WORK FORWARD

A clearer path from unemployment to employment

An online employment-readiness and retention program designed specifically for child support participants who are struggling to obtain and maintain employment

 

When employment is part of the path forward, participants need more than a job opening.

They need the knowledge, skills, confidence, and practical tools to get ready for work, find work, and succeed once they get there. Work Forward gives your child support program a complete, structured way to provide that support.

BRING WORK FORWARD TO YOUR PROGRAM
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOUR PARTICIPANTS?

They're going to get:

  • 15 comprehensive modules
  • 70 engaging lessons
  • Self-paced video instruction
  • Interactive activities
  • Reflection exercises
  • Knowledge checks and quizzes
  • Downloadable worksheets and resources
  • Mobile-friendly learning
  • Certificate of Completion

Yeah, it includes all that!

...and they have lifetime access to the program materials and updates!

Work Forward - Sample

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Explore 2 of the 15 Work Forward modules and experience the curriculum firsthand through real lessons, activities, and learning experiences.

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When “Go Get a Job” Isn't Enough

For some participants, getting and keeping a job isn't as simple as filling out an application.

They may be unsure what kind of work they're looking for.

They may not know how to identify their strengths or communicate them to an employer.

They may have limited work experience, gaps in employment, or previous experiences that have made finding work feel discouraging.

They may need to learn the basics of workplace communication, expectations, problem-solving, and professional behavior.

Or they may simply have never been shown how to navigate the process from start to finish.

And that's an important distinction.

Sometimes the barrier isn't a lack of willingness to work. It's a lack of preparation, tools, or a clear path forward.

Work Forward was created for those participants.

Work Forward takes the employment process and breaks it down into clear, manageable steps

Participants move through a structured series of lessons and activities designed to help them:

Understand themselves
Identify strengths, skills, interests, preferences, and potential directions.

Understand work
Learn what employers expect and what it means to be successful in the workplace.

Prepare for the job search
Learn how to find opportunities, evaluate jobs, and approach a job search with a plan.

Get the job
Build resumes, complete applications, prepare for interviews, and communicate with employers.

Keep the job
Develop strategies for workplace communication, problem-solving, expectations, and navigating common challenges.

It's not just about getting someone hired.

It's about helping participants become more prepared to obtain and maintain employment.

WHY WORK FORWARD?

Because employment readiness is about more than the job search

A participant can know they need a job and still not know how to get one.

And they can get hired and still struggle to keep it.

Work Forward addresses both sides of that equation.

Get ready.

Build the foundational knowledge and skills needed to approach employment with greater confidence and preparedness.

Get to work.

Develop practical tools and strategies for searching, applying, interviewing, and communicating with employers.

Stay successful.

Learn how to navigate workplace expectations, communication, problem-solving, and common challenges that can affect job retention.

Work Forward helps participants understand not just how to get a job, but how to be ready for one.

READY TO WORK FORWARD?

So, what exactly is in this training program?

SECTION 1

Discover Your Strengths

Explore interests, abilities, workplace preferences, and career possibilities.

SECTION 2

Build Workplace Skills

Learn professionalism, communication, reliability, accountability, and employer expectations.
SECTION 3

Find Employment

Develop resumes, complete applications, prepare for interviews, and confidently navigate the hiring process.
SECTION 4

Succeed at Work

Strengthen teamwork, self-advocacy, emotional intelligence, workplace relationships, and problem-solving.
SECTION 5

Grow Beyond Employment

Build financial confidence, healthy routines, resilience, and long-term career goals.

Work Forward

  1. Welcome

    6 lessons
    1. Pre-Survey
    2. Welcome to Work Forward!
    3. Create a Professional Work Email
    4. Using Google Drive
    5. Update Your Work Forward Email Address
    6. Work Forward in the Kajabi App

  2. Module 1: Understanding Work + Finding Your Fit

    11 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Work
    2. Lesson 2: Why People Work
    3. Tool: My Reasons for Working
    4. Lesson 3: Common Workplace Roles
    5. Lesson 4: Differences Between School + Work
    6. Lesson 5: Steps to Getting a Job
    7. Lesson 6: Self-Assessment + Finding Your Fit
    8. Tool: My Work Fit Profile
    9. Action Plan
    10. Quiz
    11. Resources

