SNAP Training and Employment Program (STEP)
Information
The Oregon Employment Department's STEP program is designed to assist individuals receiving SNAP benefits to obtain skills, training, work experience, and employment to increase their ability to obtain living-wage employment.
Sound Interesting? Let's get started!
Sound Interesting? Let's get started!
Meet your Career Coaches
A Career Coach is someone who is on your side during your journey towards employment. From the very first meeting, your Career Coach will offer support and provide feedback and resources to help you succeed.
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Blanca is a native of Oregon that has experience in Education and Case Management and has provided excellent customer service for over 20 years. She began serving her community as a WorkSource partner in 2014. During that time, she has assisted customers with overcoming barriers, connecting to community resources, creating resumes, and providing career coaching. Through the STEP program, she will be assisting and supporting customers to achieve their short and long-term goals. Blanca is excited to help and engage customers where they are, to help Oregonians reach their goals and realize their full potential.
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Whether you’re looking for your next job or thinking about self-employment, Chris has the knowledge and experience to help you be successful. Chris is a lifelong learner. She holds a Bachelor’s degree and is currently working on her Masters. Using proven problem solving and goal setting strategies, she helps customers work through the challenges of their job search and plan for the future. In addition to English, Chris speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently.
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A native of Ontario, Doug has been serving job seekers and employers at the Ontario WorkSource center for over 22 years. His patience, passion, and perseverance for helping others along with his vast knowledge of the local labor market have helped thousands of people find meaningful work and build successful careers. Whether you’re considering a job in construction, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, or you just need some thoughtful coaching, you can trust Doug to help you become the best version of yourself.
Why the STEP Program?
The Oregon Employment Department's STEP program is designed to assist individuals receiving SNAP benefits to obtain skills, training, work experience, and employment to increase their ability to obtain living wage employment and to become self-sufficient.
Everyone starts somewhere. Where would YOU like to start?
- Maybe learning a new skill is your next step.
- Maybe you want to get your GED or enroll in college.
- Maybe you are ready to go to work right away.
Let's talk about how we can make that happen
Wherever you start, your Career Coach at WorkSource will provide support from your first visit and throughout job retention, and help you:
- Develop a customized plan to reach your specific training and employment goals.
- Provide access to employment opportunities that match your skills and interests.
- Identify and overcome potential barriers.
Success Stories
*To protect the privacy of our participants, some names are not included. The stories are true. To provide the broadest picture of our services and the impacts that they can have on the lives of everyone involved, we have included stories from the perspectives of our coaches and our participants.
The following story is how team effort by WorkSource office staff, helped a couple of job seekers go from homeless to becoming a college student.
In November of 2019, my husband and I were homeless, living out of our van. We needed to find work and were new to the area so we went in to the WorkSource office to look for work. We thought we were just going to look at job ads, but it turned out to be so much more. We met with a staff member and they helped us become STEP services participants. They helped us figure out what our goals were, discussed ways to overcome our barriers, and then helped us list our goals and mapped out a plan using the Opportunity Plan worksheet. They helped us put together a resume, and showed us how to use the computers and look up job listings. We both ended up getting jobs (where we still work today), and were able to save enough money to get our own apartment. Once we got settled, we were able to have my child come and live with us. Our family is finally together again. In November, 2020, a career coach from WorkSource, contacted me and said that because I didn’t have a computer, would I be interested in participating in a pilot program for a free laptop. By the end of November, my life completely changed…for the better. We updated my Opportunity Plan to include enrolling in college so I could follow my goal of becoming a Pharmacy Technician. With my new computer, I can now attend classes virtually. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but with the support and guidance I’ve received, I can proudly say that I am now enrolled in college and on my way to a better future with a career that will help me to become fully self-sufficient. With my coach's support, I have learned that not everything that happens is a crisis, and I can overcome those barriers and succeed. My family and I are working really hard to change and improve our lives. I’m so grateful we decided to walk in to WorkSource that day in November, back in 2019. It has changed my life. I am a work in progress and I know things will only get better from here.
In November of 2019, my husband and I were homeless, living out of our van. We needed to find work and were new to the area so we went in to the WorkSource office to look for work. We thought we were just going to look at job ads, but it turned out to be so much more. We met with a staff member and they helped us become STEP services participants. They helped us figure out what our goals were, discussed ways to overcome our barriers, and then helped us list our goals and mapped out a plan using the Opportunity Plan worksheet. They helped us put together a resume, and showed us how to use the computers and look up job listings. We both ended up getting jobs (where we still work today), and were able to save enough money to get our own apartment. Once we got settled, we were able to have my child come and live with us. Our family is finally together again. In November, 2020, a career coach from WorkSource, contacted me and said that because I didn’t have a computer, would I be interested in participating in a pilot program for a free laptop. By the end of November, my life completely changed…for the better. We updated my Opportunity Plan to include enrolling in college so I could follow my goal of becoming a Pharmacy Technician. With my new computer, I can now attend classes virtually. I didn’t know how I was going to do it, but with the support and guidance I’ve received, I can proudly say that I am now enrolled in college and on my way to a better future with a career that will help me to become fully self-sufficient. With my coach's support, I have learned that not everything that happens is a crisis, and I can overcome those barriers and succeed. My family and I are working really hard to change and improve our lives. I’m so grateful we decided to walk in to WorkSource that day in November, back in 2019. It has changed my life. I am a work in progress and I know things will only get better from here.
Maria came to WorkSource to look in to pursuing her passion. She wanted to become a certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Due to challenges in her past, her big dream felt very far away. She worried that her barriers may be too big to overcome, and started to feel discouraged. While working with a career coach in a WorkSource office, she started to see a new path forward. Her coach helped her see that her barriers weren't so insurmountable and she wasn't alone in her journey. Together, they completed an Opportunity Plan and charted a path forward to achieve her education goals. Through STEP Services, WorkSource was able to support her with her dreams by assisting with the cost of tuition, and fuel to get to and from school. Each step was outlined and every worry was addressed. Success was a guarantee that got closer with each passing day. On May 1, 2019, Maria began schooling to follow her dreams. In September of 2019, she successfully completed her schooling and went on to become gainfully employed with Umatilla County as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. Instead of giving up, Maria and her career coach worked together and found solutions for the challenges blocking her path… one STEP at a time.
Can you imagine YOUR success story?
STEP 1: Contact a Career Coach
STEP 2: We'll help you create a plan to reach your goal.
STEP 3: Keep working toward your goals. We'll be there to help when things get tough.
STEP 4: Success! Congratulations, you've reached your goal.
STEP 2: We'll help you create a plan to reach your goal.
STEP 3: Keep working toward your goals. We'll be there to help when things get tough.
STEP 4: Success! Congratulations, you've reached your goal.
Start your journey NOW!
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LocationWe are not open to in person services at this time. For services, please call
1-800-846-9110. Address:
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