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CareOregon works with multiple community partners to help people get health care, housing, employment, education, healthy food and more. Helping just one person or family can make an entire community stronger. It’s something we call the CareOregon Effect.

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media@careoregon.org

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March 02, 2016

PORTLAND, Ore. — CareOregon has given $94,000 from its community benefit grants program to support the Clackamas Workforce Partnership, in Clackamas County. The funds will go to a pilot project designed to move working poor families out of poverty by giving them the skills and education they need to get stable employment.

“Partner organizations around Clackamas County met two years ago to discuss strategies to move working poor families out of poverty,” said Bridget Dazey, executive director. That resulted in the launch of the Gladstone/McLoughlin Job Smart Program in Oct. 2014. The project was designed to break the cycle of poverty for low-income working parents of Clackamas County Children’s Commission’s Head Start and Early Head Start children. The project provides parents with training and employment services that would move them into stable employment with benefits, resulting in individual well-being, family stability, healthy children who are kindergarten-ready and strong communities.

“Low-income parents working in minimum-wage jobs, frequently in retail or service industries, often lack the opportunity and education needed for advancement,” said Jan Filgas, program manager. “Many have to work multiple part-time jobs to try to make ends meet.” To qualify for Head Start, families need to have income below the federal level which, for a family of two, is below $16,000. In contrast, according to the 2014 Self-Sufficiency Standard for Oregon publication, the living wage for a family of one adult and one preschooler in Clackamas County is $47,000 per year.

The pilot project goal is to determine which interventions are most effective in moving working parents, an underserved population, into stable jobs with futures. A bilingual workforce advisor employed by Clackamas Community College’s (CCC) Workforce Development Department helps enrolled parents assess their internal supports, strengths and skills. The workforce advisor then develops realistic employment plans with the parents, tailored to include the needed supports. Plans may include education, training or college courses in high-demand occupations, or direct placement into an On the Job Training position with an employer in a “hire first, train later” model. Job placement services also are provided.

Enrolled families also meet monthly as a group to network, share resources, receive personal support and to hear employment-related presentations from the CCC staff.

Current participants are working toward career-related certificates in a variety of areas, including computer networking, health care, accounting and early childhood education -- all while continuing to work.

“This grant will fund childcare costs for parents enrolled in the program,” Filgas said. “This is a big challenge in trying to improve the socioeconomic circumstances that affect the well-being of families.”

For more information about this CareOregon community benefit grant, contact Jeanie Lunsford, 503-416-3626, lunsfordj@careoregon.org.