  3. Module 2: Employer Expectations

    10 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Workplace Expectations
    2. Lesson 2: Basic Expectations
    3. Tool: Employer Expectations Self-Assessment
    4. Lesson 3: Attitude + Effort
    5. Tool: Attitude + Effort Self-Assessment
    6. Lesson 4: Understanding Your Role
    7. Lesson 5: Rights + Responsibilities
    8. Action Plan
    9. Quiz
    10. Resources

  4. Module 3: Dependability + Accountability

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Building Reliability Through Habits
    2. Tool: Daily Reliability Tracker
    3. Lesson 2: Handling Challenges + Unexpected Events
    4. Lesson 3: Taking Responsibility + Avoiding Blame
    5. Lesson 4: Being a Reliable Team Member
    6. Tool: Teamwork Self-Reflection
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  5. Module 4: Communication Skills

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Professional Communication
    2. Lesson 2: Giving + Receiving Feedback
    3. Tool: Practicing Feedback at Work
    4. Lesson 3: Communicating in Teams + Meetings
    5. Lesson 4: Communication Challenges + Problem-Solving
    6. Tool: My Communication Improvement Plan
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  6. Module 5: Self-Advocacy

    10 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Self-Advocacy
    2. Lesson 2: Knowing Your Needs, Strengths, + Limits
    3. Lesson 3: Asking for Help, Support, or Clarification
    4. Lesson 4: Disclosure, Accommodations, + Special Considerations
    5. Tool: My Disclosure Plan
    6. Tool: My Accommodations Plan
    7. Lesson 5: Advocating for Yourself Over Time
    8. Action Plan
    9. Quiz
    10. Resources

  7. Module 6: Workplace Behavior + Professionalism

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Workplace Behavior
    2. Lesson 2: Workplace Boundaries
    3. Tool: My Workplace Boundaries Plan
    4. Lesson 3: Appearance + Personal Care
    5. Tool: Professional Appearance + Hygiene Self-Reflection
    6. Lesson 4: Managing Stress + Professional Reactions
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  8. Module 7: Job Search + Application Skills

    12 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Finding Job Opportunities
    2. Lesson 2: Understanding Job Postings
    3. Tool: Job Search Tracker
    4. Lesson 3: Resumes, Cover Letters, + References
    5. Tool: Resume Builder Guide
    6. Tool: Google Docs Resume Templates
    7. Tool: Cover Letter Builder Guide
    8. Tool: Reference List Builder Guide
    9. Lesson 4: Applications
    10. Action Plan
    11. Quiz
    12. Resources

  9. Module 8: Interview Skills

    12 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Preparing for the Interview
    2. Tool: Interview Preparation Checklist
    3. Lesson 2: Answering Interview Questions Effectively
    4. Tool: My Interview Answer Planner
    5. Tool: My STAR Answer Planner
    6. Lesson 3: Professional Presentation + Nonverbal Communication
    7. Lesson 4: Disclosure + Backgrounds
    8. Lesson 5: Follow Up + Next Steps
    9. Tool: Interview Thank-You + Follow-Up Guide
    10. Action Plan
    11. Quiz
    12. Resources

  10. Module 9: Keeping a Job

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Onboarding + First Impressions
    2. Lesson 2: Work Performance
    3. Tool: Daily + Weekly Performance Tracker
    4. Lesson 3: Job Security + Staying Employed
    5. Tool: Job Security Self-Reflection
    6. Lesson 4: Opportunities on the Job
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  11. Module 10: Following Directions + Problem Solving

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Following Directions at Work
    2. Lesson 2: Paying Attention to Details
    3. Lesson 3: Problem-Solving at Work
    4. Tool: Work Problem Reflection Planner
    5. Lesson 4: Asking for Help + Handling Issues
    6. Tool: Asking for Help Planner
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  12. Module 11: Workplace Relationships + Conflict Management

