The core program of STRIVE-New Haven is a low-cost, high-impact, three week workshop in a simulated workplace environment. The structured training is centered around personal responsibility, attitude, and soft skills development. STRIVE’s training program is short by design. The goal is to help the unemployed make critical adjustments and get to work as quickly as possible. For employers, STRIVE utilizes the classroom training to assess potential members of the labor market to minimize the employer’s hiring risks. STRIVE pre-screens candidates according to an employer’s standards, and acts as a part of their human resources department to help streamline the hiring process. Once an employer hires one STRIVE graduate, it isn’t hard to convince them to hire another, as every STRIVE graduate is ready, willing, and eager to go to work. STRIVE-New Haven has been in operation since 2000, has graduated over 1,100 Greater New Haven Residents, and has put over 850 to work. STRIVE truly sets itself apart from other workforce agencies through extensive tracking and follow-up. With two years of graduate follow-up services, including mental health counseling, affordable housing placement, job placement, professional clothing for interviews, computer support, and case management, STRIVE-New Haven provides the difference between the graduates finding a job, and keeping that job. Beyond the first two years, STRIVE offers every graduate lifetime access to our job development and supportive services, in New Haven or at any of the other 22 STRIVE locations. The STRIVE program is offered at no cost to its participants, and referral services are 100% free to employers. In its ten year history STRIVE has maintained a 77 percent job placement rate for its graduates and, as a testament to the quality of training and ongoing support, 72 percent remain employed after two years.