Program Description

LifeSteps Training is a job-readiness and life skills program that brings hope, dignity, and a brighter future to women who might otherwise remain trapped in poverty and despair.  LST combines job training, mentoring, and networking to help women develop skills and self-confidence in a supportive environment.  Our desire is to not only develop economic self-sufficiency, but to introduce each woman to the love and power of Jesus Christ.  The program is designed to help women living in poverty-overcome barriers to employment.  The women serviced by the program lack many of these necessary components:

GED                                                                   Reliable transportation

Basic computer skills                                       Access to (phone and/or email)

Affordable childcare                                         Self-confidence

Financial resources for further training           Supportive social network

Past employment experience                          Poor intercommunication skills

The program also focuses on developing the life skills necessary to support the participants and their families as they pursue self-sufficiency.  Classes that support this purpose include:  Parenting, health and nutrition; personal development; money management; and developing healthy relationship and positive family boundaries. The job development component provides instruction that assists participants in career exploration, developing a resume, interview skills, work ethics, and developing a long-range career plan.  Students must also complete 40 hours of on-the-job training.  Participation in the program consists of two phases:

Phase I

            10 weeks of intense life skills and job skills training.  Phase I is designed to give students a basic overview of the necessary skills for gainable employment.  Classes are taught by an instructor or through partnership with a local social service provider.  Two sessions of classes are offered each year:  Fall and spring.  Classes are Mondays 6:00-9:00pm; Wednesdays 9:00am-12:00pm; Computers either Thursday PM or Friday from 9:00am-12:00pm.  Following completion of the 10 weeks of classroom instruction, participants must complete 40 hours of an internship in a field that interests them.  Financial stipends are provided for successful completion of this component.

Phase II

            Upon successful completion of Phase I graduates participant in the alumni program. Phase II provides between 6 months to 1 year of Case Management services.  The Alumni group meets monthly to monitor participant goals and provide continual support and follow-up services.  Continual computer training is also available. 

Mentoring

            One of the elements that make LifeSteps Training unique is mentoring.  Each woman in the program is assigned a mentor.  A mentor is another woman that agrees to walk along side a participant to provide additional support.  The purpose of the mentor is to serve not only as a role mode, but also as a friend.  Mentors go through training and are equipped to handle the individual needs of each participant.  The goal is for the mentor to make contact with her participant at least once weekly for a 4 month period.  During these meetings, mentors and mentees review material learned in the classroom and establish/review participant goals. 

We also offer evening job development classes on Mondays 6-9pm.