Economic Sustainability Program

Financial control doesn't have to be a barrier to leaving; we can help.  There are many barriers to leaving an abusive situation and one barrier is financial control.  It is difficult to leave with no money or access to funds or allowed experience with management of funds.  We help victims become independent and self-sufficient by helping them obtain employment and learn how to manage funds earned for successful long-term economic sustainability.

Beacon of Hope has instituted an Economic Sustainability Program which focuses on Life Skills and Employment Assistance.  We offer instruction with computers, typing, resume writing, dressing for success, mock interviews, financial budgeting and assistance with job placement.  We assist survivors of domestic violence with moving from short-term safety to long-term security.  Providing them with the knowledge and skills to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

The overarching goal of Beacon of Hope’s Economic Sustainability Program is to help victims of domestic violence become self-sufficient in order to financially support themselves and their children.  Experience has proven that employment is first among three key factors (employment, housing, and transportation) in helping domestic violence victims achieve self-sufficiency to remain independent from their abusers.  Approximately 40% of the victims referred to Beacon of Hope are unemployed or under-employed, or they have recently become unemployed due to the upheaval caused by leaving their abusive environment.   Trained volunteers assist clients with the skills and resources necessary to prepare, search, and secure viable employment options.  Client meetings are flexible to accommodate the transportation and childcare barriers that domestic violence survivors may face.  Employment assistants provide follow up support on a weekly basis through phone, email, office, and home meetings.

The following is a detailed description of Beacon of Hope’s Economic Sustainability Program:

Employment assessment.  The employment assessment identifies job skills that clients already possess, employment obstacles they have faced in the past, what types of jobs they are interested in, what hours are best for them to work, and what geographic location is desired.  This information is critical to matching clients with appropriate job opportunities. 
Referrals to agencies for vocational/academic training.  Examples of these referrals include (but are not limited to) Goodwill Industries (for job training), Second Helpings (for culinary arts training), Excel Center (adult education to earn a GED/High School Diploma), Ivy Tech Community College, and Dress for Success (for basic computer training).
Resume preparation.  Employment assistants work individually with clients to prepare or update resumes and post resume profiles on applicable employment websites.
Interview preparation.  Employment assistants provide one-on-one job coaching with clients in preparation for interviews.  Beacon of Hope also collaborates with Dress for Success for interview clothing and Work One for group interview skill workshops.  In addition, Beacon of Hope provides informational handouts on interview techniques and job skills to each new client enrolled in the employment program. 
Job search assistance.  Employment assistants search for job openings on a weekly basis that are appropriate for clients, primarily through established relationships with employers, through ongoing monitoring of potential employers’ websites, and through online employment databases.  The Employment Coordinator maintains an employment referral log, tracking the referrals provided to clients and outcomes of those referrals.
Case management.  Clients in need of additional support services such as child care assistance, mental health counseling, and other basic needs are referred to agencies in the community with which Beacon of Hope has developed collaborative partnerships.  These agencies include (but are not limited to) Head Start, Child Care Answers, Domestic Violence Network, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Connect to Help, Families First and Legacy House.
Transportation.  In addition to child care and other support services, Beacon of Hope assists clients with transportation needs to attend interviews, job fairs, and the initial weeks at a new job through the provision of bus passes and gas cards.

Beacon of Hope’s Economic Sustainability Program offers a continuum of long-term care.  While some clients remain in this program for only a couple of months, the “hardest to serve” clients may stay for the maximum length of one year.  The average length of time a woman remains in this program is 3-6 months.

We recognize that to obtain employment and sustain it that often counseling must go hand in hand so that individuals in our program seeking employment obtain necessary self-confidence and recognize they are worthy.

The demand for employment services is growing as more clients are seeking assistance through our organization.   It is crucial to build capacity in our Economic Sustainability Program to accommodate the growing number of clients seeking these program services.  We always welcome meeting with new corporate partners willing to interview our clients for employment opportunities.

Assessment

  • Take job assessment to determine main interests for each person
  • Talking over with each candidate what they see themselves doing
  • Main goal is to set up these candidates with a CAREER path and not just a job

Resume Building

  • Taking their skills, experience and interest and putting it down on paper
  • If they do not have a resume, talking with them (in person or over the phone) to get as much information as possible in order to build a resume:      Example Questions- Where was your last position? What were your duties at that position? What types of computer programs did you work with? How long were you at that particular position?
  • Putting together a clean cut, easy to read resume to attract future employers

Looking for the right opportunity

  • CareerBuilder, Monster, Newspaper, etc. It can be overwhelming to start looking for a job. After an assessment to narrow down a candidates interest then we will be able to look for opportunities based on their interests.
  • Using the internet, I can sit with candidates and first teach them how to apply online for positions. Also, letting them search for themselves will teach them how to navigate the web and be able to identify positions that they are interested in.
  • Checking to see if any of our corporate partner job placement companies have an opening that fits with the clients skills and interests for which they could apply

Preparation for phone/onsite interview

Phone Interview:
  • How to answer the phone professionally
  • Be in a quiet room
  • No distractions around
  • NOT driving or with a group of people
  • No Ring back tones and professional voicemail
Onsite interviews
  • Mock Interview Session
  • Before going to an onsite interview, do your homework.
  • Know a little about the company, have questions prepared, print out directions to the facility and prepare to be early- Not on time.
  • Dress appropriately- Wear something business casual and look put together (Tucked in, not wrinkled, etc)
  • Make sure to have hair, makeup and jewelry all appropriate
  • Do not spray too much perfume or lotion.
  • When shaking hands with someone, make sure to greet them with a smile and stand up when they come over to you
  • Keep eye contact at all times
  • Sit up straight in your chair and remain engaged at all times
  • Bring a notebook and pen to take notes or have questions prepared ahead of time
  • Answer questions with precise and detailed answers
  • At the end of the interview have a few questions prepared to ask the interviewer