Rowan College helps homemakers transition into breadwinners

MILLVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Divorce, death of spouse or even the desertion of a loved one can plunge a woman into poverty.

Rowan College of South Jersey offers a program focused on transitioning homemakers into breadwinners.

"I get a lot of women in here who are stressed, it's hard for them to focus," Traci Mayo-Faulk, the Displaced Homemaker Grant & Certified Nurse Aide Program coordinator, told The Daily Journal. "I sit down, foremost, I'm here to listen to whatever they want to talk about."

Then Mayo-Faulk turns the conversation to what's next.

The Displaced Homemaker Program offers emotional support and educational training to help those dealing with traumatic issues regain their financial footing to provide for their families.

"This program is for single parents looking to obtain self-sufficiency," Mayo-Faulk said, noting the program is open to all, but woman make up 99 percent of the enrollment.

The program is funded through a $169,000 annual grant from the state Department of Children and Families, Division of Women. Of that, $103,000 is directly applied to training.

Mayo-Faulk exhausts the training money, using a loaves-and-fishes approach to reach as many applicants as possible — about 90 per year. No one gets turned away, although they may be placed on the wait list for the next grant allocation.

The best advice she offers those thinking about applying is "don't wait."

"Not everyone who comes through this grant program has to take a course for job training," Mayo-Faulk said. "You are able to use the other resources that we have, such a job readiness workshops, resume building, interviewing skills, and computer training."

There's support to help those who need to regain their self-confidence and assertiveness.

"These are the things that some of the women...