Michigan’s PATH Program Empowers Thousands, Boosting Incomes and Careers
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Michigan’s PATH program exemplifies a collaborative and transformative approach, aligning efforts to uplift Michiganders towards fulfilling careers, bolstering incomes, and steering the state’s workforce and economy towards a brighter future.
In December 2021, Immanual Jackson faced the challenge of becoming the primary breadwinner for his family of twin boys when his wife was unable to work. A full-time medical student with limited time for employment, Immanual sought support from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), leading to enrollment in the Partnership.Accountability.Training.Hope. (PATH) program, facilitated by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO).
PATH, administered through Michigan Works! Service Centers, aims to assist participants in obtaining and sustaining employment, enhancing wages, and fostering self-sufficiency through work activities, job training, and employability skills development. Immanual, with his demanding schedule, received virtual services from Michigan Works! that accommodated his needs, even delivering supplies directly to his home for the newborns.
Beyond job training, PATH staff connected Immanual with community resources to address the needs of his infants and assisted with procuring scrubs for his clinical rounds at hospitals. The program focuses on overcoming barriers faced by participants, including transportation issues, job search skills, funds for work attire, and childcare. Notably, those completing the program achieve an average annual wage increase of $2,000 compared to their peers.
Susan Corbin, LEO Director, commended Michigan’s PATH initiative for collaborative efforts across departments, guiding residents toward promising careers and supplying businesses with a skilled workforce. The partnership between MDHHS and LEO enables a comprehensive approach, addressing health and well-being needs through MDHHS and providing job readiness skills and resources through LEO.
MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel emphasized the dual focus, where LEO helps PATH participants re-enter the workforce, while MDHHS delivers benefits like food assistance and healthcare. In fiscal year 2023, the PATH program extended training and support to over 8,000 individuals in Michigan, with more than half successfully transitioning out of public assistance programs to initiate new careers.
Stephanie Beckhorn, Director of LEO’s Office of Employment and Training, highlighted the program’s tailored approach, recognizing that each participant faces unique obstacles. The collaborative efforts across the PATH program facilitated financial assistance for Immanual’s medical board exam. Immanual, a graduate of Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, is now a resident physician of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Health-West.
The PATH program’s impact extends statewide, with services delivered through the Michigan Works! network. The initiative’s success is a testament to its individualized support, identifying participant needs and connecting them with the right resources. To locate local Michigan Works! Service Centers, individuals can visit Michigan.gov/MichiganWorks, and additional program details are available at Michigan.gov/PATH.
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