Empower 2 Employ
What is Empower2Employ?
Empower2Employ is a three month non-paid internship program to benefit both Safe Harbor’s program participants and local businesses.
Empower2Employ is a collaboration between local business leaders and Safe Harbor. Women who have completed 9 months of our Whole Woman Recovery Program are eligible to apply for a non-paid internship through Empower2Employ.
Local businesses interview the candidate to see if she is a good fit for a 3 month unpaid internship with their company.
It is a win-win for our local business partners. Not only do they get the opportunity to impact a woman’s life but they also get an intern who is eager to learn new things and be productive.
Why is it necessary?
After 9 months of residential recovery and mentoring, our clients are ready to take the next steps toward living independently, while still in a supportive environment. We all benefit when women who have battled substance use and poverty gain the training, skills and confidence that prepare them for meaningful employment.
Restoration: A Community Effort
Safe Harbor’s Whole Woman Recovery program takes a holistic approach for healing from substance use disorder.
We believe that getting to the root causes of harmful behavior is crucial for lasting change. Therefore, we utilize evidence-based methods, in addition to exploring emotional and spiritual issues.
Safe Harbor’s Whole Woman Program addresses 8 major life areas: Recovery, Relationships, Spirituality,Education and Employment, Financial, Legal, Mental and Emotional, Physical Wellness and Independent Living.
After being in our program for 9 months, women focus on obtaining an unpaid internship with a local business to build employable skills to help in gaining independence and exhibiting accountability.
Empower2Employ invites local businesses with a heart for helping to partner with Safe Harbor in a beautiful collaboration for RESTORATION.
How are participants prepared?
Our staff works with the residents to
create a long-term plan with incremental goals. The goal is not just to get a job, but to engage their talents, skills, and passions in meaningful work.
Each participant works 20-25 hours per week, over a 9 month period, at Safe Harbor’s social enterprise, ReSource Warehouse. During this time, they are trained in customer service, retail management, cashiering, product placement, marketing and teamwork.
Training In Safe Harbor’s Whole Woman program participants receive training and education in computer skills, communication, conflict resolution, professionalism, resume creation and interview techniques.
You Can Make a Difference
Your company can play a vital role in helping women become self-sufficient. We work with business leaders to create the right fit for their business, their employees and Whole Woman participants.
Empower2Employ Partners
- Believe in second chances
- Become part of the larger community working together to overcome the stigma of addiction
- Benefit by providing a positive 3 month work experience for Whole Woman participants
E-mail Sarah Blanton, our Development Director, at sarah@safeharbornc.org to get an interest form and the Empower2Employ handbook. Once the paperwork is complete and your business is approved, we will contact you when a woman in our program is ready for her internship. You will interview the candidate to assess if this experience is a good fit.
Others Ways to Help
- Contact us if you would like to facilitate a training seminar to help women in our programs learn skills vital in the job market
- Invite our Whole Woman participants to a job fair
- Ask your gift employees to consider volunteering to work with a woman as a job search coach or career mentor
- Contact us about hiring a Safe Harbor Whole Woman graduate at your business.
