Business

This six-session, hands-on financial education program was designed especially for women who are facing some of life’s toughest difficulties, and struggling to gain a foothold in a world where stability and financial security seem like distant dreams.

The goal of the Making Money Work! financial education program is to help participants achieve financial stability and effectively manage a limited earned income by providing subject matter information, motivational participatory learning activities, and access to resources. The program introduces participants to basic financial concepts, such as goal setting, determining needs versus wants, developing a spending plan, managing a checking account, and the wise use of credit.

Making Money Work! Online Facilitator’s Guide

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APRIL 23, 2001 — In this graduation season, Americans have advice for the millions of women job-seekers who are graduating from high school, college and job training programs: a professional appearance will help you get and keep a job, and win responsibilities, raises and promotions. A new poll finds that nearly seven in ten Americans (69 percent) – and more than eight in ten women – say clothing, hair and makeup are very or extremely important for a woman on the job, and for her confidence. Large majorities say that a woman’s appearance affects whether she is taken seriously, asked to represent her company at outside meetings, and considered for raises and promotions.

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Download the Order Form for requesting free copies of WYI! materials.
Download the WYI! Tip Sheet English, Spanish 
Download the WYI! Family Guide Tip Sheet
Download the WYI Evaluation Form
(Right click on the link and select “save as” to save a copy of the form to your computer.)

As the saying goes, “you only have one chance to make a first impression,” but there is a great deal a person can do to make that impression a positive and lasting one. Realizing the value of presenting a professional appearance, Women Work!, in partnership with the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA), created a unique program to help women in transition put their best foot forward in today’s competitive job market. Work Your Image! Creating a Professional Image to Get and Keep a Job® (WYI!) provides basic information for women entering or re-entering the workforce with a common-sense approach to creating a positive first impression.

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The National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education (NCWGE) released a report in Oct. 2001 that found programs designed to help women and girls succeed in vocational education are rapidly collapsing, leaving many women and girls in jeopardy of losing out on important educational opportunities. NCWGE expressed concern that the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act of 1998 — the federal law governing vocational education at secondary and post-secondary institutions — provides insufficient support for women and girls at a time when welfare time-limits are fast approaching.

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Recruiting for the Information Technology Age (RITA) is a multifaceted project to increase the number of women represented in the information technology (IT) sector. Through RITA, Women Work!’s member programs partner with local employers to create collaborative relationships that move women into high-paying, stable jobs. Employer partners inform training design and provide job shadowing, internship, on-the-job-training and site visit opportunities to students. As a result, women are knowledgeable about job opportunities and requirements, gain work experience and have a ‘foot in the door’ with their local employers.

Project Outcomes

• Women Work! has implemented RITA at 17 sites in 11 states since 1998, working with member organizations in North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oregon, South Dakota, Maine, New Jersey, Colorado, Wisconsin and Idaho
• Hundreds of women have been exposed to IT careers, with more than 300 completing education and training that leads to an internship, apprenticeship, or full-time job earning at least $9.00 an hour
• Partnerships have been established with nearly 100 IT employers
• Women Work! creates resources and publications, such as Getting IT Across , to share strategies for recruiting women into lucrative, non-traditional careers

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Here are some helpful links and resources to help you contact members of the Administration, Senate and House of Representatives.

President

President George W. Bush
Website: www.whitehouse.gov
Email: [email protected]

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Fax: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213
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Find out what Women Work! can do for you during two sessions of Women Work!shops. Women Work! staff and members will give you an overview of the resources, teaching tools, curricula and training the organization has to offer. You will leave each session with new tools and suggestions for how to use them in your work and life. Topics include:

Domestic Violence Survivors and the Legal System
Presenter: Rebecca Henry
Women Work! and the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence recently partnered to produce Finding a Lawyer, a tip sheet which helps survivors of domestic violence understand the basics about finding and working with a lawyer. In this session you will learn more about recent research which sites access to legal services and improved economic status as the top two factors affecting declines in intimate partner violence. You’ll also learn more about the ways you can help your clients navigate the legal system.

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Capitol Hill Equal Pay Day Rally

US Capitol Building West Lawn (front lawn)

1:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.

April 24, 2007

Legislators leading the fight for wage equity in the House and the Senate were featured speakers at the rally. (l. to r.) Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) joined Women Work! President and CEO Jill Miller at the podium.		Women Work! organized an Equal Pay Day Rally to demand Congressional support for women’s wage equity in 2007.
The rally was motivating for all who attended.		Evelyn Murphy, founder of the WAGE project also spoke at the rally.

