work experience at a daycare had given Jamie the opportunity to learn and grow as a caregiver and further develop her career goals. She has also been very positive when attending classes and workshops that promote self-sufficiency since she has the drive to succeed because as she says, she never wants to go back to where she once was. LETTER OF GRATITUDE The following is a letter received by the Youth Program from a parent whose son was involved with the program. This letter of gratitude is long overdue, but as sincere as ever! My son, Raymond James Moore, student at Harlem Jr./Sr. High School, Harlem, MT, was given the opportunity to work for your HRDC Summer Youth Employment Program last summer while staying with his oldest sister in Billings. Up until that time, Raymond, by my own admission, was an at-risk teenager. He was performing poorly in school and had been into trouble during the school year, requiring him to perform Community Service, meet with a Juvenile Officer, and I was required to pay a $60.00 fine. After having worked the summer program, he cam home with a very positive attitude and became an honor roll student. The effect of having had the opportunity to work, be responsible to ride his bike to and from work and report on time, etc., had an amazing effect on my son, to which I give my sincere gratitude to the HRDC Summer Youth Employment Program. Should either Raymond or myself ever be needed to attest to the validity of this youth program, do not hesitate to call upon us, as it is the least I can do in return for the blessing of having my sons’ life turned around in such a positive manner. Thank you, Dawn Bishop-Moore STACEY BARGAR Stacey was a homeless, high school drop out who had dropped out her freshman year, and her parents were in prison. At 17 she turned to HRDC and the Job Training Partnership. A year later, Stacy was hired as a full-time certified nurses assistant at Parkview Convalescent Care. Stacey is impressed with her transformation and credits Teddi Shorten, of HRDC for hanging in there with her. “At first, when I first worked for her (Teddi), she said that I was kind of a skunk. I was just young, and I got into some trouble. She’s just seen a big change in me. She’s helped me out a lot. She’s really a good person.” Shorten countered with, “She was a big skunk, but this job training shows you how to get around the barriers that are stopping them from working and develop some work and success skills. You have to hang in there with them. Sometimes they don’t have the role models to see why others think a behavior isn’t acceptable. But they learn quick.” HOUSING TESTIMONIALS “I think it is a very worthwhile project. It not only improves the place receiving the work, but improves the whole neighborhood.” Client in HRDC’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. “I feel safer since I have a new door and locks on both storm doors, which I didn’t have before. I also think my heating bill will be lower since I have a better fitting door.” Client in HRDC’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. “We are very pleased with everything that was done and are very grateful because we couldn’t have afforded to have the things done ourselves. I am especially glad that a new hot water heater was installed because the bottom was nearly rusted out of the old heater.” Client in HRDC’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. “It gives us great peace of mind to know that our home is in good repair and the improvements will make us much more comfortable. Thank You.” Client in HRDC’s Housing Rehabilitation Program. Growth Thru Art ARYSS TETERUD “Art is an important part of my life. I work mainly in acrylic, but I also like watercolor. Many of my landscapes are of the desert southwest. I, also, like to paint scenes of my life in Montana. Art comes from the heart.” ~ Aryss Teterud DAVID HENLEY “I think art is one of the best ways to express your feelings. I like to work in all media: clay, paint, pastels, acrylics, and oil paints. Color makes the difference. I hope that my art will be an inspiration to others.” ~ David Henley “When I saw that first group of paintings my thought was ‘…must be someone’s art class in a local school.’ The art had a somewhat primitive look upon first viewing. However when I looked deeper into the work I realized no child could do this. There is complexity in these pieces: color, composition, pain, humor – a view of the world that children can’t know and wouldn’t know. The style may be naïve, but the art is vital, enlightening and healing; both for the artist and the appreciator.” ~ Patrick Markey – Patrick Markey was the producer with Robert Redford of “A River Runs Through It.” COMMENTS FROM COMMUNITY ART EXHIBITS: “Fantastic talent and a great exhibit. Keep up the good work.” “Brilliant work. The colors and perception were so vivid and clear. True Art.” “It’s nice to see a program such as GTA in a facility where people need a warm and caring atmosphere. Great work – cheerful and unique. Good job!!! Like to see more.” “Great art – enjoyed it tremendously!!” “Growth Thru Art artists shine again with their outstanding talent and skill. God bless them.” STORY ON CHAD MUNSELL Chad can’t walk, talk, or even pick up a paintbrush. He can’t dip his brush into paint or position a canvas on an easel. But, if he really concentrates, if he really focuses, Munsell can command the gross motor movement in his arms enough to paint broad strokes across a canvas carefully positioned by an aide. Chad’s mother Carolyn states Chad loves being in the community. What really opened his world, his mother said, was starting classes at Growth Thru Art. Chad has always had an easel, colored markers, crayons, and an ability to express himself through art, she said. Chad’s picture of a Christmas Tree was chosen as the art for the HRDC 2003 Christmas card. CLASSROOM “Thanks for helping others to realize there is a way to help themselves.” Client in HRDC classroom. Families Saving For Tomorrow Lisa Baker and her three children were able to purchase their first home and move from housing assistance to home ownership. “It’s the American dream, it was just something I never thought was attainable for me,” said Baker, 34. Lisa received assistance to purchase the home through the Department of housing and Urban Development. As part of the program, participants are required to furnish the down payment. Through the Families Saving for Tomorrow Program, Lisa had put money into a savings account. The money was matched by $2 for every $1 she contributed. Lisa was then able to use that money to help cover her portion of the down payment.   Copyright © 2005 District 7 HRDC