Resource Inc.: Women Achieving New Directions (WAND) Program

Purpose: To help low-income, working single mothers obtain better wages and benefits through job coaching, workshops, empowerment, and mentoring

The Step Up program is an expansion of the program “Women Achieving New Directions” (WAND) operated by the Employment Action Center, a division of Resource, Inc. It is designed to prepare low-income, employed single mothers for career advancement through help with career exploration and job search, empowerment (including coaching in salary negotiation), and parenting effectiveness. This training is provided through group workshops, offered evenings and weekends. The program also connects participants with mentors, as similar as possible to their own cultural background. Additional support needs are identified by program counselors and are handled through referrals to other community programs. Counselors also help with job placement, facilitated by access to the Employment Action Center’s job vacancy listing, which includes listings from several hundred employers.

	Partners: (As of April 2003)
		Educational: None
		Employers and business organization:
		Non-Profit Organizations: Besides WAND (Women Achieving New Directions), its parent unit, the Employment Action Center, and the overall parent organization for both, Resource Inc
		Public philanthropic, and other organizations: None
	Participants: Low-income, single working mothers. Many are recently off welfare; most have two to five years’ work history and basic customer service and communication skills. Some also have at least minimal computer skills. Sixty percent have a high school diploma, and nearly all the rest have some post-secondary education. Two-thirds have worked all of the last six months. About 60 percent are African American, and 30 percent are White
	Recruitment: Mainly through word of mouth and referrals from other community organizations
	Training: Individualized training helps participants set goals and prepare to “ladder up;” look for affordable training opportunities; build professional networks; work with mentors; and learn soft skills and job search skills. Workshops and collaborative training opportunities in five targeted industries (financial/banking/insurance; health care; management; office; computer and technical support)
	Support Services: Job support/topic groups; individual and group mentoring opportunities. Child care and other basic and family needs provided through other community agencies (public and private)
	Job placement, retention and advancement: Provides confidence, problem-solving, and soft skills to help participants better advocate for themselves in job placement, retention, and advancement