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Strengthening the Family in the 21st Century Initiatives
Better Jobs! Better Earnings! Better Living!
Today's Department of Labor (DOL) represents the workforce of the 21st Century. The Women's Bureau (WB), through its Strengthening the Family Initiatives – Better Jobs, Better Earnings, Better Living and Value-Added Partners – will continue to prepare women for tomorrow’s jobs. The Bureau will promote an environment that is responsive to the demands and challenges of the 21st Century workforce. More than ever, it is vital to ensure opportunities for American women to achieve their potential in the workplace.
Better Jobs
Current Projects
Working Women in Transition
The Women’s Bureau is piloting a new multi-regional (regions III, IV, V, VI) demonstration project serving women who are making a transition in their work lives. Building on the best practices of Better Jobs! projects, WWIT will use the Bureau’s unique high-touch and high-tech strategy that combines online and face-to-face resources. Participants will have access to online mentors (e-mentoring), online employment tools, and distance learning opportunities while working with local service providers. Each region is focusing on a different target population representing a spectrum of issues and concerns: spouses of military reservists (West Virginia), women recovering from substance abuse (Kentucky), baby boomers changing careers (Ohio), and TANF recipients (Arkansas). The Bureau is undertaking this ambitious project with the support of the national contractor, the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
Contact: Beverly Lyle, Region VI (Dallas, TX), 214-767-6985 and/or Suzanne Burnette, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6750.
GEM-Nursing
The Group E-Mentoring in Nursing (GEM-Nursing) is a multi-regional (regions I, II, III, V, VII, VIII, X) demonstration project of the Women's Bureau in partnership with the University Of Michigan School Of Nursing. This initiative is designed to increase awareness of the benefits of a career in nursing. It consists of a dynamic web site, featuring valuable information on the nursing profession, educational programs, and links to financial aid resources. The project also includes an online mentoring component for young men and women ages 15 to 21 who are interested in considering nursing as a career. Volunteer nurse mentors from a variety of nursing fields provide guidance and support to young people by answering questions and sharing career experiences. Please visit GEM-Nursing website at: www.gem-nursing.org.
Contact: Jacqueline Cooke, Region I (Boston, MA), 617-565-1988.
Women with Disabilities Entrepreneurship Project
This two phase, multi-regional project (regions IV, VII, VIII, IX) is designed to train women with disabilities to become entrepreneurs. The project helps women with disabilities explore their options, develop a viable business plan, and provides technical assistance on how to receive loans and grants for start-up and/or business expansion. In phase I, August 2002 to September 2004, selected clients received 6-12 week entrepreneurial training, industry specific mentoring, and web-based training. Phase II started in May 2004 and will run through December 2005. In this phase, the Women’s Bureau, in collaboration with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), helps women with “severe” disabilities to develop their own businesses. In addition, the project seeks to encourage social support for these women through mentoring.
Contact: Delores Crockett, Region IV (Atlanta, GA), 404-562-2336.
Military Spouse Resource Center
A joint project between the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau, Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy in cooperation with the Department of Defense (DOD), this online learning tool and resource guide helps military spouses access training and placement opportunities, community resources, and their local workforce development system. Please visit the Resource Center website at: www.milspouse.org. ETA and DOD are managing the site.
Contact: Sarah Miller, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6710.
Previous Projects
Girls E-Mentoring In Science, Engineering & Technology (GEM-SET)
In fiscal year 2002, the Women's Bureau created Girls E-Mentoring in Science, Engineering & Technology (GEM-SET), a multi-regional demonstration project that linked girls, ages 13-18, with volunteer women mentors in the fields of science, engineering and technology via e-mail and a website to help increase the awareness of the economic benefits and the career options available in these fields. Five regions (region II, IV, V, VI, IX) participated in GEM-SET I. GEM-SET II expanded to cover all 10 regions in FY 2003 serving girls in 35 states. In FY 2004, the Women's Bureau focused GEM-SET III to serve girls of immigrant backgrounds who often have unique cultural and language needs and concerns that are markedly different from the general student population. The program served primarily Hispanic and Asian immigrant girls in Chicago, New York City, Houston, Miami, and Los Angeles. The 3-year-old project promoted mentorship, family and community involvement to prepare and encourage girls to study and enter the fields of science, engineering and technology. The Women’s Bureau is currently encouraging and working with interested parties who plan to replicate or adapt GEM-SET to serve the educational needs of their communities. The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the co-sponsor and contractor of GEM-SET, is continuing this project with funding from private sectors. Women Venture of St. Paul, MN, is partnering with Guidant Corporation and the St. Paul Public Schools to create a similar program called GEM-Guidant. For more information about GEM-SET and its replication Please visit the GEM-SET website at: www.uic.edu/orgs/gem-set.
