Mature Workers Program

The S. Mark Taper Foundation supports an essential program for older women

Women At Work, a non-profit career and job resource center in Pasadena, has received funding from the S. Mark Taper Foundation to support offering an employment and financial planning program for mature workers for two years.

The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people's lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in the community.

"What makes Women At Work's Mature Workers program particularly compelling is the program's focus on financial planning for reducing debt and improving retirement savings," said Mr. Ray Reisler, the Executive Director of the S. Mark Taper Foundation. "I think it is very timely, and addresses a great need in our community."

While Women At Work generally serves men as well, the new mature workers program is for mature women only because of the large percentage of women over 50 with insufficient retirement income. In the two years this program has been in existence, Women At Work has exceeded the program's projected goals, both for the number of clients served, and the expected outcomes.

"This is the only program of its kind in the entire Los Angeles area," said Nena Davis, Executive Director of Women At Work. "It is particularly important because it addresses some of the concerns the Department of Labor has about older women living in poverty."

The free program was developed to help women 45 or older who are unemployed or underemployed, married or single, living in a household with low or moderately low income and who are motivated to commit themselves to retirement planning.

Rather than relying on federal guidelines on low income to qualify candidates for admission, Women At Work uses annual income necessary for Los Angeles County residents to be self sufficient. For example, one adult with two school-age children needs an annual income of $37,000 to make ends meet. The figure is $44,000 for a single adult with two preschoolers because of daycare costs.

The free employment and financial planning program offers a three-part curriculum: how to find a good job, how to budget for retirement security and how to develop long range plans for continuing careers that last into the person's 60s and 70s, if necessary. Individualized assistance in planning is available.

The program covers many elements. The segment on retirement planning, for example, takes into account healthcare needs, family responsibilities and investing in a retirement plan. Other elements include developing skills in salary negotiations and coping with age discrimination in interviews; learning the steps to repay debt and improve credit rating; how to write an effective "age neutral" resume and where to find age-friendly industries.

Further information is available by calling 626-796-6870, Ext.16