WOW provided general employability preparation and basic skills and technical training courses to help non-white single parents with low incomes find nontraditional, high-paying occupations.
WOW placed participants in specific training courses, based on standardized testing, that either provided basic education and skills training or specific technical training. Participants who scored at the sixth- or seventh-grade level on standardized testing enrolled in an 11-week basic educational skills and employability development course, followed by three weeks of unpaid work. Participants who scored at the eighth-grade level or above on standardized testing enrolled in a 22-week course covering basic elements of electromechanics, followed by an 11-week course on employability topics. Counselors helped participants set specific employment and training goals and helped them overcome life crises. WOW also helped participants find and pay for child care. Length of services varied depending on the participant’s specific training course, but most participants stopped receiving services after 12 months. WOW services were available to non-white single mothers who had low incomes. The intervention was implemented in a community-based organization in Washington, DC.