The DISPLACED HOMEMAKER PROGRAM, established in 1978 with a $200,000 grant from the State of Ohio, helps women aged 27 or older who have lost the financial support of their spouses through divorce, separation, disability, or death. It organized as part of the national Alliance of Displaced Homemakers (founded in 1975 in California), later the National Displaced Homemakers Network. The first pilot project gathered 15-20 women at each CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (CCC) campus for sessions to examine career goals and decide, through counseling, whether to enroll at CCC, take noncredit courses, or seek on-the-job training or guided job placement. The 1995 program consisted of a 12-week course, taken during their first term, to assist women in becoming self-sufficient and financially independent. Program assistance continues throughout the student's stay at CCC. The program has offered scholarships for vocational training, guidance for women entering non-traditional careers, and training for the service fields that aid displaced homemakers. In 1994 the program served over 650 women annually and funders included the Ohio Department of Education, Vocational Division, the Ohio Board of Regents, and Cuyahoga Community College.
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