Monday, May 28, 2007
The Pre-LMDA Picture: Client Barriers and the Importance of Program Supports
Poverty, lack of child care, and lack of transportation are critical problems for women seeking employment, according to all agencies responding to our Pre-LMDA Survey. Specific groups, such as rural women and newcomers, have other needs as well.
Agencies help clients overcome these barriers by providing program supports. Eighty-nine percent of respondents offer transportation supports and 53% provide child care. These are pre-employment supports that help people with multiple barriers get in the door.
All agencies want more training dollars for short-term courses (e.g. fork lift, CPR/first aid, Smart Serve). Women-only agencies also want to offer much more in the way of employment-specific supports; presently this is a weak area of support for these agencies.
Current funding is not adequate for the program supports clients require and agencies patch together supports with volunteers and funding from a wide variety of sources. This is an even greater challenge for organizations that serve women predominantly, possibly because of the kinds of clients these agencies tend to serve: many more report higher numbers of multi-barriered clients. It is unclear whether women-only agencies are more aware of the barriers clients may face, or if these agencies are more likely to attract clients with many needs.
Read the full survey report.
Our next entry on the Pre-LMDA Picture: Government Eligibility Restricts Access
Agencies help clients overcome these barriers by providing program supports. Eighty-nine percent of respondents offer transportation supports and 53% provide child care. These are pre-employment supports that help people with multiple barriers get in the door.
All agencies want more training dollars for short-term courses (e.g. fork lift, CPR/first aid, Smart Serve). Women-only agencies also want to offer much more in the way of employment-specific supports; presently this is a weak area of support for these agencies.
Current funding is not adequate for the program supports clients require and agencies patch together supports with volunteers and funding from a wide variety of sources. This is an even greater challenge for organizations that serve women predominantly, possibly because of the kinds of clients these agencies tend to serve: many more report higher numbers of multi-barriered clients. It is unclear whether women-only agencies are more aware of the barriers clients may face, or if these agencies are more likely to attract clients with many needs.
Read the full survey report.
Our next entry on the Pre-LMDA Picture: Government Eligibility Restricts Access
Labels: Pre-LMDA
