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26 Friday, March 4, 1983

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

JVS Displaced Homemaker Program Seeks More Jewish Clients

By HEIDI PRESS

Although it exists as an
arm of the Jewish Voca-
tional Service and Commu-
nity Workshop, the dis-
placed homemaker program
(DHP) of that agency is get-
ting few Jewish clients.
According to the pro-
gram's directors, Rita
Morse, job developer/
placement specialist, and
Sherri Lumberg,
coordinator/vocational
counselor, only 15-20 per-

cent of its clients are Jewish
women.
Asked if they knew the
reason for such little Jewish
response, especially when
they said the program was
marking a current success
rate of about 60 percent, the
two said it was not for lack
of trying.
The women said they
sent notices to the
synagogues and temples,
Jewish Community Cen-
ter bulletin and to

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SPACE. Because the
program receives money
from the state and the
Equal Employment Op-
portunities Commission,
it cannot be limited only
to Jews.
They added, however,
that when their press re-
lease appears in The Jewish
News, they gain a few
Jewish clients.
Begun in 1981, the pro-
gram is aimed at widowed,
divorced or separated
women and women whose
spouses are completely dis-
abled. Women are eligible
for the job training and
placement program if they
have been primarily a
homemaker for 10 years or
more, lack adequate skills
to find full-time employ-
ment and are no longer re-
sponsible for dependent
children.
According to Mrs. Lum-
berg, most of the women
who come into the program
have low self-esteem. "They

are very frightened. They
feel overwhelmed and con-
fused."
That's where the
"dynamic duo," as Morse
and Lumberg call them-
selves, jump in and begin
the process whereby
nearly 30-40 women a
month are transformed
from homemakers to
members of the work
force.
Not everyone is accepted
in the program. Morse said
that some women, particu-
larly widows, suffer from
depression or other emo-
tional problems. Even
though they are not ac-
cepted by the program, "we
follow through and make
sure they're receiving help
they need," she said.
Other women who are not
acceptable according to the
DHP guidelines, will still
get a referral.
Since its founding, the
program has helped about
175 women get into the job

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market. For January, support group. "Women
"we're exceeding our goals applaud and get excited"
in employment placements when a member gets a job,
for the month," Lumberg Morse said. "The new group
added.
gets energy from the old
Women who have been group." An ongoing support
helped by the DHP have group meets one evening a
been as young as 30 or as month.
old as 71, Fees are based
Morse said about 50 per-
on ability to pay,, but no cent of the women are
one is denied service if placed through job orders
unable to pay. Clients are that come through the
not directed toward any agency. The other half find
specific field of work, jobs on their own.
rather to their interests.
Morse said she and
For example, Morse re- Lumberg often take the
calls that one woman be- place of a husband in
came a private investigator. their DHP roles. "We're
Another wanted to drive a the persons who give
truck and found such a job, them the push . . . they
while another, who likes to call us when something
cook, became the cook at the
good happens at work
Jewish Welfare Federation.
and when something bad
Clients also have been happens."
placed in phone sales, book-
Morse and Lumberg said
keeping, accounting, com- they felt proud of the women
puter programming, and as who gained jobs as a result
WATS operators and recep- of going through their pro-
tionists. "We encourage gram. "When we refer (a
them to become self- woman for a job), we really
directed," Lumberg said.
believe people can do it (the
The processibegins with a job). It means a lot to em-
telephone interview, in ployers that this (woman) is
which the DHP gathers in- one of ours," Morse added.
formation on a woman's
Asked if they could detect
background, including any problems in the pro-
work experience and educa- gram, the women found a
tion. She is put on a waiting minor one.
"We need more em-
list for a vocational counsel-
ing group. The groups, ployers to know we have
which begin every three- women who want to
four weeks, are kept small, work," Lumberg said.
usually limited to eight or She said that when an
10 women.
item about the DHP ap-
There is intake and peared in another news-
assessment, a process in paper, five employers
which the members of the called looking for em-
group meet each other ployees.
Women who would like
and share their back-
grounds. An interest in- more information or em-
ventory is taken, aptitude ployers who have positions
battery (test) given and available, can reach Morse
an individual social his- and Lumberg at the JVS,
967-0500.
tory drawn up.
The next step is an em-
ployability skills workshop,
If you faint in the day of
which includes a self- adversity, your strength is
awareness exercise, values small indeed.
clarification, personal
—Proverbs, 24:10
strengths and skills and
analysis of one's roles.
FRUIT BASKETS
Career exploration is
FOR ALL
next. Information gained
from the aptitude tests and
OCCASIONS
other assessment tools is
WORLD-WIDE DELIVERY
used to help direct the client
to a particular career. One
day in the JVS-CW library
is required prior to continu-
ing the program.
Job seeking skills are
2666 COOLIDGE • Berkley
taught as part of the proc-
ess. Clients learn how to
complete job application
forms, how to network, how r„.. ow es No I. am
1
to go to an interview and
'NARROWED:
how to write a resume.
Lapels
$39
Pa nt Legs ....12
After having spent a
Skirt Collars . . .12 1
minimum of 50 hours in
Ties
5,
the preliminary aspects
BRAND NAME
of the program, women
1
SUITS
become involved in the
job club. The final step in
the training process, job
WITH THIS AD I
I
We re mastered the art
club provides women 1
of intrictate fitting & tailoring
with the opportunity to I
make calls about jobs in 1
MONOGRAMMING •
which they are in-
4. value
I
WITH PURCHASE OF SHIRTS
terested.
I
"The women talk about
USE OUR
what they have to offer. It 1 MONOGRAMMING SERVIC1
opens up a lot of doors for 1
them," Morse said. She said
SevarBeiteeid
they make sure the women
R CLONES & CUSTOM TAILORS I
follow through after mak- 1 AWES' 1, MEWS ALTERATIONS SPECIALIST'
ing a job contact, by having I
TUXEDO RENTALS I
the women write thank-you
Lowest Prices
1
1
NTe. I0-Ef x10Plmaz .Telegraph
notes to the persons who
ilae
• 357
1
interviewed them.
■ ow Es ow am • al im OM
Job club also exists as a

THE
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open house

tuesday, march 8, 1983

545-0505

9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

for parents and their tots

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FREE E

27700 southfield road

lathrup village, michigan 48076

rabbi henoch millen, principal

for further information call

552-9690