New Choices Career Development

The mission of New Choices Career Development is to assist single mothers, displaced homemakers, single pregnant women, and individuals in transition in achieving economic self-sufficiency. Our vision: To empower individuals in transition to participate fully in planning and achieving their career, educational, and personal goals. This program provides an environment that preserves dignity, respects diversity, and supports personal choice.

Description:
There are 23 New Choices projects in Pennsylvania, which are funded through state funds administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. All projects offer career counseling and supportive services to help participants prepare for training and the job market. Services are available free of charge. Career counseling is offered through a 60-hour group career guidance workshop given over 10 days and offered 5 times each year. During the ten day, 60-hour group classes students participate in workshops on self-esteem building, communication skills, stress management, decision-making and problem solving, vocational skills and interest assessments, exploration of careers and training opportunities, identification of barriers, resume writing, and job seeking skills. Through this process the students receive assistance in overcoming external barriers, such as lack of transportation or childcare, and internal barriers, such as the lack of self-confidence. They are introduced to resources within the community, which offer assistance with housing, job placement, credit counseling, legal problems, and personal counseling. By the end of the ten day class, each student formulates a personal career plan and then works towards pursing their goals with the on-going guidance of the New Choices Career Development staff. Students are encouraged to further their education through various training programs, as a higher level of education often reflects higher earnings. Graduates receive individual continued support and career counseling and are eligible for a scholarship to pursue training.

History:
New Choices started in Lancaster County in 1985 as a result of a community study by the Junior League, the YWCA, and the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center to meet the needs of displaced homemakers and single mothers. Until recently, New Choices Career Development was known as New Choices/New Options. Previously a program under the PA Department of Education, New Choices is now administered under the PA Department of Labor and Industry (effective July 1, 2009). The New Choices program is currently located in the YWCA of Lancaster building.

Contact people:

Trudy Brandt, Director, (phone), (email) Lauren Heroux, Counselor, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (717) 396-0513

Address:

YWCA Building 110 North Lime Street Lancaster, PA 17602 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.LCCTC.org

Directions:

Located in downtown Lancaster on the corner of East Orange and North Lime streets

Last updated on July 30, 2009