St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County helps our most vulnerable neighbors by providing safety-net resources including food, shelter, medical & dental care and employment & training. The SVdP Workforce Development Program is a 24 week, on-the-job training program for individuals who have experienced barriers to employment (incarceration, disability, addiction, etc.) and are looking to reenter the workforce. Classes are provided weekly to help participants improve on life skills and professional development skills.
The primary role for a mentor is to provide support and to offer a positive role model to the program's selected trainees. A mentor is a resource to bounce ideas off, use as a sounding board, a person rooting for them and someone they can call for advice and assistance in job search. Activities can be in-person or virtual. The participants in our Workforce program need an additional support team as they may lack the family, community and educational backgrounds that provide a solid foundation.