YOUNG WOMENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program
 
The Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP, pronounced "e-cap") helps children and families get ready for kindergarten. ECEAP is funded by Washington state and is free to enrolled families.Compared to similar children who do not attend, children in programs like ECEAP are:
~Healthier when they start kindergarten.
~More likely to graduate from high school and go onto college.
~More likely to be employed and to earn more as an adult.
~Less likely to be in special education or repeat a grade in school.
~Less likely to become pregnant as a teen or become involved in a crime.

(data from Washington State Department of Early Education(http://www.del.wa.gov/care/find-hs-eceap/help.aspx) )

Initiated in 2006, the mission of the YWCA Women's Opportunity Center is to empower women by expanding opportunities for them to pursue their goals by increasing their access to resources, raising their incomes, and providing opportunities for them to enhance their employment-related skills.

To support Spokane’s economically disadvantaged women, the Women’s Opportunity Center implements the following programs and services:

JOB READINESS CENTER: The main focus of this component is assisting clients in removing barriers to employment, so that they might enhance their job readiness and further their financial autonomy.  This is accomplished through job readiness workshops that include goal setting, resume writing, interviewing techniques and follow-up peer support.

OUR SISTER’S CLOSET: As Spokane’s low-income women search for gainful employment; they are oftentimes challenged by cultural expectations related to appearance and appropriate workplace dress. Clients of the Women’s Opportunity Center are provided interviewing clothing and when a job is secured a second trip for work related clothing.

COMPUTER LAB: The main focus of the lab will be one-on-one and small group computer skill building instruction (i.e., typing skills; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and personal/family budgeting with Excel). Along with this there will be open time allotted for public access to lab and internet services.