MH Enterprises is going on the road, reaching out to rural communities to offer its programs to a wider range of potential employers and potential hires.
The Opportunities Now program is funded by Service Canada for individuals who identify as having any form of disability has expanded its capacity, through the creation of a Rural Outreach Team, to assist local business owners and job seekers in Drumheller, Stettler, Three Hills, Trochu, Hanna and surrounding areas connect with one another.
MH Enterprises has brought on Dawn Allen as its Rural Diversity Outreach Coordinator. She holds two professional Human Resources designations and has HR experience that spans more than 15 years.
“It has always been something we’ve done, and if we have clients in specific areas we would make arrangements,” said Sagan Gordon of MH Enterprises. “I believe this is the first time we have had standing office hours every month in different communities.”
The Opportunities Now program has additional funding for ($15/hour, up to 40 hours per week, for 12+ weeks in length) to offset the cost of training new staff, as well as support for new staff to obtain necessary supplies and training courses required for their job.
“A lot of what we wanted to do is educate people about what is a person’s disability. Realistically nearly everyone has some type of hidden disability. Whether that’s anxiety, depression, ADHD. Some people have epilepsy and you would never know because it’s not evident,” said Gordon. “We are trying to do a little employer engagement and let them know hiring a person with a disability is good business practice.”
MH Enterprises also has another program offering. The provincially funded “Connections” program to equip individuals who self-disclose as having any form of disability, with the information and services necessary to enhance employment prospects. Clients are provided with life coaching services focusing on lifestyle patterning and innovative job search skills.