Contact: Nancy Chen, Region V (Chicago, IL), 312-353-6985.
On-Line Learning Demonstration
The On-Line Learning Demonstration project was a collaborative effort between the Women's Bureau, DOL's Employment and Training Administration, and the New Jersey Department of Labor. The program provided on-line learning for single mothers with school-aged children in five New Jersey counties. Through this demonstration project, the Women's Bureau examined the feasibility of participants earning computer certification or an Associates degree through online courses compared with traditional educational settings and methods. The offered courses were designed to prepare the participants for high skilled jobs in their local communities.
Contact: Cornelia Moore, Region II (New York, NY), 212-337-2389.
Employer-Driven Older Women Workers
The Women’s Bureau, through Regions V and VI, partnered with CVS Pharmacies to reach out to older Hispanic and Asian American women through basic computer and life skills training. Upon graduation, these women were qualified to apply for entry-level career ladder positions with CVS and other retail businesses.
Contact: Beverly Lyle, Region VI (Dallas, TX), 214-767-6985 and/or Nancy Chen, Region V (Chicago, IL), 312-353-6985.
The Ground Zero Initiative: Building a Pipeline of Women for the Skilled Trades in Metropolitan New York (Construction Trades Prep)
This program directly addressed the needs of the building trades by increasing both the number of female workers in the industry and the level of technical assistance Non-traditional Employment for Women (NEW) provided to unions and potential employers. The program was designed to accommodate working women who seek to increase their earnings through participation in skilled apprenticeship programs by providing classes at night. This was an accelerated six-week program, which met three nights a week and Saturday. It provided extensive job readiness training, an introduction to the trades, a review of trades' math, and a hands-on shop component.
Contact: Cornelia Moore, Region II (New York, NY), 212-337-2389.
Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations (WANTO)
The WANTO program increased the participation of women in apprenticeships and nontraditional occupations (NTOs) by providing grants to community-based organizations (CBOs) for the delivery of technical assistance to employers and labor unions, which in turn, help them recruit, select, train, and retain women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations. Under a Department of Labor Inter-agency Agreement, WANTO was jointly administered by the Women's Bureau and the Employment and Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services (OATELS). Funds for the technical assistance grants, which began in 1994, were authorized under P.L. 102-530. Please visit the WANTO website at: www.dol.gov/wb/nontra.htm.
Contact: Diane Faulkner, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6752.
Better Earnings
Current Projects
Wi$e Up
Wi$e Up is a financial education demonstration project targeted to Generation X women ages 22 to 35. The centerpiece of the program is an eight-module curriculum offered online, as well as in a classroom setting in educational institutions and other organizations in seven Women’s Bureau regions (regions I, II, IV, VI, VII, VIII, X). In the online program, the curriculum is complemented by an “Ask the Experts” feature, which permits participants to send questions by e-mail to volunteers with financial expertise. Another feature available to participants in both the online and classroom-based versions is a series of monthly one-hour teleconference calls with featured speakers and a question and answer session. Participants and experts (mentors) are recruited by local organizations who partner with the Women’s Bureau. Please visit the Wi$e Up website at: www.wiseupwomen.org.
Contact: Beverly Lyle, Region VI (Dallas, TX), 214-767-6985 and/or Jane Walstedt, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6781.
Women Managing Those Dollar$
The primary objective of this initiative is to assist attendees in overcoming financial management challenges and to help them complete plans of action that will address their specific needs. Five regions (regions I, III, VIII, IX, X) will each hold a one-day conference or three mini-conferences targeting approximately 150 women in a hands-on, solution-driven environment. Each conference will address a minimum of four specific topics related to the WI$E-Up curriculum (see above) and will employ strategies and processes to address unique issues. Learn more about how you can take an action step towards your financial future. Begin today, go to http://www.dol.gov/wb/media/reports/money-main.htm.
