Through the expansion of the Employment Transitions program, single parents in the Labrador region may now receive dedicated employment transition support.

"This initiative builds on the strengths of single parents," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "It connects single parents with work opportunities and gives employers the opportunity to benefit from the many skills and talents single parents have to offer the workplace. The Employment Transitions program has already proven to be successful in other areas of the province and I am pleased that single parents in Labrador may now also avail of it."

Employment Transitions allows single parents to participate in a nine-week program consisting of sessions that focus on career planning, job readiness, job maintenance, and life skills. In addition, participants receive access to individual counselling, an earned income supplement and job advancement supports following completion of the program.

The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment is an active partner with the Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and supports its successful program in St. John�s and Conception Bay North. In addition, the Employment Transitions program has been operating in Corner Brook since March 2006 and in September 2009 it was launched in Grand Falls-Windsor.

For the delivery of Employment Transitions in the Happy Valley-Goose Bay area, the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment has partnered with the Labrador Friendship Centre.

Employment Transitions is an initiative of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, which was created to reduce, alleviate and prevent poverty throughout the province. The goal of the strategy is to make Newfoundland and Labrador the province with the lowest level of poverty in Canada within a 10-year period. $132.2 million was allocated in Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation to assist with poverty reduction efforts.

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