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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Nolan’s career with the State of Oregon began in 2015, and has been with WorkSource as a Business and Employment Specialist since 2019. Her experience includes guiding and supporting customers to help them achieve their long and short term goals through empathy, engagement, coaching, and interfacing with a variety of resources. She loves what she does and say’s that it is incredibly rewarding to help someone go from feeling hopeless, to becoming gainfully employed, a college student, or certified in a profession so that they can become a self-sufficient success story. It’s the BEST feeling in the world!
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Monica holds a BA in Business Administration and has served Oregonians as an expert in STEP services since before the program began. A true career coach, when presented with an obstacle, instead of seeing a barrier she sees an opportunity for growth. Her positive attitude brings a wealth of new
ideas and strategies to existing WorkSource methods. She is genuinely interested helping others, and finds motivation in helping promote successes and positive changes in the lives of Oregonians. Whether you are drafting a resume, searching for a new job, or creating a training plan to set yourself on the path to achieving your dreams, Monica is committed to serving you in the way that best fits your needs. Together you will find YOUR success story and you will write it however you want, one STEP at a time. |
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 the Hermiston 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, Nolan 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 Nolan’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, Nolan 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 Nolan’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 Monica in the Hermiston office, she started to see a new path forward. Monica 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, Monica 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, Monica and Maria worked
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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Location
We are not open to in person services at this time. For services, please call
1-800-846-9110. Address:
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