Mt. Hood Community College

Steps to Success Program Website Content

Mt. Hood Community College home page ()

Save Steps to Success!

Due to proposed budget cuts, the Oregon State Department of Human Services (DHS)plans to shut down the Mt. Hood Community CollegeSteps to Success (STS) program[C1] on June 30, 2011.

This means hundreds of disadvantaged Oregonians will no longer have access to career services, training, skill building, work experience, support and resources that help them overcome barriers and become contributing members of the workforce.

The loss of the STS program is a loss to our community.Learn more about this situation and how you can help.[C2]

Existing Steps to Success page (341[AH3])

The MHCC Steps to Success (STS)program, in operation for more than 20 years, is in serious jeopardy.

Gov. Kitzhaber’s balanced budget recommends cutting funding to STS by 60 percent, essentially shutting down the program.

In mid-April, DHS will decide what entities will administer the remaining Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS)program. Another contractor, and not MHCC, may become the prime contractor. If this occurs, there may be a limited role for MHCC, or it could be excluded entirely.

This is a crisis for MHCC, and we need your help to save the program.

Our clients[C4] come from disadvantaged backgrounds and rely on STSto learn the skills and qualifications necessary to obtain permanent jobs or to transition into new careers.

We excel in placing those clients with businesses.[C5]For the eightmonths ending January 2011,we placed an average of 131 clients per month, versus a target of 109.Other contractors, including ones currently being considered as prime contractors for this program, often fall below their expected targets.

STS helps clients achieve the successes[C6] that build their self-confidence, sense of self-worth and a belief in a positive future, and those successes are about to end.

Visit our FAQs[AH7] or the following pages for more information about the program, its importance to our community and how you can help:

  • Strong Community Support
  • Student Stories
  • Statistics Tell the Story
  • What You Can Do to Help[C8]

Page: Strong Community Support[AH9]

  • Adventist Health
  • American Cancer Society
  • Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Human Solutions, Inc.
  • Rose City Associates
  • Swank MS Foundation
  • Westside Secretarial Service
  • YWCA of Greater Portland

“Our organization has benefited from the students who have helped us on numerous occasions with our wellness and special event programs designed to build a healthier community…[it is a] valuable resource to the entire community.” - Judy Leach, director of marketing and communications, Adventist Health

“I have seen many of East Portland’s small businesses boost their income and thus hiring ability by hosting a Steps to Success student. In some cases, the students have become permanent employees.” - Karla Signs, American Cancer Society

“I have personally spoken to a number of businesses that have used this program and ALL of them have nothing but wonderful things to say about the experience. The East Metro area needs to have these programs enriched and not dismantled by lack of funding.” - Rich Sorem, Rose City Associates

“Our Office Manager started here at the Chamber more than seven years ago as a student of the Steps program…we have had several additional students who have been a valuable asset to our company and have moved on to full-time careers partly from the experience they gained working for the Chamber.” - Alison Hart, CEO, Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce

“Human Solutions has benefited from the partnership with Mt. Hood Community College’s Steps to Success Program…Many employees at Human Solutions started in employment with the Work Experience program, moved to [the] Jobs Plus program and then became permanent employees. Without coming through the Work Experience program, the intern would not have been able to demonstrate the skills necessary to do the job and would likely still be surviving on[public assistance]rather than successfully becoming self-sufficient.” - Shauna Childress, energy program coordinator, Human Solutions, Inc.

“Mt. Hood Community College’s Steps to Success has been an extremely effective and successful program for my non-profit to participate in, allowing us to work with an intern…In fact the program has been an essential factor in our ability to continue our progress on the foundation’s goals.” - Kendra Key, executive director, Swank MS Foundation

“We are currently working with the Steps to Success program to assist us in meeting our clients’ needs. Having Steps to Success interns work in our office helps us to work at growing our business while giving them an opportunity to gain work experience – it is a win-win for both sides. My company is able to stay in business, continue to pay taxes, and help other businesses remain viable as a result of this program.” - Mary Ann Gray, president, Westside Secretarial Service

“My agency relies on the support from the interns through the wonderful Steps to Success program in order for us to continue to serve seniors in our community, and I hope that sufficient funding will be provided for the program and for the future.” - Kristina John Baptiste, program manager, Senior Services, YWCA of Greater Portland

Mt. Hood Community College[L10]

Steps to Success Community/Workforce Partners[L11]

