Re-Invent Yourself Programs
Based on our aging society, accelerated technology, and economic uncertainties, women age 45+ are experiencing difficulty in entering or re-entering the workplace after raising children/caring for family members, finding the resources to train or re-train after being laid off and/or replaced by a younger worker, and being unable to perform the work due to a physical condition or injury. Without direction and resources, many of these women proceed into retirement years at the “poverty-level” and remain noncontributing and inactive members of society.
Nearly 50% of today's 40 million middle-aged Americans are women. California statistics show nearly 25% of women residents are over age 50. Work histories for midlife women are often erratic due to parenting and caregiving. These situations cause women to leave work for periods of time, work part-time or take low-paying jobs. This results in midlife women lacking sufficient monies for basic living and retirement. Today, women represent almost 75% of the elderly poor.
Realizing the need, WomanSage, Inc. (WS), a non-profit membership organization, educates, empowers and fosters mentoring relationships among women at midlife. And, recognizing the economy is forcing many of these women to make critical work decisions, WS launched a new program (Re-Invent Yourself!) at its October 18 Annual Conference. Sixty-one (61) women discussed career and workforce education, business startup, and retraining opportunities with professionals. This is the only career program nationally focused exclusively on transitions for mature women.
Karen Ferguson, director of the Pension Rights Center (an advocacy group for retirees in Washington) states in a recent New York Times article: "You have 401(k) plans going into the tank and the cost of health insurance rising, so many people see the need to work longer. At the same time, many employers don't have money to hire people, and they're getting rid of their more expensive employees, so it's kind of a perfect storm."
The Re-Invent Yourself! Program is designed to provide workplace solutions for women facing life-changes related to their work such as layoffs, early retirement and other work-related pressures. The goals of the Re-Invent Yourself Program! are to:
• provide the tools for women to regain and maintain control of their lives;
• take advantage of education and financial guidance opportunities; and
• make informed decisions about their future
To help these women successfully transition in or into the workplace WS will partner with California State University, Fullerton’s Institute of Gerontology, the University of California, Irvine ’s Women’s Opportunity Center, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCRE), the Small Business Administration (SBA) and other professionals.
This specifically designed and targeted program focuses on mentoring for new skill development, educational opportunities, retraining, support groups, and business development. The chart represents our program highlights:
Community partners are encouraged to join with us in assisting midlife women become confident, contributing, and active members within their communities.