A program of survival skills workshops for urban women

This paper provides results from an evaluation of a program of survival skills workshops for urban women. Findings from 14 workshops with 200 women trainees are reported. Survival Skills for Urban Women was created as a viable alternative to traditional programs and therapies for low-income and minority women, which often incorporate paternalistic attitudes and low expectations. The workshops were conducted in small groups led by peer trainers using prepared materials that covered tenskill topics. Skills were taught and applied by trainees that resulted in increased knowledge, application, and social interaction. It is hoped that this will lead to their increased reentry to education and work settings and decreased social dependency. The program's implications are discussed within a framework of current programs for women's therapy and treatment.