The STRIVE DC program has four components:

These elements, including the lifetime promise of developmental and support services, all at no cost to participants or employers, comprise the STRIVE System.

To ensure the STRIVE program is reaching those who can best benefit from its services, STRIVE DC engages in extensive outreach and recruitment efforts. Throughout the DC Metropolitan area, STRIVE DC's outreach targets specific populations for whom the STRIVE training would be particularly valuable, such as ex-offenders, long-term welfare recipients, and other "chronically unemployed" individuals. Once in the STRIVE DC office, potential participants

go through an intake process that identifies the ways in which STRIVE DC can match its services to their needs. STRIVE DC has found the most effective means of recruiting participants for the program is to distribute flyers in the areas where people at need live. Staff members go out and disseminate information to homes, businesses, schools, and other local institutions. STRIVE DC also has affiliations with several local human services organizations, including the DC Court system, who refer clients. STRIVE DC also participates in outreach activities through presentations at community organizations. Last year STRIVE DC instituted a prison workshop for soon-to-be-released inmates, which concludes by scheduling inmates for training upon release.

The intensive, three-week, attitudinal training program emphasizes the development of the soft-skills necessary to obtain and retain jobs. Through a simulated work environment, participants learn how to dress and speak appropriately for the workplace, how to follow instructions, accept criticism, and function as team members. Stressing accountability, positive self-presentation, and other qualities that are key to success in the workplace, the training also begins the process of thinking about job advancement and long-term careers.

STRIVE DC provides job placement assistance to everyone who completes the three-week training workshop. Working with an assigned job developer, each STRIVE DC graduate is guided through the job-search process, learning how to effectively market themselves, until he or she has secured gainful employment. A key factor in STRIVE DC's job placement is the proper matching of candidates with job opportunities. STRIVE DC developers are not only committed to

positive relationships with graduates, but also work hard to create and foster good relations with STRIVE DC employers.

Once placed, STRIVE DC graduates are kept connected to the STRIVE DC network through STRIVE DC's follow-up and tracking system. Follow-up involves whatever is necessary to keep a client employed. In a difficult case, weekly or even daily telephone calls are made. When a client quits or is fired, he or she is placed in a new job, one that will hopefully work out better. In addition, STRIVE DC continues to counsel and refer those participants needing help with life-skills

issues. This long-term follow-up makes a key difference in helping people remain in the workforce.

The first and foremost step to becoming a participant of STRIVE DC is walking through the door at 715 I Street, NE. Once in the office, clients are asked to fill out an application from which an assessment is made. STRIVE DC staff direct all clients towards the most applicable services, depending upon the clients' needs and abilities. No one is ever turned out of the office, and STRIVE DC will give any guidance it can.