Dress For Success Of Oregon Inc

Programs: The professional clothing program is the best known program of dress for success oregon (dfso). Clients who are job ready are referred by one of 86 social service agencies. The women meet with a volunteer personal shopper who helps them select work appropriate clothing at no cost to them. Services are available to clients 5 days a week, 2 saturdays a month and 2 evenings a month. 1,438 new clients were served in 2016. Clients are also offered services from the dfso career center as well as hair and make-up services as part of their initial visit. If they do not get a job, they are invited back to the fast track program for more intensive work; if they do get a job, they are invited back for additional clothing to build their professional wardrobe and they are invited to join the hope program. Dfso has expanded the women we serve. The city of woodburn oregon has sent young women down by van twice for a day of service at dress. We also created an event to honor women veterans. Finally, in 2016 for the first time dress for success oregon received a contract from the state or oregon to help clients on snap (food assistance). The implementation of the snap 50/50 is slated for 2017-2018.

career center - career center program services include meeting with every client one-on-one, workshops and designated computers for client's job search activities. The career center provides interview practice and resume review for each woman who comes for a clothing appointment. Our goal is to help each woman feel prepared and self-confident. If she does not get her job, she is invited back to the career center for assistance with job searches, interviewing, and communication strategies and offered an opportunity to participate in our fast track job preparation program. In 2016, dress for success served 1395 clients in the career center.

hope (help one person excel)- hope is a 90 day job retention program designed to help women adjust successfully to the workplace. In a group setting the women learn the unwritten rules of the workplace, how to work successfully with a supervisor and colleagues; workplace etiquette; anger management; and other soft skills prized by employers. In 2016, hope served 120 clients and had 100% job retention. When the women graduate from hope they are invited to join the professional women's group. For our clients who join the professional women's group, we offer a mentorship program that arranges for one-on-one relationships with a professional woman to help a client who is employed succeed and advance in her career. Mentors are community volunteers who are successful in their own careers.