A new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program at Pontotoc Technology Center (PTC) is already transforming lives and removing barriers to employment in its first month, assisting local residents and directly funding advanced medical training for six area first responders.
Through an integrated partnership between PTC, Work Ready Ada, and TANF funding pathways, several emergency medical personnel from Hughes County EMS and Community EMS recently completed prerequisite career readiness training. The TANF funding secured through the initiative allowed these first responders to enroll directly in PTC’s Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) program, expanding life-saving clinical care across a large rural service area.
Beyond emergency services, the new TANF initiative provides one-on-one wrap-around support to eliminate everyday financial and logistical obstacles that often prevent individuals from completing technical training. Guided by PTC’s new TANF Training Navigator, Kendra Waldrop, the program provides personalized assistance ranging from driver’s license replacements, gas money, and specialized course materials to essential family supplies like diapers and wipes.
“Stepping into this brand-new role has been incredible,” said Kendra Waldrop, TANF Training Navigator at Pontotoc Technology Center. “We work individually with each participant to ask, ‘What is standing between you and your next step, and how can we help?’ Whether it’s purchasing required work boots, buying advanced coding books for an HVAC student, or providing scrubs on day one, removing those obstacles allows our participants to step into training feeling prepared, professional, and confident.”
In addition to the AEMT students, early program successes include participants entering PTC’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and securing direct job placements across Pontotoc County.