Batesville, Ark. – For busy mom, Jasmine Holman, 27, obtaining her GED certificate seemed like an impossible task. However, with two children under the age of six, Holman knew she had to make a change.
“I used to be strung out on drugs, and I decided I wanted to get my life together for my children,” she said.
Thankfully, Holman (pictured) was able to connect with the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville’s (UACCB) adult education program. Through the adult education program, Holman learned she qualified for the TANF program.
The Arkansas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or TANF was created to help families stay together by empowering family leaders with job skills, resources, and assistance. UACCB received a grant from the TANF program that offers support services to help students with transportation costs in the form of fuel cards. The amount of money for fuel received is based on the number of times the student is required to be on campus and where the student lives.
“TANF helps students get on their feet,” Tess Weatherford, TANF Career Coach, said. “Support can be extended after the completion of a GED, if conditions are met. And, if they continue with education at UACCB, they may qualify for other programs like the Career Pathways Initiative.”
Along with adult education classes, Holman enrolled in the WAGE™ Level I Certificate training program. WAGE™ is a job readiness program for unemployed and underemployed adults with the Division of Workforce Services, Adult Education Section. WAGE™ is unique from other career readiness programs in that it focuses on improving the academic basic skills of participants while providing workforce preparation and workforce training activities. The adult education program at UACCB offers WAGE™ courses in conjunction with basic skills classes with morning, afternoon, and evening options. WAGE™ can also be taken online.
Holman completed her GED in January 2022. She said her advice to someone considering earning their GED is “don’t give up, try and try again.”
The UACCB Adult Education program serves students in Independence and Sharp counties. For more information, call 870-612-2164 or visit www.uaccb.edu.
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