Contact: Frances Jefferson, Region VIII (Denver, CO), 303-844-1286 and/or Cynthia Dawkins, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6734.
Additional Financial Security Resources
Previous Projects
Las Mujeres y el Dinero (Women and Money)
This program consisted of a series of financial education conferences held across the country for Hispanic women who faced unique challenges regarding financial security. “Las Mujeres Y el Dinero, Women and Money” programs empowered Latinas to learn more about financial security and their role in planning for a strong financial future. Eleven separate and distinct financial literacy programs were held in 10 states across the nation. The kickoff event was held in Phoenix, Arizona on October 23, 2003. Please visit the Las Mujeres Y el Dinero website at: http://www.dol.gov/wb/hisp.htm.
Contact: Jenny Erwin, Region IX (San Francisco, CA), 415-975-4750 and/or Suzanne Burnette, National Office (Washington, DC), 202- 693-6750.
Better Living
Current Projects
Flex-Options For Women
The specific goal of the "Flex-Options for Women" project is to help businesses create or enhance workplace flexibility policies and programs for their workforces. The program brings together corporate executives and entrepreneurs who volunteer to mentor business owners interested in developing flexible workplace policies and programs. By encouraging entrepreneurs to focus on work redesign and implementing flexible work options, employees will improve their ability to manage work and life responsibilities. Business owners will realize positive bottom line impacts as well. Six Women's Bureau regions (regions II, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X) are participating in the Flex-Options for Women project. With coverage in 31 states, business owners will learn about the successes and challenges of implementing flexible work policies and programs through group and individual mentoring. The Women's Bureau has held six teleconferences focusing on important flexible work arrangement issues such as trends in workplace flexibility, challenges to flexible work arrangements, job sharing, legal issues, and best practices. In addition, the seven Women's Bureau regional offices participating in the Flex-Options for Women project have held 30 roundtable discussions and other regional events which have been used to recruit mentors and prospective businesses seeking guidance in implementing workplace flexibility programs. Please visit the Flex-Options for Women website at: www.we-inc.org/flex.html.
Contact: Frances E. Jefferson, Region VIII (Denver,CO), 303-844-1286 and/or Michael Williams, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6769.
Value-Added Partnerships
Current Projects
e-News
In response to the President's Management Agenda to bring people closer to government, the Women's Bureau launched e-News, an electronic newsletter, in April 2002, to inform women workers about the Bureau's programs and activities. Previous editions of e-News have focused on Women's History Month, Women and Technology, Women Entrepreneurs, Economic Security, Strengthening the Family, and Jobs, Economic Growth, Tax Relief and Financial Security, Women’s Bureau Projects, Women Business Owners, Women’s Bureau Success Stories and Creating Opportunities. Please view the current edition of e-News at http://www-test.dol.gov/wb/media/newsletter/enews.htm.
Contact: Beth Gable, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6719.
Leadership Forums
In fiscal year 2004, the Bureau held information sessions in 27 locations representing 23 states and the District of Columbia. The sessions brought over 600 women leaders together to discuss Women’s Bureau projects and the possibility of attendees becoming partners who might replicate the Bureau’s demonstration projects. Women leaders represented faith-based organizations, chambers of commerce, employers, local industry and state and local governments. The fiscal year 2004 forums culminated with a National Summit held in Washington, DC, attended by over 300 women leaders from around the country. In fiscal year 2005, the Bureau will continue these forums in the remaining 27 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Please visit the Leadership Forums website at: www.dol.gov/wb/media/reportmap.htm.
Contact: Jenny Erwin, Region IX (San Francisco, CA), 415-975-4750 and/or Suzanne Burnette, National Office (Washington, DC), 202-693-6750.
Other Articles in Women in Business
 Women in the Labor Force in 2005
Older Women Workers, ages 55 and over
Quick Fact on Saving for Retirement and Security
Strengthening the Family in the 21st Century Initiatives
Be a WAHM! Aka Work At Home Mom
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