Non-profits Reinvent Model for Ending Poverty: JobTrain & Single Stop Partnership

MENLO PARK, Calif., Jan. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Since its partnership in January 2010, the national not-for-profit Single Stop USA has had tremendous impact at JobTrain, Silicon Valley's long-standing vocational training organization that serves more than 6,000 economically disadvantaged individuals each year and helps them find sustainable employment.

JobTrain partnered with Single Stop to expand the scope of its services and programs even more. In its first year of operation at JobTrain, Single Stop helped over 700 Bay Area residents reclaim their lives through access to critical social service programs such as affordable health care, food, housing, legal-aid and filing tax-returns. Single Stop bridges the gap between families in need and available resources – that are often unknown by those struggling to make ends meet. In just a single year, the JobTrain Single Stop partnership has literally prevented hundreds from becoming homeless, restored hope to thousands and created real opportunity for those in need of transforming their lives

Our partnership with Single Stop has been renewed and we're marking the occasion with a ceremonial ribbon cutting in celebration of the first anniversary. JobTrain will host a recognition ceremony honoring community partners such as Charles Schwab, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Mission SF Community Financial Center, Tax-Aid and Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto. The event will occur on Monday, January 10th at 4:00 p.m. at 1200 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, Calif.

Members from the National Single Stop Executive Team will be present, including Elisabeth Mason CEO and Co-Founder, Beth Dunphe Vice President of Development, Nate Falkner Vice President of Strategy & Technologies and Julie Kashen Senior Vice President. The California chapter will be represented by Palak Joshi Program Manager.

Students will share testimonials and highlight how the partnership has helped them overcome extreme adversity. Local dignitaries will also be in attendance. JobTrain and Single Stop create the pathway out of poverty and the combined resources in turn solve national problems.

This is guaranteed to be one of the first and most uplifting news stories of 2011 that underscore the relevance, impact and urgent need of community partnerships in the fight against poverty, homelessness and towards helping individuals become self-sufficient contributing members of society.

ABOUT JOBTRAIN:

Established in 1965 under the OICW affiliation, JobTrain is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational and training institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. JobTrain also provides career counseling, job placement services and specialized programs for at-risk youth. The organization is committed to eradicating the community's cycle of homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, unemployment, incarceration, low education levels and crime – all by empowering the individual through education and sustainable employment training. There's no higher premium than recognizing the potential in every JobTrain client.

JobTrain helped approximately 7,000 individuals in fiscal year 2010 – a marked increase of 25% in 2009, achieved by stretching resources, extending our work day and lengthening the work week to include weekends. Even during this recession, thanks to staff and volunteer determination and students who work very hard, 75% of JobTrain's graduates have been employed in quality jobs.

SOURCE JobTrain