    11 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Workplace Relationships
    2. Lesson 2: Teamwork + Collaboration
    3. Lesson 3: Recognizing + Handling Conflict
    4. Lesson 4: Conflict Resolution Strategies
    5. Tool: Conflict Response Blueprint
    6. Lesson 5: Maintaining Relationships After Conflict
    7. Lesson 6: Emotional Intelligence in Workplace Relationships
    8. Tool: Emotional Awareness Builder
    9. Action Plan
    10. Quiz
    11. Resources

  13. Module 12: Thriving in the Workplace

    9 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Mindset + Attitude
    2. Tool: Growth Mindset Action Planner
    3. Lesson 2: Taking Pride in Your Work
    4. Tool: Work Pride Tracker
    5. Lesson 3: Self-Awareness + Continuous Reflection
    6. Lesson 4: Adaptability + Resilience
    7. Action Plan
    8. Quiz
    9. Resources

  14. Module 13: Financial Literacy

    10 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Income, Paychecks, + Benefits
    2. Tool: Pay + Benefits Tracker
    3. Lesson 2: Budgeting Basics
    4. Lesson 3: Payment Methods, Banking, + Credit
    5. Tool: Budget + Spending Tracker
    6. Lesson 4: Managing Expenses, Debt + Emergency Planning
    7. Lesson 5: Disability-Related Financial Considerations
    8. Action Plan
    9. Quiz
    10. Resources

  15. Module 14: Work-Life Balance

    10 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Understanding Work-Life Balance
    2. Lesson 2: Time Management + Prioritization
    3. Lesson 3: Stress Management Techniques
    4. Tool: Stress Awareness + Management Reflection
    5. Lesson 4: Healthy Habits + Self-Care
    6. Lesson 5: Sustaining Balance + Making Adjustments
    7. Tool: Daily Energy Self-Reflection
    8. Action Plan
    9. Quiz
    10. Resources

  16. Module 15: Professional Growth

    13 lessons
    1. Lesson 1: Setting Personal + Career Goals
    2. Tool: Personal + Professional Goals Plan
    3. Lesson 2: Continuing Skill Development
    4. Tool: Skill Development + Growth Plan
    5. Lesson 3: Balancing Work, Health, + Personal Life
    6. Tool: Sustainable Success Plan
    7. Lesson 4: Identifying Ongoing Support Needs
    8. Tool: Ongoing Support Plan
    9. Lesson 5: Preparing Next Steps for Career Success
    10. Tool: Professional Growth Plan
    11. Action Plan
    12. Quiz
    13. Resources

  17. Congratulations

    2 lessons
    1. Congrats on Completing Work Forward!
    2. Post-Survey

You don't have to build this yourself.

Your team has enough to do.

Developing a quality employment-readiness program takes time, expertise, research, curriculum development, activities, worksheets, assessments, and ongoing maintenance.

And even after all that work, you still have to figure out how to deliver it consistently.

We've already done the work.

Work Forward brings the employment-readiness process together in one complete program that your child support program can implement with your participants.

Instead of piecing together:

  • employment websites
  • handouts
  • videos
  • worksheets
  • resume resources
  • interview tips
  • workplace-readiness information
  • retention strategies

you have one cohesive program that brings it all together.

WHAT'S INSIDE WORK FORWARD?

Everything participants need to build a stronger foundation for employment

Work Forward includes 15 modules and 70 lessons covering the essential pieces of employment readiness and retention.

Each lesson is designed to be manageable, practical, and focused on a specific skill or concept.

Participants work through topics such as:

Knowing Yourself
Strengths, skills, interests, preferences, values, and what participants bring to the workplace

Understanding Employment
What work looks like, what employers expect, and what it means to be prepared for employment

Workplace Skills
Communication, professionalism, responsibility, problem-solving, and navigating everyday workplace situations

Exploring Careers + Jobs
Understanding different opportunities and thinking more intentionally about what kind of work may be a good fit

The Job Search
Where to look, how to identify opportunities, and how to approach the search strategically

Resumes
Understanding what makes a useful resume and creating one that represents the participant's experience and skills

Job Applications
Learning how to approach applications, provide information accurately, and present themselves effectively

Interviewing
Preparing for interviews, understanding what employers want to know, and practicing how to communicate effectively

Getting the Job
Understanding what happens after an interview and preparing for the transition into employment

Keeping the Job
Workplace expectations, communication, problem-solving, managing challenges, and strategies that support job retention

Built for participants who may not be ready for a traditional job-search program

Work Forward doesn't assume everyone starts in the same place.

