Inside the Pathways Program
Participants – who often start in the Adult Day program – are referred to Pathways based on their potential for employment and readiness for life skills development.
The two-year curriculum covers much more than how to get a job: it’s a comprehensive life-preparedness course. From communication skills to financial literacy to determining the safest way to get to and from work, Pathways touches on every element needed to thrive in a job and in life.
“Often our members in Pathways have little to not experience with computers,” said Tim Harrison, Employment Services Director at Quality Connections, “so it’s not just about how to draft a professional email; it’s about setting up an email address and password, how to send, and remembering to check your inbox.”
Left: Amy King of Quality Connections helps a Pathway program member with a heat transfer. Above: Two Patwa members help make sandwiches at Flagstaff Family Food Center.
The curriculum is tailored to meet students where they are. With no more than four students per class, instructors create personalized plans that reflect real-world challenges and goals.
Volunteer placements – like preparing meals at the Family Food Center or packing boxes at distribution sites – offer simulated work experiences that teach soft skills like teamwork, emotional regulation, and time management. Other participants work on the crews that deliver supplies from QC Office or volunteer at Evergreen Academy Preschool, both of which are divisions of Quality Connections.
Recently the Pathways programs in Page and Flagstaff have been making items for sale at the Flagstaff Farmer’s Market.
The Page program has provided delicious sweetbreads like banana and cherry lemonade for the market.
Meanwhile, in Flagstaff, program participants have been learning how to use heat transfers to create t-shirts, tote bags, and other fabric items emblazed with slogans like “Neurodiversity – Celebrate the Spectrum!” and “Inclusion Matters!”
From computer literacy to volunteer opportunities to the Pathways Program is growing futures – one tailored path at a time.
Jonathan’s Pathways Journey
When Jonathan Holden arrived in Flagstaff from Phoenix last year, he was happy for the change in weather, but not quite sure what was next for him. Now the 30-year-old is thriving in the Pathways program at Quality Connections, building life skills and helping others do the same.
“They are very accommodating,” Jonathan says of the program. “It’s nice to have help getting employment.”
Jonathan, who has been diagnosed with autism, lives independently with support from his mother and brother.
His family member and his instructors at Quality Connections both feel the Pathways program, with its mix of skills building, classroom instruction, and on-site volunteer work, has sparked notable personal growth.
“In the beginning, Jonathan struggled to stay focused,” says Tim Harrison, who oversees the program. “He lives on his own and he was used to doing his own thing. Now he is actively engaged.”
Jonathan agrees, saying “I’ve learned to control my temper and gotten better at asking questions to better understand situations.”
He’s also shown a strong sense of empathy – recognizing his former challenges in other Pathways participants and offering support instead of judgment.
Jonathan volunteers weekly at a local food kitchen, making sandwiches as part of the Pathways program (although he’s eager to experience other work situations – in the past, his dream jobs included railroad engineer and paleontologist).
While he’s still discovering his future path, one thing is clear – Jonathan is in it for the long haul.
“I plan to be in Pathways for a long time,” he says.
Through his growth and experience in the Pathways program, Jonathan demonstrates that success isn’t just about the job you land; it’s about the person you become.