After years of effort, the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act was signed into law by President Bush on August 12, 2006. The law takes several positive steps to ensure that women in transition have greater access to the career and technical education system.

Read Women Works!’s Advocate’s Guide to Perkins IV

Policy Resources

Perkins Implementation Action Kit

Perkins III Data Tables
Inform your Perkins advocacy with statistics on displaced homemakers and single parents in career and technical education programs in your State.

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IN – Indiana Women Work! has seen extensive growth since affiliating. In addition to their annual Women & Work conference this year, INWW will be awarding a small scholarship to a woman going back to school.

NE – Nebraska Women Work! is a newer affiliate that has cultivated a committed core of members. They are very proud of their recent accomplishments, including media coverage and the creation of a survey to assess the barriers NE women face in the workforce.

MD – Maryland Women Work! sponsored a conference early this year called “Opportunities for Change in Ocean City ”. They host an annual legislative day where service participants learn about their valuable role in civic matters and meet with delegates from around the state.

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• NEW! Women Work! introduces the 2009 Public Policy Agenda! The Public Policy Agenda sets priorities for legislative and advocacy work in the Women Work! national office and in the field. In 2009, Women Work! will fight for policies that bolster the economic security of women and their families.
• Learn more about women’s economic justice issues.
• Follow the status of key public policies that affect women’s employment and educational equity. Visit our Policy Tracker
• Subscribe to Action Works! and add your voice to the nation’s largest network of advocates demanding economic justice and equality for women.

Use the Women Work! Policy Tracker to follow developments in federal legislation that affects women entering, re-entering, and advancing in the workplace.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA) 
The nation’s workforce investment system, WIA is long overdue for reauthorization. Women Work! advocates for reforms in WIA to increase women’s access to training for high-skill, high-wage, and nontraditional careers.

Pay Equity Legislation
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are critical to women’s workplace equity and economic security.

Higher Education Act (HEA)
The 2008 reauthorization of the Higher Education Act contains provisions that will aid nontraditional students in obtaining higher education.

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Women Work!’s teaching tools and curricula are available FREE to organizational members. Resources listed in this section can be downloaded from the Members Only section of this website. Select resources are also available in hard copy or on CD. To order resources complete the order form and mail or fax it to Women Work!. A processing fee of $5 will be charged for each CD ordered.

Work Your Image!

Leader’s Guide – Item # 11

Participant’s Guide – Item # 12

Personal Worksheet – Item # 13

Personal Tip Sheet (English) – Item # 14

Personal Tip Sheet (Spanish) – Item # 15

Family Guide Tip Sheet – Item # 16

Creating a Professional Image to Get and Keep a Job®

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This is a private area of Women Work! Online for members only. If you are not a Women Work! current member, please visit our Membership Page for information on joining or renewing. If you are trying to renew your membership, please log-in and follow the prompts to the renewal form.

• If you are a first-time user,
• If you forgot your ID or password,
• If you want to change your password,
• If you require assistance, please contact us at [email protected]or 202-467-6346.

Workforce Development that Works For Women
Women Work! is collecting best practices for serving women in economic transition. Selected best practices will be featured in a publication to be issued by Women Work! in September 2008 and widely disseminated to policymakers and the workforce development community.

Recruiting for the Information Technology Age (RITA)
RITA is a multifaceted initiative to increase the number of women in the information technology sector.

iWorks! A Curriculum for the 21st Century Worker
The iWorks! curriculum, aimed at promoting information literacy for job seekers, is currently being piloted by five Women Work! member programs.

Women Work! Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) Education Campaign
The IDA Education Campaign includes both information about IDAs themselves and information about the recently completed teleconference series regarding these important tools for women’s economic self-sufficiency.

Women Work! State Affiliates are organized groups of members working together to improve the status of women in their states. Together, Women Work! members advance positive social and economic change. In the past year we have seen some incredible work from our states including a published survey documenting barriers faced by women in Nebraska, a legislative lobby day in Maryland and the approval of a joint resolution in the Illinois State Legislature that created a displaced homemaker task force.

State Affiliate Links:

• State Affiliate Activities

• List of State Affiliates and Their Contacts

Interested in organizing an affiliate in your state?

Women Work! looks forward to organizing affiliate networks in all 50 states! Our national staff will lend their expertise in helping to create a thriving state level network to further women’s economic security in your state! Contact Sarah Rose-Jensen, Membership and Field Services Manager, to find out more!

