The quarterly Literacy Advocate Award was presented today to Veronica Andrade, former Self Sufficiency Counselor III for the Visalia District Office of the HHSA TulareWORKS program.Ms. Andrade, who recently transferred to the HHSA Service Center, was chosen for the award because she had made the most viable referrals of this quarter to the joint HHSA/Literacy program.
Jeff Scott, Deputy Tulare County Librarian, made the award on behalf of the Read to Succeed Literacy program. In making the presentation to Ms. Andrade, Mr. Scott said, “We greatly appreciate your understanding that, in order for someone to get a job, he or she must be able to read and write and compete in this challenging job market. Your support and efforts show that you care about those you serve and are committed to making a difference in their lives.”
The Literacy Advocate Award honors HHSA staff members who have referred clients to the HHSA/Literacy Center program.These clients have limited reading, writing and mathematical skills, making it difficult for them to find and keep employment. The joint venture is aimed at improving these basic skills so that learners are job ready when opportunities arise. The HHSA clients are assessed, then matched with Literacy volunteers who provide one-on-one tutoring.
Also attending the presentation were Karen Hansen, Employment Services Unit Manager, TulareWORKS; Jeff Blackmon, HHSA Service Center Support Unit Manager; Patricia Habeck, Library Programs & Literacy Specialist, and Win Doyle, HHSA/Literacy Program Coordinator. Veronica’s former teammates at the Visalia District Office present at the ceremony were: Ines Elizondo, Selene Juarez, Denise Felix, Angela Sahagun, team Supervisor, Jackie Martin and Teng Xiong.
The award was conceived as a way of thanking and honoring those HHSA staff who encourage their clients to participate in the literacy program. Since the program’s inception, more than 200 referrals have been made by counselors from the five TulareWORKS offices in the county.