Some participants may have extensive work experience.

Others may have little or none.

Some may be confident.

Others may have had difficult experiences with work in the past.

Some may know exactly what they want to do.

Others may not know where to begin.

Work Forward gives everyone a place to start.

The self-paced format allows participants to work through the material at a pace that makes sense for them, while the structured curriculum provides a clear progression from one topic to the next. 

GET STARTED

Not just lessons. Participants actually do the work.

We believe employment readiness is best learned by doing, not just watching.

That's why Work Forward combines:

The goal is to move participants from “I know about this” to “I know what to do.”

SKILLS THAT GO BEYOND THE NEXT JOB

More Than a Program Completion

Participants leave with skills they can use now and build on for the future.

Work Forward isn't just about completing lessons and checking a box. Participants build a personal toolkit for employment success.

These are skills they can use to get and maintain employment today while continuing to build on them as they gain experience, take on new opportunities, and advance in their careers.

The goal is to give participants a foundation they can carry with them beyond the program and throughout their employment journey.

Designed for your program

Work Forward isn't something your team has to figure out on its own.

It's designed to be incorporated into the work you're already doing with child support participants.

For program directors

You get a complete employment-readiness and retention solution without having to develop one yourself.

For staff

You have a structured resource to use with participants without needing to become an employment expert.

For participants

You can provide a clear, consistent path through the employment process — with practical tools they can use beyond the program.

How Work Forward Works

A straightforward way to add employment readiness to your program

Choose the right fit for your program

Connect with the TCC team to learn about the available licensing options and determine which model makes the most sense for your program.

 

 Bring Work Forward to your team

Once you're set up, we'll help you roll out Work Forward with your staff so they understand the program, how it works, and how to use it with participants.

Put Work Forward in the hands of participants

Staff assign Work Forward to eligible child support participants who are struggling to obtain or maintain employment.

 

Help participants move forward

Participants work through practical employment readiness and retention lessons, building the skills  they need to get and keep a job.

 

CONNECT WITH TCC

Why self-paced?

Because participants don't all need the same thing at the same time.

A self-paced format gives participants the flexibility to work through the program without requiring your organization to coordinate another classroom, another schedule, or another set of appointments.

At the same time, the structured curriculum keeps participants moving through a purposeful sequence.

Flexible for participants.
Simple for your program.
Consistent in what participants receive.

Built from experience

Work Forward wasn't created in a vacuum.

The Compass Co. brings more than a decade of experience supporting people with various barriers to employment.

We've worked alongside people navigating the employment process, and we've seen firsthand where people get stuck.

We've also seen what can happen when people have the right information, the right tools, and a clear path forward.

We took that experience and built it into Work Forward.

The result is a program that's practical, purposeful, and focused on what participants actually need to move toward employment.

MEET YOUR TRAINERS

Hi there, we're Alison + Andrea

Alison Swan, MS, CRC
Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Wisconsin–Stout
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)

  • Over 12 years of experience in disability employment services
  • Extensive background in career counseling, job development, and workforce development
  • Developer of workforce training programs and online curriculum
  • Experience helping people navigate employment barriers, build work readiness, and identify realistic career goals
  • Passionate about making employment education practical, accessible, and easy to put into action

Andrea Marty, M.Ed.
Master of Science in Special Education
University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point

  • Over 12 years as a Special Education Teacher and Transition Coordinator
  • Extensive experience helping young adults build employment and independent living skills
  • Developed employment-focused curriculum and school-based workforce training programs
  • Experience supporting students as they prepare for employment, adulthood, and greater independence
  • Passionate about creating practical, engaging learning experiences that help participants see themselves as capable of moving forward

Simple, Flexible Pricing

Choose the Work Forward licensing option that fits your program and the number of participants you serve.

VIEW PRICING / LICENSING
GET STARTED TODAY!

Ready to bring Work Forward to your program?

If you're looking for a practical, ready-to-use way to help child support participants prepare for employment and build the skills to succeed once they get there, let's talk.