Building Capacity: Economic and Employment Advocacy E-Course 

October 20, 2014Economic Security for Survivors Project

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

Wider Opportunities for Women

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/

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Panelist

Solace DuncanEconomic Empowerment Advocate

Sarah Gonzalez BocinskiDirector, EconomicSecurity 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

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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

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Flexible Format

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

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Module 1: Envisioning Economic Security

Learning Objectives– Calculate an individual’s basic income needs – Identify an individual’s/family’s basic economic

security wage

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Module 1 Activities

Individual Case Management Reverse budgeting to

determine wage needed Benchmarking progress

towards economic security/self-sufficiency

Determining rent contribution

Group Workshop Reverse budgeting to

determine wage needed Basic Economic Security

Tables Good jobs discussion

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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

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Basic Economic Security Tables

Monthly Expenses 1 Worker 1 Worker,

1 Infant

1 Worker, 1 Preschooler, 1 Schoolchild 2 Workers

2 Workers, 1 Preschooler, 1 Schoolchild

Housing $642 $803 $803 $642 $803 Utilities $115 $144 $144 $115 $144 Food $264 $379 $572 $484 $765 Transportation $516 $566 $566 $1,017 $1,068 Child Care $0 $621 $1,112 $0 $1,112 Personal & Household $259 $337 $386 $315 $435 Health Care $161 $329 $480 $374 $540 Emergency Savings $76 $122 $154 $112 $183 Retirement Savings $87 $87 $87 $102 $102 Taxes $374 $714 $953 $501 $1,087 Tax Credits $0 -$139 -$267 $0 -$267Monthly Total (per Worker) $2,494 $3,963 $4,990 $1,831 $2,986 Annual Total $29,928 $47,556 $59,880 $43,944 $71,664 Hourly Wage (per Worker) $14.17 $22.52 $28.35 $10.40 $16.97

Basic Economic Security Tables, 2013(Workers with Employment-based Benefits)

US, Selected Family Types

Economic Security Database: www.basiceconomicsecurity.org

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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

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Module 2 Activities

Individual Case Management Job readiness assessment Career interest assessment

and profile

Group Workshop Personality profiles and

career matches

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Tools

Job Readiness Checklist Asks questions to

determine basic employability

Offers resources to help clients address potential barriers to employment

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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

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Module 3 Activities

Individual Case Management Develop a career plan Troubleshoot potential

barriers and challenges Connecting to appropriate

resources and supports

Group Workshop Visioning exercises/Career

goal strategies Addressing road blocks

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Module 4: Effective Job Search Strategies

Learning Objectives– Help survivors develop a broad job search strategy – Educate survivors about job search tools and

resources

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Module 4 Activities

Individual Case Management Develop a job search plan

with weekly targets Assist with job applications

Group Workshop Networking 101 Where to find jobs – tools

and strategies

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Module 5: Applying for Jobs: Written Correspondence

Learning Objectives– Assist survivors in the development of their

resume – Help survivors create competitive cover letters

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Module 5 Activities

Individual Case Management Resume and cover letter

writing Understanding industry

language

Group Workshop Resume and cover letter

elements Hiring committee

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Module 6: Applying for Jobs: Interviewing

Learning Objectives– Help survivors prepare for an interview– Educate survivors about how to negotiate salary

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Module 6 Activities

Individual Case Management Translating past experience

into the new job responsibilities

Preparing for common questions

Addressing concerns and fears

Referral to resources for work clothes

Group Workshop “Tell me about yourself?” Mock interviews

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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 BocinskiDirector, Economic Security for Survivors Project sbocinski@wowonline.org (202) 464-1596

This project was supported by Grant No. 2012-TA-AX-K031 awarded 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

For additional information, please contact:

Visit Wider Opportunities for Women – www.wowonline.org