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What is P.R.O.B.E.?
P.R.O.B.E. is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization,
whose mission is to assist single parents, displaced
homemakers (those that are separated, widowed, or
divorced), and individuals in transition in achieving
economic self-sufficiency.
During her teaching career at Penn State, P.R.O.B.E.'s
founder Dr. Kathryn Towns saw the difficulties facing
the many displaced women returning to college. She
founded P.R.O.B.E. as a Penn State program in 1978.
P.R.O.B.E. has been a member agency of the United
Way for 21 years.
As Executive Director Kathy Verna puts it: "P.R.O.B.E
believes in people before they can believe in themselves."
New Choices/New Options
Have you ever decided that you needed to make
a change?
The P.R.O.B.E. model created by Dr. Towns was used
to create the 23 New Choices/New Options programs
in the Pennsylvania network. The program provides
intensive career counseling and job readiness skill
training.
Director Kathy Verna sees the program as "A
gift our students give themselves". The program
allows students who may have never considered their
career options to take time and find out what best
suites their current lifestyle.
The program consists of five weeks of classes. The
classes meet three times a week. The first half of
the classes focus on personal development and exploring
personal career needs. The second, and more difficult
half of the classes focus on learning specific job
skills. The program balances studying with real life
experiences; students have had the chance to tour
HACC, The Lebanon County Career Link System, and The
Pennsylvania Capitol.
The classes are offered, without cost, to single
parents, displaced workers, homemakers, and those
looking for non-traditional career. A "non-traditional
career" means a career has fewer than 25% of
a gender. Examples include nursing, which has less
than 25% men and welding, which has less than 25%
women in the field.
"We've supplied employees to a wide variety
of organizations including banks, schools, hospitals,
nursing homes, and non-profits." says Director
Kathy Verna
Beyond just providing classes, P.R.O.B.E. is versatile
in the many ways that it can help students succeed
with their career goals. Upon completing the class,
P.R.O.B.E. offers limited tuition assistance to HACC
and gives each graduate an interview suit. They have
also helped students with a variety of stumbling blocks
to success including but not limited to; helping pay
for G.E.D. tests and driver's licenses, offering limited
childcare, and even helping those who are interested
in CNS earn their certification and purchase the all
white outfits and specific watches needed for the
program. "
Our goal" says director Verna, "is to help
people towards self sufficiency. That includes helping
finding ways around stumbling blocks. Just because
you've decided to change your life doesn't mean that
the change will be easy." Arguably, the most
important thing that the classes offer is a support
network with fellow students and professionals in
the community.
Financial Literacy Project
"Every time I think I'm getting ahead, something
else happens..."
P.R.O.B.E. is also the home of another great program
which has helped over 111 residents of Lebanon County
since it was adopted by P.R.O.B.E. The financial literacy
program offers one-on-one financial counseling as
well as community workshops and increased awareness
and referral to available community support systems.
It is open to everyone in Lebanon County, regardless
of income.
Workshops and counseling have included topics such
as: Basic budgeting (payment calendars, debt management
plans, savings and checking account 101), Credit (avoiding
predatory lenders and managing good credit history
and payments), and other tools (surviving lay-off,
mortgage assistance, tax returns) and much more.
Upcoming workshops will include:
October 23 at the Lebanon Federal Credit Union Checking
Accounts
November 24 at the Lebanon Library Life Insurance
Applicants can pre-register for classes or sign up
for counseling by contacting the office at 273-2090
or stopping in. Thanks to the funding from organizations
like the United Way and private donations, all of
P.R.O.B.E.'s financial literacy and job preparation
classes are free.
Family Savings Account Program
Money doesn't exactly grow on trees... but in
Lebanon County a little bit of dedication can make
it feel that way.
Thanks to the Pennsylvania FSA program, dedicated
savers can find an extra 2,000 dollars in their accountsThis
free matching money is available to eligible families
to begin a savings account toward appropriate goals.
These goals include; home purchase, home repair, higher
education for the participant or a dependant, a car
for work or school, or financing a small business.
The FSA is a statewide program that is administered
for Lebanon County residents through P.R.O.B.E. Participants
agree to save at least $10 per week for 12 months
to two years. They also agree to take at least four
workshops on financial literacy. .
Eligible participants for the FSA program are residents
of Lebanon County who a household net worth of less
than $10,000 and who meet income guidelines. Assets
exclude a house and one car. For example, a family
of four has a maximum income of $42,400 while a one
person household has a maximum income of $20,800.
At the beginning of October, the FSA program had
16 applicants. The program has a total of 39 available
slots for $2,000. Should a participant choose to save
a goal less than the $2,000, the slot can be split.
The next application meeting will be held after the
1st of January. Interested parties are urged to contact
the P.R.O.B.E. office at 815 Cumberland St or to call
717.273.2090 to reserve a spot at the next meeting.
P.R.O.B.E. has volunteer opportunities for anyone
with special interests and skills who would be willing
to speak to classes. They also accept volunteers to
help with office tasks.
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