Building Capacity: Economic and Employment Advocacy E-Course

Building Capacity: Economic and Employment Advocacy E-Course October 20, 2014 Economic Security for Survivors Project

Wider Opportunities for Women Founded in 1964, Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) works nationally and in its home community of Washington, DC to build pathways to economic independence and equality of opportunity for America's families, women, and girls. www.wowonline.org

Economic Security for Survivors Project Funded by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), the ESS project seeks to enhance survivor economic security and safety by providing strategies, tools and knowledge that can be integrated into the programs and policies that support survivors. http://www.wowonline.org/economic-security-for-survivors/

Panelist Solace Duncan Economic Empowerment Advocate Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski Director, Economic Security for Survivors Project

Economic and Employment Advocacy E-Course Provides advocates and case managers with a blue print to respond to survivor’s economic and employment needs Content: • Unit 1: Pathways to Economic Security • Assessing skills, identifying career options, developing career plans, writing resume/cover letter and interviewing • Unit 2: Financial Recovery and Growth • Recovering the economic cost of abuse and (re)building assets • Unit 3: Addressing Barriers to Work • Criminal records, employment rights and overcoming childcare and transportation challenges

Responsive Content Can be used with individuals who are: • Unemployed but have work experience • Employed but don’t earn economically secure wages • Have limited or no work experience or significant barriers to work

Flexible Format • Individual counseling • Group workshops • Can be used as a whole or separately

Module 1: Envisioning Economic Security Learning Objectives • Calculate an individual’s basic income needs • Identify an individual’s/family’s basic economic security wage

Module 1 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop Reverse budgeting to determine wage needed Basic Economic Security Tables Good jobs discussion • Reverse budgeting to determine wage needed • Benchmarking progress towards economic security/self-sufficiency • Determining rent contribution

Reverse Budget • Used to assess income needs • Can be used by an individual or in a group to demonstrate local costs • Use WOW’s Basic Economic Security Tables as a guide

Basic Economic Security Tables Economic Security Database: www.basiceconomicsecurity.org

Module 2: Careers Matter Learning Objectives • Assess survivors’ work readiness • Evaluate careers that best match aptitudes and interests • Assess how well various career match income needs

Module 2 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop Personality profiles and career matches • Job readiness assessment • Career interest assessment and profile

Tools Job Readiness Checklist • Asks questions to determine basic employability • Offers resources to help clients address potential barriers to employment

Module 3: Preparing for Your Career Learning Objectives • Lead survivors in developing a S.M.A.R.T goal strategy • Help survivors identify the necessary steps to reach career goals

Module 3 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop Visioning exercises/Career goal strategies Addressing road blocks • Develop a career plan • Troubleshoot potential barriers and challenges • Connecting to appropriate resources and supports

Module 4: Effective Job Search Strategies Learning Objectives • Help survivors develop a broad job search strategy • Educate survivors about job search tools and resources

Module 4 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop Networking 101 Where to find jobs – tools and strategies • Develop a job search plan with weekly targets • Assist with job applications

Module 5: Applying for Jobs: Written Correspondence Learning Objectives • Assist survivors in the development of their resume • Help survivors create competitive cover letters

Module 5 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop Resume and cover letter elements Hiring committee • Resume and cover letter writing • Understanding industry language

Module 6: Applying for Jobs: Interviewing Learning Objectives • Help survivors prepare for an interview • Educate survivors about how to negotiate salary

Module 6 Activities Individual Case Management Group Workshop “Tell me about yourself?” Mock interviews • Translating past experience into the new job responsibilities • Preparing for common questions • Addressing concerns and fears • Referral to resources for work clothes

Units 2 & 3 • Helping survivors know their options to recover from financial loss • Connecting survivors to opportunities to rebuild economic security • Educating survivors about employment rights • Addressing barriers to success

Questions?

Thank you for tuning in! Sarah Gonzalez Bocinski Director, Economic Security for Survivors Project sbocinski@wowonline.org (202) 464-1596 For additional information, please contact: Visit Wider Opportunities for Women – www.wowonline.org This project was supported by Grant No. 2012-TA-AX-K031awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women

Building Capacity: Economic and Employment Advocacy E-Course