As the nation works its way out of an economic crisis, public policies become all the more important for steering us toward recovery and growth. Policies that strengthen the American workforce, encourage innovation, and support struggling families are an investment that we must make in our future. Given women’s vital role in the workforce, their economic security figures prominently into the economic success of our country and must be supported. In 2009,
Women Work! will fight for policies that bolster the economic security of women and their families.

Economic Recovery That Includes Women

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Consider bringing Women Work!’s field team to your next conference, regional meeting or event to conduct a training. To set up a training contact Sarah Rose-Jensen at (202) 467-6346 or at [email protected]. Women Work! staff can present on any of the following topics:

Women Work! The Power of a Network – An overview of Women Work!’s history, activities and membership categories.

Joining the Network – Technical Assistance on State Affiliation

Creating and Living your Vision and Mission – A facilitated process for revisiting or creating a truly representative vision and mission

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Keep up-to-date with the Economic Equity Insider, the Women Work! legislative update on women’s workforce development issues, vocational education, federal financial aid, welfare policy and related issues, which is published weekly when Congress is in session. To receive the Insider, join Women Work! now.

Members, sign in now and go to Download Free Publications to view the current Economic Equity Insider.

Read Past Issues

March

March 10, 2009

• Reminder: Make Your Advocacy Day Appointments!
• Paycheck Fairness Act Gaining Cosponsors in Senate
• While Congress Attempts to Finish FY 2009 Appropriations, Obama Releases Blueprint for FY 2010 Budget
• Family-Friendly Policies Take Center Stage at House Hearing

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The Women Work! Advocacy Toolkit is designed to give you all the skills you need to be a successful advocate for women’s economic justice and equality.

The Advocacy Toolkit is benefit available only to Women Work! members. Each installment will be released first through the Economic Equity Insider and and will be available to download through the members only section of the web site.

• Women Work! Advocacy Toolkit:Cover
• Women Work! Advocacy Toolkit: Table of Contents
• Women Work! Advocacy Toolkit: How to Use This Guide
• Section #1: Hosting Elected Officials At Your Program
• Section #2: Federal Legislative 101
• Section #3: Meeting with Your Legislators
• Section #4: Engaging Clients in Advocacy
• Section #5: Creating an Advocacy Action Calendar
• Section#6: Using Data/Telling Stories
• Section #7: Budget and Appropriations 101
• Section #8: Managing the Media
• Section #9: Building Relationships With Your Legislator
• Download the entire Tool Kit here

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Reach the nation’s largest network of women’s education and job training programs by advertising in We Work! magazine. Our broad and diverse constituency includes members, donors and other supporters that have made an investment in the goals of Women Work!

For an overview of the magazine, click here.

For ad rates or more information, contact Development Manager, Tamika Hodnett-Johnston via email or phone at (202) 467-6346.

Chutes and Ladders: The Search for Solid Ground for Women in the Workforce

Women Work!’s critical Census study has found that single mothers and displaced homemakers are not a disappearing phenomenon in the United States. In fact, these family groups are on the increase and likely to be vastly over-represented in the nation’s low-paying service jobs. Read more and download the full report…

State Displaced Homemaker Legislation Update

More than ever, state support for displaced homemakers is critical to the needs of this population and the programs that help them reach economic self-sufficiency. Women Work! monitors changes in the legislation and support for program servicing displaced homemakers and produces a legislative update. Read more and find links to state legislation…

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Women Work! members include individual supporters of economic equality for women, organizations that assist women to enter, re-enter, and advance in the workforce, and state networks (link to state affiliates) that advocate for women’s economic self-sufficiency.

When you join Women Work! you become a part of the nation’s largest network advocating for the economic security of women through education, training and career advancement. Women Work members also receive benefits such as policy updates, action alerts, and publications for the latest information on the fight for women’s economic justice and security.

Whether you are a large company, a small non-profit, or an individual committed to social equality Women Work! has a membership to fit your needs.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
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Women Work! depends on our corporate partners for a variety of programmatic support in areas such as Workforce Development, Financial Education and Asset Building, Career Information and Advancement, Education, Capacity Building, Policy and Advocacy, Affiliate and Member Services, and Leadership Development.

Workforce Development

Bank of America
Biogen Idec
Continental Airlines
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association
Fannie Mae Foundation
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Women Work! is proud to acknowledge corporations that have committed to the women’s training and support organizations by investing in Women Work!’s strategic growth.

The following corporations serve on Women Work!’s Corporate Board of Advisors (CBA), which is designed to advance new initiatives and partnerships with the private sector. The CBA is an exclusive group of mostly Fortune 100 and 500 corporations who assist the organization in implementing institutional development strategies; initiating programs and activities focusing on community, education and business development; and creating strategies to promote women’s employment advancement.