Partner / Population and Services provided
Child Development Center & Head Start / Located at MHCC. Provides subsidized, high-quality child care to members of the Steps to Success (STS) community.
Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County (CCR&R-MC) / Part of the Child Development and Family Support Program at MHCC, the CCR&R-MC provides a link between providers and families seeking quality child care, offering services to parents, providers and the community. Provides child care referrals, parent resources, emergency child care scholarships, free technical support regarding licensing and coordinates workshops and trainings for child care providers.
Dress For Success / Dress for Success accepts women clients who are referred by social service agencies; Dress for Success conducts quarterly workshops on professional dressing for work; provides interview clothing and coaching for women entering office environments; 30 days post-hire Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients are eligible to participate in professional women’s groups to receive mentoring from professional women, attend classes on networking, finance, credit repair, nutrition and other ongoing support.
Housing Authority of Portland (HAP) / Provides support and services to residents of subsidized public housing.
Human Solutions / Helps low-income and homeless families gain self sufficiency by providing emergency family shelter, job training, affordable housing, eviction prevention and emergency household assistance. Facilitates grants for energy assistance and provides work experience opportunities for STS clients.
Job Corps / WorkSource programs co-enroll youth ages 18-24 years old into intensive training services. Job Corps students staff Career Resource Room and provide other core service support.
Local School Districts and community based alternative schools / STS teen-parent program partners with local school districts and community based alternative schools to provide high school and GED completions.
Metropolitan Family Services / Trains volunteers to work with low income individuals and families. Provides free and low-cost services that support children and families such as SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) after school programs, Children & Family Enrichment (CAFÉ), parent education and foster grandparent programs. The Ways to Work program provides low-interest loans to working parents to purchase, repair or maintain a car for work, childcare and school-related transportation needs.
MHCC Community Skills Center / Provides computer skill training to the general public as well as students enrolled in WorkSource and Jobs Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) programs. Offers self-paced training on a wide selection of computer applications in an up-to-date computer lab that is open seven days a week and staffed with knowledgeable instructors.
MHCC/PCC Adult Basic Skills (ABS) / Provides GED preparation and other fundamental literacy, math, technology and science skills to the general public as well as to students enrolled in WorkSource and JOBS programs.
MHCC/PCC ESL Instruction / ESL instruction provided through ABS. Offered to the general public as well as students enrolled in WorkSource and JOBS programs. Prepares English language learners for continued education, vocational and personal goals.
National College of Naturopathic Medicine / Free health clinic and sliding fee scale medications for emergency assistance offered to low income families, including those participating in the JOBS program. Also serves as a work experience site for JOBS and WorkSource clients.
Oregon Department of Vocational Re-habilitation-DHS (VR) / STS clients with documented or suspected disabilities may be co-enrolled to receive job search assistance and eligibility certification for special programs (such as preferred worker or full learning needs).
Worksource Oregon / WIA One-Stop, Oregon Employment Department and DHS SNAP programs are co-housed to form WorkSource Oregon. Provides employment training, career exploration and counseling, job search assistance, labor market information, comprehensive assessments, computer literacy and other short term training programs to qualifying individuals, including those co-enrolled in STS, SNAP, WIA Adult, DWP and Trade Act programs.
WorkSource Oregon Employment Department (OED) / OED provides staffing and hands-on employment services to our customers using the Oregon Labor Market Information System (OLMIS). OED will also provide customers with specific, updated information about the demand for workers by skills, wage level and geographic area.

Page: Client Stories [AH12]

  • Alberta’s Story
  • Aurora’s Story
  • Billy’s Story
  • Carlos’s Story
  • Danetta’s Story
  • Heather’s Story
  • Sherese’s Story
  • Sherri’s Story

“I am a single mother of three children and this program is really helping me and my family. With this program I can get help with my childcare while I continue my education for my GED. Once I get my GED I will be able to get nurses’ training which will allow me to be able to support my children. This program is very helpful to us now and will continue to be in the future.” – Danetta H.

“I’m extremely concerned about losing our programs of GED classes and our JOBS program. Should these programs be forced to shut down, my family and I would be extremely affected because I can no longer work as a cake decorator or baker again because of an injury to my back. Without these JOBS programs, I cannot train to become a nutritionist or any other new career. My family would suffer a great deal. I probably would have to apply for disability, and I would feel worthless. My children are already so proud of me for doing these programs. I would not want to disappoint them. I’m 46 now and not getting any younger.” – Sherri H.

“The Steps to Success JOBS program has helped me and many others to prepare for completing our education, and giving us the skills we need to succeed in the workplace. This program actually gives me the faith to believe in myself.” – Sherese H.

