AARP Grant Allows Eastern Florida to Help Women 50+ Train and Find Jobs

When it comes to finding a job, women over age 50 have the toughest time gaining employment.

That could start to change along the Space Coast thanks to a subgrant of more than $456,000 that Eastern Florida State College will match dollar for dollar with a total investment of over $913,000 to help train women age 50+ with new skills.

Through funding from the Social Innovation Fund, the AARP Foundation has awarded Eastern Florida State College a three-year subgrant to implement the "BACK TO WORK 50+: Women’s Economic Stability Initiative," which will help women age 50 and older find jobs in Brevard County and build the financial capability to make sound decisions that reduce debt, rebuild savings and pave the way to greater financial stability.

Career Source Brevard will be a key partner in the effort, helping to connect the women with employers, improving their prospects of reentering the workforce.

EFSC’s Career Planning and Development Center will also provide career coaches to steer women into promising career fields, coaches to help them in the classroom and mentors to improve their writing, resume, computer and interview skills.

Eastern Florida is among five colleges selected through a highly rigorous open competition held by the AARP Foundation in November 2014. Together, the colleges will expand their reach to impact more people and participate in evaluations to continue learning what works in the area of economic opportunity for low-income women age 50+.

“These colleges were selected because of their strong community ties to employers; because of their demonstrated capacity to implement similar projects; and because of their commitment to both help 50+ women and build institutional support for helping older workers find employment,” said Emily Allen, AARP Foundation, Vice President Income Impact Area.

Said Dr. Linda Miedema, Eastern Florida’s Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Learning Officer: “Women age 50 to 64 face disproportionally higher rates of long-term unemployment that sends many of them into poverty. We’re going to use the college’s resources to try and help reverse that trend, providing women with access to our faculty, staff and opportunities they’ve never had before.”

The goal is to have about 150 women enrolled in the program in the first year.

Other colleges that received grants are:

• Austin Community College in Austin, Texas
• Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, N.M.
• Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla.
• Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe, N.M.

Those interested in learning more are encouraged to register for the upcoming "BACK TO WORK 50+ at Eastern Florida State College Information Sessions" by calling 855-850-2525 or visiting www.aarpfoundation.org/sif

Two sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. on the Cocoa Campus, 1519 Clearlake Road, Cocoa, Bldg. 11, Community Dining Room. Important Update: Morning session is full. Call to register for the added afternoon session.

Employers and Community Organizations who want to learn more about collaborating with BACK TO WORK 50+ at Eastern Florida State College should contact Dr. Cathy Cady, Director of Career Planning and Development, at 321-433-7324 or cadyc@easternflorida.edu.