The Rising Tide Initiative is an Urban League employment readiness and placement program. It is designed to service unemployed or underemployed non-custodial parents connected to TANF, OWF, and/or FSET services. The goal of the Rising Tide Initiative is to assist participants in overcoming life's challenges, obtaining employment and/or skill training in an effort to become self-sufficient, meet their child support obligations and strengthen family connections.

Rising Tide works in collaboration with Child Support Enforcement Agency, Cuyahoga Work & Training and other community and social services organizations to help identify and overcome barriers that may hinder participants from obtaining and sustaining gainful employment.

Rising Tide provides four weeks of employment readiness, parenting and life skills workshops held at the Urban League. During the four weeks, each participant is assigned a case manager and develops a relationship with the program's employment director. The role of the case manager is to assist the participant in overcoming barriers that may hinder him/her from obtaining employment. An individual service plan is developed by the participant and the case manager in an effort to have the participant set goals and recognize and/or plan for potential employment barriers and obstacles.

Once a participant has completed the four-week series of workshops, the employment director will provide the graduate with employment, educational and/or training referrals. After a graduate obtains employment and/or becomes enrolled in an educational or training program, the case manager and employment director will provide supportive services for at least six months. Supportive services may include telephone contact, on site visits, assistance with transportation, focus groups, clothing, and day care needs.

Form more information, please contact Maurice Stevens, 216.622.0999 ext 249 or email: mstevens@ulcleveland.org

Click here for a Rising Tide Application.