Program Description

Program/Practice Description: As part of services under Steps to Success, Project Enterprise simulates a real business environment and is designed to help give TANF participants pride of ownership and a sense of meaningful work. Steps to Success is a program designed to provide comprehensive educational, social, and employment services to enable job seekers to gain the skills and qualifications necessary to obtain permanent jobs or to transition into a new career. This program is a partnership of Mt. Hood and Portland Community Colleges, Oregon Department of Human Services, Oregon Employment Department, Work Systems, Inc., Human Solutions, numerous employers in the Portland metro workforce, and State and local community action organizations. Steps to Success is a One Stop affiliate for East Multnomah County.

Innovations and Results: Project Enterprise offers participants the opportunity to engage in real work, work assignments that are requested directly by businesses and employers to their specification. Participants complete work tasks either in house or onsite at employers locations. Participants learn about organization, deadlines, and team work.

Projects and business endeavors completed by participants include:

Performing light manufacturing processes;
Assembling small products for customers;
Making customer reminder calls;
Preparing for or assisting with a company event;
Visually inspecting parts (quality) for a business;
Preparing documents for imaging;
Providing local businesses with temporary help;
Working on customer mailing or marketing projects;
Assisting with community service efforts, including assembling backpacks as part of back to school efforts, assisting faith-based organizations, and building homes with Habitat for Humanity;
Providing customer service.

Project Enterprise also provides work site and on-the-job training for participants to gain experience before subsidized employment.

Many clients successfully move forward from Project Enterprise to full-time, long-term internship placements and then employment. Through the work assignments, participants are able to experience different work types and responsibilities and determine what they enjoy. Participants also feel they have the opportunity to give back to the community. In addition, participants can list their work experiences on their resume. Many long-term clients who have a history of unsuccessful participation in other programs experience success in Project Enterprise and demonstrate higher participation levels and improved work-related behaviors.

Project Enterprise staff provide quality control over work projects with no fee to employers. Business partners are brought onsite for participants to learn the fundamentals of work and business practices.

Operations: Participants typically start on Monday morning working with staff to develop weekly schedules. Staff typically accompany participants to assignment locations to ensure a smooth transition. Placement is a critical part of Project Enterprise and participants are expected to engage in 35 hours of work activity per week. Because of the flexibility of the program, Project Enterprise offers open entry and open exit.

Staffing: Through the Weekly Joint Department of Human Services/Steps to Success Roster Staffing, all staff, including the clinical team, client support specialists, job developers, worksite training placement coordinators, and onsite/offsite coordinators, discuss client progress with the case manager as well as job development next steps. Five reports must be completed and brought to the joint Department of Human Services/Steps to Success Roster Staffing each week, which has helped with accountability for both the clients and staff. It documents information such as shows, no shows to the various components, and total interviews for clients that week.

In addition, if a client is 2 weeks away from the planned end date in Project Enterprise, a weekly staffing with Project Enterprise staff, the case manager, and the client occurs and a new Personal Development Plan is written during that meeting.

Support Groups: In conjunction with work experience, Project Enterprise offers two groups:

Success Group
1. For clients who are permanently assigned to Project Enterprise.
2. To assist clients with limited job history and who may have problems with time management and setting priorities.
3. Clients may have multiple barriers noted on the Personal Development Plan, such as Supplemental Security Income step; mental health, alcohol, or drug treatment; housing; domestic violence issues; criminal background; or children with problems.
Time Clock Group
1. Clients with fewer than 20 months remaining on TANF.
2. More one-on-one work assessing issues and determining clear, short-term goals, working closely with case managers and other community services so participants can help themselves move forward and become self-sufficient in the limited time available.

Both groups help participants understand their skills and needs, which will help clients to set goals and find a better job match. Through a series of learning activities, skill assessment, self-assessments, positive group interaction, and after-class assignments including journal entries, clients will have the knowledge to answer the following questions:

How can I better deal with problems that arise at home or work?
How do I achieve time management skills and overcome procrastination in my life?
What are my interests, values, skills, and career goals?
What do I need to do to overcome setbacks to getting the job I want?
What are my options? What are my next steps?

In addition to the success and time clock groups, Project Enterprise offers:

Stepping Stones, run by the clinical team (alcohol and drug/mental health). Clients with alcohol and drug or mental health issues can take this class, which has a life skills curriculum featured within a support group.
Next Step, for clients interested in moving on, so recommendations for new Personal Development Plans can be completed and given to the case manager as quickly as possible.