STEP Program

Helping SNAP recipients find high wage and high demand jobs through LBCC.


The LBCC STEP program is for students who are receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits. As a participant in STEP, students receive enhanced academic and financial support in reaching their educational and career goals. STEP can help with pre-college preparation and funding for classes such as GED, Adult Basic Education (ABE), and English Language Acquisition (ELA). STEP can help students with funding and coaching while completing college courses, leading to a certificate and/or an associate degree. Additionally, STEP can help with resume and cover letter writing assistance, interview skills preparation, and mock interviews.

 

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be a SNAP recipient, authorized to work in the US, and able to work upon completion of your educational program. Please complete the STEP Interest Form. We will contact you shortly and include information about how to take your first steps to prepare for STEP.

You must also have an LBCC student ID number (X or 9 number). If you have not yet applied to be a student, apply now and select "Option 1" to get started.

Important: TANF recipients are not eligible for enrollment in STEP. However, if you are nearing the end of your TANF enrollment, please complete the STEP Interest Form so we can explore your post-TANF options.

Student Onboarding Process

  1. Complete our interest form to be placed on our list to be called when a space is available. If you don't have a readily accessible email address, please create a new one (available for free and quick to set up on sites like Gmail or Yahoo). Email will be an important part of the enrollment process both for STEP and for LBCC.
  2. We will email you a questionnaire when it’s close to time to get started. Please make sure to complete this questionnaire as soon as possible when you receive it. This is how we ensure that everyone on our list is still interested in joining STEP and it helps us to get folks enrolled more quickly.
  3. You will receive an email inviting you to schedule your STEP orientation. Follow up as soon as possible; spaces are limited.
  4. Attend orientation and complete the enrollment form.
  5. Meet with your coach and get started on your goals!

No, it is free to enroll in STEP. However, there are costs associated with enrollment at LBCC. Your STEP Coach with work with you to navigate potential funding sources. 

No, you must still apply for admission to LBCC and register for classes.

Yes, many classes are offered virtually or online. Additionally, you have access to public transportation, and STEP participants have access to assistance for transportation for training and education-related purposes.

Yes, STEP can assist you with the cost of GED and English language classes and testing. STEP Coaches can assist you with short-term training as you prepare to enter your college-level program of study.

You can use LBCC's Career Coach for guidance. Additionally, LBCC's First Resort can assist you with determining areas of focus.

Databases like Quality Info and the Occupational Outlook Handbook use data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Oregon Employment Department to provide the latest information about jobs that might interest you before you apply. Once you select an occupation, you can read about what career professionals do on the job, how to become qualified, and what the growth potential and wage range for that job is in your area.

STEP can assist you with some of the cost of tuition, plus help you with finding and applying for additional grant and scholarship funding. The program can also assist with costs associated with books and supplies, specific program needs, and transportation assistance.

STEP offers assistance with building a resume and preparing materials for job applications. Most jobs require an online application, resume, and cover letter. Your STEP Coach can also help prepare you for interviews. 

Yes, complete or update an iMatchSkills profile. Also register for the National Career readiness Certificate (NCRC).

iMatchSkills matches current, local job openings to the profile you create so that you can find job listings that correspond to your skills, experience, and interest. An iMatchSkills account is the first step to enrolling in STEP as well as registering for workshops for job seekers (including the NCRC) at your local Worksource Oregon office. 

If you already have an account, log in with your username and password and make sure that your information is current. If not, click on “Create an Account” and follow the instructions. Once you have created a profile and logged in, you can study for the NCRC by clicking the link that says “Work-Related Skills Review” under the Resources and Services heading.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can also be obtained from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992 or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.

The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or
  3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov

 This institution is an equal opportunity provider.