Adams County program o ers path to new skillsets

Work Options o ers training, experience for food service newcomers

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Finding a job isn’t always easy, but an Adams County program seeks to help those looking for a new career nd one in food service.

e Work Options program, modeled after a Denver program, o ers skills, training and counseling to help young adults get started. It’s free and workers will receive a weekly stipend.

e Work Options program started in 20-years ago in the Denver Human Services Building, the program’s main training center for over two decades.

“Adams County Human Services approached us regarding their food service operations because we operate the cafeteria in the Denver Human Services Building, and we have for over 20 years now,” said Tessa Houston, Special Projects Manager

Houston said they wanted Adams County to replicate what they have been doing in Denver. Adams County Work Options program o ers a free culinary job training program.

“So we’re able to facilitate our culi- nary training by operating the Adams County Human Services cafeteria for the employees, and open to the public who come to our cafeteria,” Houston said.

Houston said she had been the Special Project Manager and Marketing Development for “Work Options” for about ten years.

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“I started as a chef instructor and have worn a lot of di erent hats over the years. So, eventually, there was a need in marketing and development,” Houston said.

Houston said potential students start every Monday, and on the rst day, they start with the required information session to see if it’s a good t, since the program has a few requirements for students. ey complete a short application once that explanation is nished.

“ e application is only to collect information; we don’t rule people out based on the information they provide. Once these steps are completed, they can get started as soon as possible the following week with training and get employed soon after,” Houston said.

Bus stop advertising

Jessica Ballhagen has been in the Work Options program for three weeks and is in the internship program working at the Adams County Human Services cafeteria.

While waiting for the bus, she saw an advertisement and enrolled in the program to learn new job skillset. She used to be a fourth-grade school teacher but said she stepped back for personal reasons. New skills were welcome.

“My goal is to work in a position to teach and instruct students in the culinary program. In the future own a taco truck or a business,” Ballhagen said. e culinary training is from four to six weeks and is highly individualized. Since the training is free and unpaid, the students can earn up to a $125