Seeds for Success planting a brighter future

The impact of Norman Warminski’s estate gift to Catholic Charities continues to grow three years after it funded the Seeds for Success initiative for clients of St. Anthony Family Shelter.

Seeds for Success is an employment initiative that connects clients in need of jobs with local employer partners in need of workers. The goal is to help clients become self-sufficient and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families by identifying and removing barriers to employment.

Michelle Vishnefske, employment case manager, reports that more than 200 adults have been served through the initiative since it began in 2020. She says that while each person’s needs are unique, there are several common barriers for people to overcome.

“Many of the people we serve have misplaced or never had the identification documents that they need for employment, so that is often the first barrier to overcome,” Michelle says. “Many struggle to find reliable transportation or childcare that allows them to consistently get to work.”

Funds from the estate gift, and additional grant dollars Catholic Charities has received, are used to help remove those barriers. In addition, funds are used to help clients with purchasing appropriate clothing for interviews and required items for the job sites, such as work boots.

Seeds for Success provides more than funds to remove barriers. Michelle says the program also helps clients build the soft skills needed to create resumes, perform well in interviews and be successful in the workplace. This happens through coaching on communication skills and conflict resolution, along with mock interviews and referrals to community partners for longterm employment and educational goals. Clients also participate in personal development small group activities and workshops.

Partnerships with local employers and the Wichita Workforce Center are essential to Seeds for Success, Michelle says.

“As we help our clients become employment ready, we look to our employer partners for available jobs,” Michelle says. “Because our clients have a variety of experiences and skill sets, it is ideal for us to have a wide variety of employer partners.”

Not only do employer partners have access to potential employees, they benefit from Seeds for Success through the case management and support that Michelle continues to provide her clients after they begin work. She assists with communications between the employee and employer, and continues to work with the client on developing the soft skills needed for long-term success.

Employer Partners Needed:

To learn more about becoming a Seeds for Success employer partner, call Michelle at 316-264-7233, ext. 4124, or email her at mvishnefske@ CatholicCharitiesWichita.org.