The GROW Program
GROW helps individuals who have been chronically unemployed find and keep stable, meaningful work. We understand that challenges like housing, health, and social stability affect employment. That’s why GROW offers intensive one-on-one coaching and comprehensive community supports in Red Deer to help you build a strong foundation for long-term success.
We Open Doors to:
Comprehensive Life Stability First
We use the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to connect you with essential community supports, like housing and health services, ensuring you build a solid foundation (Physical, Social, and Personal Assets) before you start training.
Paid, Real-World Work Experience
Structured job preparation that includes a supervised 8-week Work-Based Learning (WBL) assignment with payments. This gives you relevant experience, helps you transition smoothly into the workplace, and reinforces financial planning and accountability.
Sustained Support Beyond the Job
Our commitment continues long after you are hired, with a minimum of six months of job coaching and retention support. You also gain access to the alumni-led GROWth Circle, a powerful peer network that provides ongoing encouragement, community events, and mentorship for long-term success.
Your Journey: How GROW Works
We know everyone has a different journey to finding work. We meet you where you are and move forward at a pace that is comfortable for you. Your journey is not always a straight line, but our team provides sustained support through these four steps:
We focus on life stability first. We help connect you with essential community wrap-around services and a Peer Mentor who brings lived experience to help you navigate challenges.
Once you have a stable foundation, you begin developing essential Career Essentials. This stage includes job-specific training, career workshops, and skills training (like First Aid or other industry-specific certificates).
You begin engaging with the workforce through an 8-week Work-Based Learning (WBL) assignment. These assignments come with stipends to help you build responsible financial habits while reinforcing the connection between your efforts and tangible rewards.
Once you secure permanent employment, our support continues for a minimum of six months to ensure a smooth transition and long-term stability. This includes job coaching and workplace support.
Our Unique Approach
The Sustainable Livelihoods (SL) Framework
Our approach is built on the SL Framework. This means we don't just focus on job skills; we address the whole person—their health, housing access, social networks, and personal assets—to ensure employment success is truly sustainable. By supporting all of these areas, we help you build long-term stability and move toward meaningful, sustainable employment.
The GROWth Circle Alumni Network
Support doesn't end when you get a job. The GROWth Circle is an alumni-led initiative designed to provide long-term connection, mentorship, and community after you complete the formal program. You can connect with others who have walked similar paths through gatherings, peer-led discussions, and community service days.Your Supported Path to Sustainable Employment
We recognize that life challenges like housing, health, and social stability are just as important as job skills. That's why GROW offers intensive, one-on-one coaching and comprehensive community supports in Red Deer to help you build a solid foundation for your long-term success.We Want to Hear from You
At Open Door Group, we are dedicated to providing every customer with a high standard of quality and care throughout their journey with us. Your experience matters, and we genuinely want to hear from you. We invite you to share your feedback, whether it's positive or negative. We appreciate your trust in our services and commit to utilizing your feedback to enhance the quality of our services!
Give us Your Feedback
Have Questions? We are Here to Help!
Please connect with us using the contact form below, or send us an email with your questions to Info@OpenDoorGroup.org.
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Territory Acknowledgement
We respectfully acknowledge that The GROW Program operates in Red Deer on the traditional territories governed by Treaty 6 and Treaty 7. This is the ancestral land of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), the Tsuut’ina, the Stoney Nakoda, the Cree, and the Saulteaux peoples, and is also recognized as a historic gathering site for the Métis Nation. We extend our gratitude and respect to these Nations for their ongoing stewardship of the land since time immemorial. Our Funders & Partners
The Province of Alberta is working in partnership with the Government of Canada to provide employment support programs and services.
