CENTURY HARVEST FARMS FOUNDATION

PURPOSE & DESCRIPTION: STARTED IN 2018, FROM THE GROUND UP (FGU) IS A 14-WEEK WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO OFFER INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INCARCERATION AND/OR WHO ARE IN RECOVERY FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO OVERCOME CHALLENGES THEY FACE IN BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PROVIDING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS (CALLED MAKERS) ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH 3 PRIMARY MEANS SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS: 1) LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION & HANDS-ON TRAINING, 2) SUPPORT SERVICES, AND 3) FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. WE SERVE RESIDENTS (AGES 18 AND UP) IN AN 8-COUNTY REGION IN EASTERN TENNESSEE,INCLUDING AREAS THAT ARE RURAL AND URBAN. MOST OF FGUS ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE AT CENTURY HARVEST FARMS FOUNDATIONS (CHFF) 350-ACRE TRAINING FACILITY COMPLETE WITH A FARM, COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND FOOD PROCESSING CENTER, AND STORE WHERE GOODS ARE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC. 1) LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION & HANDS-ON TRAINING: MAKERS COMPLETE 312 HOURS OF INTERACTIVE PROGRAMMING OVER THE COURSE OF 39 8-HOUR DAYS THAT TAKE PLACE 3 TIMES WEEKLY. ORIENTATION/ONBOARDING ARE COMPLETED ON DAYS 1 2. DAYS 3 20 ARE SPENT DOING ON THE FARM TRAINING LIKE GROWING/HARVESTING FOOD, HAYMAKING, BAKERY, BUTCHERY, TRACTOR MAINTENANCE, MECHANICAL REPAIRS, ETC. CULMINATING IN THEIR SELECTION OF A CAREER PATH IN AGRICULTURE, CULINARY, OR REPAIR & MAINTENANCE. DAYS 21 30 ARE RESERVED FOR ONGOING HANDS-ON TRAINING IN THEIR CAREER CHOICE; ENGAGING IN JOB READINESS (RESUME WRITING, MOCK INTERVIEWING, ETC.); AND LEARNING ABOUT BASIC LIFE SKILLS MONEY MANAGEMENT, NUTRITION AND FOOD PREPARATION, AND MORE. DAYS 31 39, MAKERS BEGIN ON-SITE TRAINING AT CHFF OR WITH ONE OF CHFFS EMPLOYMENT PARTNERS. 2) SUPPORT SERVICES: DURING THESE 14 WEEKS, WE WORK WITH EACH MAKERS CASE MANAGER TO IDENTIFY SPECIFIC BARRIERS TO TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT AND OFFER RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUAL BASED ON HIS OR HER CHALLENGES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, CHILDCARE, UNIFORMS, EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO SUPPORT LEARNING, AND ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE WRAP-AROUND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PROVIDED BY SOCIAL SERVICES PARTNERS TO SUPPORT OVERALL WELLNESS IN RECOVERY AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES. IN 2020, WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE ADDED SAFETY ASSISTANCE FOR OUR MAKERS ENROLLED IN OUR FGU PROGRAM. IN 2020, WE ASSISTED MAKERS WITH HOUSING COSTS, KEEPING THEIR PHONES ACTIVE TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THEIR SUPPORT SYSTEMS, 3 MEALS A DAY (7 DAYS A WEEK), AND PROVIDED FREE COVID TESTING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE EXPOSED. ADDITIONALLY, MAKERS HAVE ACCESS TO RECOVERY SUPPORTS SUCH AS NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS/ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS AND REGULAR INTERACTIONS WITH A FULL-TIME CERTIFIED PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST. OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PARTNERS INCLUDE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ONES BELOW WITH WHOM WE COLLABORATE TO RECRUIT FGU PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS: -- RECOVERY COURT: SPECIAL COURTS WILLING TO HANDLE CASES INVOLVING SUBSTANCE-ABUSE OFFENDERS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE SUPERVISION, DRUG TESTING, TREATMENT SERVICES, AND IMMEDIATE SANCTIONS AND INCENTIVES LIKE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. -- COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES: NONPROFITS AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS CREATED TO COMBAT POVERTY BY DELIVERING A BROAD RANGE OF COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO CREATE ECONOMIC IMPACT LIKE JOB READINESS PROGRAMS. -- INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT RECOVERY PROGRAMS: PROVIDE HOLISTIC, NURTURING, AND THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENTS FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE SOBRIETY. 3)FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT: AFTER GRADUATING FROM FGU (DAY 40), MAKERS RECOMMENDED FOR EMPLOYMENT ARE PLACED IN A FULL-TIME JOB WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT SERVICES AND MONITORING PROVIDED BY THEIR CASE MANAGERS. OUR EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS PARTNERS INCLUDE BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL COMPANIES SPECIALIZING IN OUR 3 CAREER AREAS OF AGRICULTURE, CULINARY, AND MECHANICAL & TRADE WHO COMMIT TO SERVING AS JOB PLACEMENT LOCATIONS FOR OUR MAKERS ONCE THEY GRADUATE FROM FGU. EXAMPLES OF THESE ARE MONTEREY MUSHROOM, AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION, SYSCO CORPORATION, AND NOBLE AUTO SALES.