WOMEN WORK! CORPORATE BOARD OF ADVISORS  (List current as of June 2007)

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Join our Empowerment Circle!

Women Work!’s Empowerment Circle is a group whose common bond is a commitment to protecting women’s economic security. By joining, your gift of $100 or more supports our mission.

Happy Birthday

Throw yourself a birthday party, and in lieu of gifts, ask your guests to make a contribution to Women Work! This innovative manner of giving opens our doors to new donors and opens the doors wider for some of our current donors.

Group Gifts

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” This inspirational quote encompasses the spirit of the group gift, a unique way for small group of people to have the large philanthropic impact on Women Work! By giving as a unit, whether as a book club, a doctor’s office staff, a professional association, or as a special group of friends, you can collectively choose to make a gift to an organization that gives a voice to your group’s values.

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Individual Gift

Individual donors are the lifeline of Women Work! Your contribution, regardless of size, makes our work possible. Cash, check, or credit card are the most direct and immediate ways to support Women Work!

Stock/Securities Gift

By contributing appreciated securities that have been held for more than one year, you receive a tax deduction equal to the stock’s full fair market value while avoiding capital gains taxes on the appreciated portion of the stock. Often times, donating stock and securities allows for making a larger gift than might otherwise be possible.

Make a Pledge

Pledges or promises of support can be made in any amount and may be paid through a single contribution or in multiple payments-monthly, quarterly or multiyear. Annual pledge payments are due at the end of each fiscal year (June 30).

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Advertise online at the Women Work! Career Center and reach the thousands of women browsing for jobs regularly. Powered by Career Builder, the Women Work! Career Center gives users access to 1.3 million job listings as well as advice on balancing work and life.

For information about advertising on the Women Work! Career Center, contact Development Manager, Tamika Hodnett-Johnston via email or phone at (202) 467-6346.

Login to Women Work! 
By logging into the Women Work! members section you can gain access to your profile, members only search and other restricted items.
Login

Not a Member?
Join Women Work! today!

Search the  Women Work!  Member Directory 
Find education, training and service provider organizations in the Women Work! Network.
Search Directory

If you have questions, please contact us at (202) 467-6346 or [email protected].

Women Work! invites corporations of all sizes to join in our mission to empower current and future generations of American women. Women Work! provides a range of benefits for supporting our critical work. For more information on the Corporate Partners Program, click here or contact Tamika Hodnett-Johnston, Development Manager by email or phone at (202) 467-6346.

We encourage women business owners to become Women Work! partners as well. You understand the challenges women face and the dedication it takes to achieve in the American economy. We welcome your involvement in our organization through the Women’s Business Owners Council, an elite group of women business owners.

Women Work! Corporate Partners

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Supporting Women Work! through a regularly scheduled gift is also known as committed giving. Examples include:

Electronic Transfer

You may choose to make regular payments to Women Work! directly.

Become an Underwriter

Women Work! Underwriters make a 3 year commitment to support the cost of the organization’s most basic operations at $5000/year. Please contact our Individual Gifts Manager for more information at (202) 467-6346.

Back to School 
by Jan Cannon

More Education Needed?

Once you’ve chosen a new career direction, decide if you need more education. This might be a six-week adult-ed class in database management or a new degree in early childhood development.

For full story click here

Q&A with Dr. Richie

I am not happy in my current job, and it’s creating stress in other areas of my life. I think I need a career change, but I have come to be dependent on my salary and am nervous that a job doing something more interesting won’t pay as well. And, I’m unsure about what kind of a job I even want. How do I sort this all out? Sincerely, Ruth

Click here to see Dr. Richie’s answer

Women Work!’s 2002 State Displaced Homemaker Legislation Update

This update contains important information about state displaced homemaker legislation, such as amount of funds appropriated; source of revenue and distribution of funds to SP/DH programs; allowable services; administration of legislation; and contacts in each state for further information.

Download our State DH Legislation Update (pdf, 53kb)

DH Legislation Online

State support for displaced homemaker funding is more important than ever as a means to advocate resources for programs to address the unique needs and to provide services for displaced homemakers. Women Work! understands the necessity and the value this support means at the state level and we continue to monitor information about legislation across the states.

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Tip Sheets more Accessible

Women Work!’s Work, Money & Life Tip Sheets are now more accessible! View all 43 tip sheets on the Women Work! web site without taking the time to download pdf versions. Slower dial up internet connections will no longer stand in the way of your clients as they seek out practical information on getting an education, finances, finding a job, worker’s rights and work & life balance.

