Program Outline
The New Choices Program is a program for single parents and displaced homemakers who are attempting to re-enter the workforce in order to provide economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. This entry or re-entry is usually a forced choice caused by death, divorce, separation, abandonment or unemployment of the primary breadwinner.
Clients seeking the assistance of New Choices are in need of a variety of services ranging from basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing and basic skills remediation to almost immediate job placement assistance. New Choices provides a comprehensive approach to the situation problems of its clients, paying careful attention to the low self-esteem and psychological problems such as depression that divorce, separation and abandonment can cause. Each client brings the need for emotional readjustment as well as for skills training and job placement.
New Choices/New Options Programs are state funded programs directed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Vocational and Technical Education operating at 38 locations throughout the state.
- New Choices-Carlow University is located in the urban area of the South Oakland section of the City of Pittsburgh. The South Oakland section of Pittsburgh is adjacent to the Hill District, Southside and East Liberty sections of the city. These areas are densely populated with high unemployment and a 62 percent minority population. The City of Pittsburgh has an 11.6 percent single parent family population with some areas reporting as high a concentration as 78 percent.
Two satellite suburban sites are also part of this program:
- Southern suburban site - This location provides services to the areas surrounding Bethel Park which includes northern Washington County. This site serves the high unemployment areas of the former mine and steel regions of the Mon Valley.
- Northern suburban site - This site is located in Millvale which is part of the Shaler Area School District. The site reports a single parent population of 60 percent
The population across the four sites is as diverse as the clients needs. The program is, therefore, designed to respond to the many varied needs. |
