Posner Career Center Helps Women Re-enter Workforce Many women who have been treated for addiction have a difficult time entering or re-entering the job market. This often interferes with long-term recovery, since they may feel discouraged and hopeless. Thanks to a $500,000, five-year grant from the Gail S. Posner Foundation, women who have been in recovery programs at Delray Beach’s Wayside House are receiving help in preparing for interviews, and finding and retaining jobs. The Tina Posner Center for Career Excellence opened in 2015 at Wayside House. Since opening in 2015, the Center has, as of May 2017, has 177 clients, 111 of them found employment and nine local businesses have joined efforts, becoming recovery friendly and agreeing to hire Posner Center clients and former clients. Many Wayside House women find employment while still in residential treatment. The career center features new and updated computers so women can perform job searches. Workshop topics include resume writing, networking through social media and in person, assistance with and learning how to fill out online applications, interviewing techniques, finding continuing education resources, and financial responsibility – teaching the clients how to make the most of their paychecks. Women seeking assistance through the center are also given aptitude and skill tests to determine what jobs will be the best fit for their skills. Additionally, Wayside House has forged a partnership with Dress for Success which is a non-profit organization that promotes the independence of disadvantaged women and assists job-seekers in selecting work-appropriate attire. Center Director Marlies Jones is also meeting with members of the business community that may be interested in hiring job candidates coming through the center. Several businesses have already done so and have hired Wayside House women. “This is a dream come true for me to be able to help women in recovery to not only secure employment, but to assist them in continuing their career path,” said Ms. Jones about the new center. Wayside House was founded in 1974 as a women’s addiction treatment program located in Delray Beach. It provides both residential and outpatient treatment for women with drug or alcohol addictions and related disorders. Lisa McWhorter, Wayside House’s CEO, said Wayside House is thrilled with the addition of the career center. “It is critically important for women going through treatment to have a way to support themselves when they graduate. We want to empower our clients to be self-sufficient and have confidence in themselves to reach their potential and stay sober. A woman’s ongoing sobriety increases greatly when she feels successful. Having a job helps with this.” For more information about the Tina Posner Center for Career Excellence, contact Marlies Jones at [email protected] or call her at 561-666-9153. Donate to the Posner Career Center and help us help women get back on their feet once they leave Wayside House. Donate