“I am a single parent to a six year old boy, in the last four years we have been through a variety of life changing events. Our most recent in 2009 when I was laid off from work and in 2010 the exhaustion of my unemployment benefits due to lack of state extension funds. This led us to a financial crisis. Unable to cover our living expenses we faced eviction. Unable to land employment, I applied for public assistance and my family was awarded TANF and SNAP benefits through DHS. In addition, I was set up with a plan coordinator who developed a plan of steps to be successful in the JOBS program. Shortly after, I was offered the position as a Career Center Specialist. Since I started the JOBS program I am continuously impressed with the level of care and quality service delivered to us clients. We are blessed and so grateful for all the support and help we receive. Without excellent organizations like JOBS and Steps to Success programs who contribute much to the community, success seems far away. The services these programs offer benefit communities at large and help individuals make better decisions that will benefit their future.” – Carlos C.

“I am a single mother who never graduated high school. I couldn’t find another source of education that didn’t have to imply money to attend. In one month I have gained and accomplished much more here than I know if I was anywhere else. I am so close to getting my GED now. I want to have a great job to support my family and help achieve my goals in life. I honestly appreciate all the help that they have to provide for myself and peers. This is a great privilege!” – Aurora M.

“At ayoung age I became a single parent which made it very difficult for me to finish school. This program has given me the opportunity to get a GED and better my chances at going to college and getting a good job. I have also done other parts of the program that helped me learn how to use a computer. I’ve learned to do a resume, cover letters and thank you letters. The program also helps with daycare and transportation needs. These programs have helped me very much and hopefully will continue to help others in the future.” – Alberta M.

“Before I applied for assistance my struggle to find work was feeling like a losing battle. Then one day I filed for help from TANF and SNAP for my children and myself. Suddenly, I had a team of people there to see me through my hardships of finding work again. Being an independent person it was overwhelming in the beginning to realize I could actually ask for help when I felt lost. The staff helped me find confidence by believing in me and telling me often I could do anything I set my mind to. Sometimes, even we adults need to hear that. When I felt I lacked skills, the staff helped by placing me in a college course for the healthcare field. Which I am proud to say I graduated from. They helped to fix my resume for today’s job market. The staff even advised me on the best way to conduct myself for job interviews and sent me to Dress for Success when I explained I had nothing in my closet suited for an interview. I am now in an internship with the Well Arts Institute set up by the Steps to Success staff. I am thankful for this opportunity in many ways. I feel blessed. It has been a great fit from day one. I enjoy my time at work knowing I am furthering my career and bettering the lives of my children. Knowledge is a beautiful thing. Each day I am able to work, is a day in which there are new skills to be added to my resume and another step towards financial independence.” - Heather R.

“I’ve been a single dad of three boys for 2 ½ years. In April 2010 the auto body shop I worked for closed down. I worked there for 11 ½ years. I started looking for work and it was hard without a GED. I was 12 and in the 6th grade when they threw me out because I have ADHD. I spent my whole life hiding it. I needed help with food and medical for my boys so I went to DHS. Steps to Success is helping me learn how to read, write and do math. While I’m going to school to get my GED, I’m learning how to fill out an application, list references and learn computer skills. These programs are important because they help me with the skills I need to succeed without further assistance.” – Billy M.

Page: Statistics Tell the Story

MHCC Steps to Success Facts and Statistics

  • MHCC’s Steps to Success (STS) program has consistently exceeded its goals. Specifically, for the eight months ending February2011, MHCC placed an average of 131clients per month, versus a target of 109. Comparably, for the same time period, Portland Community College placed an average of 62clients per month, versus a target of 72.
  • Eighty-nine (89) percent of our clients who find employment through the program remain self-sufficient.
  • MHCC STS finds jobs for approximately 200 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) clients each month (69 percent of the total placements).
  • Of the 257 placements reported for STS, 200 are from MHCC, or 78 percent of the total.
  • Historically, MHCC’s STS program has earned accolades and awards, including:
  • Considered the premier welfare-to-work program in the country by a 1998 study by MDRC. MDRC was founded in 1974 as the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. Its name was changed in 2003 to MDRC. The organization is dedicated to evaluating policies and programs for low-income people.
  • Awarded the Gresham Chamber’s Golden Note Award for contributing project assistance to businesses and organizations at no cost in January 2009
  • Received the Collaborative Solutions Northwest LLC’s “A Million Thank You’s” award in 2010
  • The proposed changes would result in layoffs of 50 or more MHCC employees and decreased opportunities for MHCC students and community members.

Workforce and Economic Facts and Statistics