Five Resilient Families Showcased in 33rd Annual CalWORKs Awards Ceremony

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – Five families from near and far who have seen success as participants in the County’s CalWORKs program will be honored on Jan. 22 for their efforts to stabilize their lives and get on track for new careers in Santa Clara County.

Each year the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Achievement Awards honor program recipients who have demonstrated that they used CalWORKs services to significantly better their lives. About 5,000 clients seek services annually, and many have backgrounds and stories rife with major hardships that were met with persistence and resilience.

The barriers faced by CalWORKs recipients can be daunting. This year’s honorees include participants who came to Santa Clara County from war-torn nations on the other side of the globe, a formerly unhoused mother of two, an immigrant who became a single mother of three when she left her abusive partner, and a formerly justice-involved youth who now wants to start a nonprofit helping those going through a similar ordeal.

Their amazing histories and success will be celebrated on Monday, Jan. 22, in the early portion of the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors session at 4 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 70 W. Hedding St. in San José. The meeting will also be held virtually. 

“Yet again we honor another group of families with stories that never cease to inspire,” said Angela Shing, Director of Employment and Benefit Services for the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency. “These are families that show what can be done by not giving up hope, by continuing to persevere despite hardships that seem insurmountable. They really are an inspiration to us all.” 

Here are this year’s honorees:                                                                               

Olena Aronova had a successful marketing business and owned a home in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she lived with her husband and son Maksym, now 9. Then the Russians attacked, and she had two hours to pack up and flee with Maksym while husband Sergey stayed behind to support their country in the fight against the invaders. She heard about CalWORKs and applied for aid, setting a clear goal: English fluency. Olena enrolled in ESL classes and excelled, moving quickly to college level courses. Now she’s at Foothill College, working toward a degree in Digital Marketing so she can resume her career and build a brighter future for herself and her family. “Participation in the program gave me the opportunity to learn English and gradually adapt to the country,” she said. “It’s been a big help for me and my son.”

Porti’a Comick got out of a toxic relationship with her husband and found herself an unhoused mother of two young daughters, ages 5 and 3. As their primary caretaker, she saw that she needed to get them into a secure environment and immediately proved to be adept at finding resources, including CalWORKs. Porti’a got connected to housing resources and was able to move into a home within weeks. She then secured childcare, interview clothes and transportation – the job hunt was on. Using networking skills learned through CalWORKs, she was soon employed as a security professional. “I am very thankful and grateful for the CalWORKs Employment Services and Housing Support Program for sharing their programs with me and giving me the opportunity to flourish,” she said. 

Cynthia Gomez’s world was turned upside down when she became a victim of domestic violence just as her visa expired. The mother of three lost her job during the pandemic even as she fought to stay in the country. She turned to CalWORKs for help and was coached by an employment counselor who ultimately helped Cynthia pursue her lifelong dream of obtaining a social worker degree. She attended San Jose State University full time while working part time, doing unpaid internships and raising her children – the eldest of whom participated in the County’s Intern and Earn program. She’s now employed as a Medical Social Worker at Valley Health Center. “I feel so happy to be able to help the community,” she said. “That is my main goal – to support others as I was supported when I was in need.”

Sakhi Jan and Hukma Jana Haleemi left Afghanistan in 2020 with their eight children on a Special Immigrant Visa, determined to find a better life for their family after Sakhi suffered a debilitating back injury during an attack while serving as an interpreter for the U.S. Army. A local resettlement agency connected them with CalWORKs resources, and they were soon taking English and job readiness classes. The CalWORKs Family Stabilization Unit worked with other housing agencies help the Haleemis find a suitable residence – and a bit of peace of mind after an initially chaotic situation. Sakhi Jan then shifted to his education, first enrolling in classes to obtain a GED with a long term goal of a college degree and a career in transportation. Ultimately the Haleemis want to see all of their children pursue higher education. “I tell my kids to focus on education, because it will help the community and the people around you,” Sakhi Jan said.

Ashley Raymond grew up bouncing between a drug-addicted mother, various relatives, and going in and out of foster care and group homes. Ultimately, she landed in juvenile hall. Years later, after having four children and as a survivor of domestic abuse, she sought therapy and help through CalWORKs, ultimately deciding that she has a dream: To one day establish a nonprofit organization that supports victims of abuse and make a difference in the juvenile justice system. Determined to overcome her obstacles, she went to school while working and raising her children, graduated from Mission College and is now pursuing a BA in Psychology at San Jose State University – on track to be in the graduating class of 2025. “There’s nothing I want more than to have a clinic helping people who need the support,” she said, “Giving them some stepping stones to get where they need to be.”

ABOUT CALWORKS

The Santa Clara County CalWORKs program serves approximately 5,000 families each year. The program provides families with employment-based services, including assistance with job readiness, vocational training, education programs, and subsidized employment. The CalWORKs program also offers a variety of support programs to help families achieve economic stability. These programs include home visitation services to new and expectant parents, as well as other critical services related to housing, homelessness prevention, childcare, transportation, domestic violence, expungement, and behavioral health.

The CalWORKs program has helped approximately 40% of participating families find employment and continues to provide them with the financial, educational, and personal support needed to help them thrive.

ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA 

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multicultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, Calif., making it more populous than 14 states in the United States. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.

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Media Contact: Quan Vu / Eric Kurhi, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, 408-299-5119, [email protected]