Mara, EDSI's Allegheny EARN Success Story

In December 2021, Mara, a single mother of three, enrolled in EDSI’s Allegheny EARN Program, where she was introduced to her Employment Consultant, Karen Thurman. Ms. Thurman’s role was to develop a trusting relationship with Mara, understand her barriers and interests, and assist her in reaching her employment goals.  

As Ms. Thurman quickly learned, Mara faced several barriers to employment and to peace of mind.  During the pandemic, Mara home schooled her two older children, while caring for her youngest, a toddler. Another challenge presented by the pandemic was Mara’s struggle to find adequate childcare for her youngest child. Her childcare situation was further complicated when Mara’s toddler was diagnosed with lead poisoning. She was forced to relocate for her family’s safety and to avert an intervention by child protective services. Mara had yet another limitation – she was dependent on public transportation but her residence was not located on a bus line. She needed to secure a new home that would accept her section-8 voucher.  

With Ms. Thurman’s weekly one-on-one check ins, housing listings, and persistence, Mara found a new, lead-free home on a public transportation line and relocated in April 2022. After she moved, Mara’s older daughters began attending a new school, and she was finally able to arrange for childcare for her toddler.. This freed up Mara’s time for a more active job search. Mara attained a position as a package handler with UPS. She started out working overnight hours, but has since changed to a daylight shift.  We appreciate Ms. Thurman’s dedication to providing exceptional case management support and commend Mara on her resilience throughout the pandemic and  dedication to furthering her career goals.  Congratulations on getting the job and meeting retention.