Serving unemployed and underemployed women and men
817-927-4050

The Women's Center believes passionately in the value of strong, long-term and short-term employment programs that help people get into the labor market, build skills, earn income, advance in the labor market and be financially self-sufficient. We work with both women and men in this program.

There are six main Employment programs:             

 Jobs Now!               Adult Literacy             Community Kitchen

Strengthening Families                Employment Advisement             Homeless Services

Jobs Now!

Are you having trouble finding employment?

Has someone you know been laid off from their job and they don't know how to look for another job? 

Is there a caregiver who stayed home with the children who wants to go back to work, but has no idea how to explain a gap on their resume?   

Whether a person is entry level or has a Ph.D., The Women’s Center can help. 

The Women’s Center offers a free program to teach women and men how to find  employment, and most important, how to have the confidence and skills to market themselves when looking for a job.  Called Jobs NOW!, this program is a multi-phased approach to employment with YOUR current and long-term job success in mind. Our skilled staff will guide you in career exploration, learning and applying competitive job searching skills to focus your personalized job search, securing employment, and gaining success and advancement after you are employed.

Self-Marketing Seminars are offered Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at no cost.
Information meetings held weekly.  Call 817-927-4050 to register.

Proven Job Search Techniques

• Job Leads
• Interview Preparation
  Irma's Story
• Interactive Self-Marketing Seminars
• Career Exploration
• Job Placement Assistance
• Resume Assistance
• Job Advancement Strategies and Assistance
• Computer Lab with Internet Access
• Follow-up with clients to support job search
  Billye's Story
• Job retention and advancement support after placement for up to one year
• Job Placement Rate in 2008 was 81%
• Job Retention Rate in 2008 was 88%

Some of our previous participants say it all:

—"I have been all over the metroplex from program to program, some very costly, but none as productive, professional and dynamic as this program"

—"This is quality, useful information, really related to a real life job search!"

Adult Literacy

Do you know about low literacy? Employers report difficulty finding the skilled
workers they need to stay competitive due to low literacy levels.

In Tarrant County 4 out of 10 adults read English at or below the 4th grade level
with very few services available to address these low level readers. 

These adults:

• Cannot read a prescription label or directions from pharmacy or doctors
• Cannot read a cake box to make their family a cake
• Cannot read the newspaper, bus schedules or maps
• Cannot read important information from their children’s school or teacher
  Sylvia's Story

Due to previous negative experiences in the school environment, unaddressed learning differences, and busy work
and family schedules to balance, many adults with low literacy are overwhelmed and do not seek help.

HERE’S HOW THE WOMEN’S CENTER IS ADDRESSING
THIS NEED FOR MEN AND WOMEN:

We offer FREE LITERACY CLASSES for adults who read at or below the 4th grade level!

• Provide small groups in a comfortable environment, with a 3:1 student/teacher ratio.
• Offer screening for learning differences and provide accommodations for those challenges.
  
• Take place Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. A light meal is served for students and their families before class begins.
• Provide homework help, tutoring and other activities for our students’ children up to age 12.

Do you know someone who could benefit from our literacy program?
Have them contact 817 927-4050 ext. 239 to schedule a free assessment.

Community Kitchen

Community Kitchen is a program of the Tarrant Area Food Bank designed to teach culinary skills to low-income women and men. The Women's Center provides job readiness, placement, and retention in a classroom setting. We also follow-up for one year to help with job retention and advancement after employment

The classes consist of 14-weeks training and job readiness plus two weeks unpaid internshp.

Call 817-332-9177, ext. 144 for information on how to register.

Homeless Services

An intensive case management service for chronic homeless individuals and families. Assistance is provided in securing permanent housing and becoming self-sufficient. Participants must pre-qualify through Directions Home.

Statistics

• Experts link chronic unemployment to hunger, homelessness, family violence, drug abuse and crime including drug sales and gang activity.
• Studies show that a parent's reading level is the best predictor of their children's success in school.
• There has been a 33% increase in homeless women from 2007 - 2008.
• 24.99% of homeless individuals are children
• 40% of all homeless (sheltered and unsheltered) are families
• Unemployment Insurance claimants in Tarrant County increased from 2,388 in July 2008 to 34,223 in April 2009.
• In 2009 there are 238,000 adults needing literacy services in Tarrant County. 12,000 are being served.
• 65% of the children of illiterate adults will become illiterate themselves.
• Health costs of illiterate adults are six times higher than the average citizen
• 7,000 people die each year because they cannot read or understand prescriptions labels.
• 85% of juvenile offenders have reading problems.
• 48% of Tarrant County adults have low literacy skills.
  

2009 Annual Report