Print versions of Women Work! tip sheets are also still available. Simply view the tip sheet and click the “download print version” to download and print a pdf.

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Please email all calendar submissions to [email protected]. Include city, state, date, event information and who to contact for more details.

March 2009

• March 12
  Women in Science event at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls SD  
  This Women in Science event  will have 400 girls participating in all day hands on presentations.  The presenters will be women who work in various scientific occupational areas.
• March 17-18
  Career Expo at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls SDOver 1,200 sophomores from area schools will visit the campus for career exploration activities. Students will attend break-out session in areas of their interests (as tested and determined at their home schools) to listen to professionals in the designated field talk about, demonstrate and offer hands-on activities of their profession.

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ATM: Stands for Automated Teller Machines, which enable consumers to make deposits and withdrawals from their savings and checking accounts electronically 24 hours a day.

Budget: Also known as a spending plan, it is a plan for spending and saving money that balances household income and expenses.

Balance: The amount of money on deposit in a bank account or outstanding on a loan or credit card.

Bank: A profit-making financial institution where customers can access a variety of services such as checking and savings accounts, credit cards, safe deposit boxes, and loans.

Bank statements: A document that indicates the beginning and ending balance of an account and transactions that have taken place during the statement period.

Bankruptcy: The process of petitioning a court to discharge one’s debts. There are two types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 7 (liquidation of assets) and Chapter 13 (debt repayment plan).

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Comments by Jill Miller, Women Work! President/CEO

Thank you Sandra, and to Congresswoman Solis, a great leader and role model for women across America, and to the entire Congressional Women’s Caucus for hosting us here today.

I had hoped I would stand here today with good news, but unfortunately, I have the disappointing task of reporting that the number of single mothers and displaced homemakers is no better than it was ten years ago. What we have uncovered in today’s report is the dramatic increase in the combined number of single mothers and displaced homemakers – up from 15 million in 1994 to 20.9 million in 2003 an increase overall of 39%.

When looking at these two groups together, every state in the nation had an increase during the past decade.
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What is the Child Tax Credit?
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a federal tax credit for workers raising dependent children. This credit is worth up to $1,000 per “qualifying” dependent child under age 17 in 2006, and can be claimed on a worker’s federal tax return. Even some families that earned too little to owe income tax can get the credit. Eligible families will receive all or part of their CTC in the form of a refund check from the IRS. The Child Tax Credit is different than the Child and Dependent Care Credit. You may qualify for both.

The Child Tax Credit can give a worker back some or all of the income tax taken out of his or her paychecks during the year, as well as some additional income tax still owed at the end of the year. Generally, a family’s credit is equal to the total amount of their income tax for the year, up to a maximum of $1,000 per dependent child in 2006.

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Women Work! is a network of amazing individuals, dedicated to helping women achieve economic self-sufficiency. The Women Work! Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made substantial contributions to the mission of Women Work! and to women in transition.

Gilda has directed efforts for displaced homemakers programming in Maine since its inception 25 years ago. In 1978 Gilda was hired to work part time with a budget of $10,000 to provide services to displaced homemakers. Today, the Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community are located in 18 communities, with 34 full-time staff and a budget of $1.6 million. The lives of 20,000 women have been changed through the training and support services provided by the Maine Centers.

Gilda applied her leadership and organizational development skills at the national level serving nine years on the Women Work! Governing Board. During her tenure as President, Gilda guided the organization through a comprehensive process that culminated in the changing of the name to Women Work! Her participatory style of leadership and deep respect for and trust in the process ensured a positive outcome and support for the organization’s growth.

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Work, Money & Life Tip Sheets:
Practical information to help you in all areas – financial aid, credit card debt, child support, starting a business, plus much more! Recently updated and expanded. To access them for free, click here.

2005 Tax Credits for Individuals and Parents:
Learn how you can get money back at tax time — even if you didn’t owe any taxes!
Find out more…

Work Your Image!:
Advice for competing in today’s job market! Download a free copy of the Work Your Image! Tip Sheet and the new Family Guide Tip Sheet, “How to Talk with Your Kids About the Importance of Appearance on the Job”. This new resource provides valuable suggestions for talking with young people who are entering the workforce for after-school jobs, internships, summer jobs or full-time employment.
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eNews Works!

Women Work!’s monthly electronic newsletter keeps our network up-to-date on the critical issues affecting working women. Features include:

•  What’s happening at Women Work!?

•  What’s new at www.womenwork.org?

•  Helpful links and resources

•  Women in the news

Economic Equity Insider

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