SuitAbility

Community Teamwork, Inc.
167 Dutton St.
Lowell, MA 01852
(978) 459-0551

536 Pawtucket St.
Lowell, MA 01854
(978) 934-8898

SuitAbility

SuitAbility collaborates with Community Teamwork to enhance the marketability of economically challenged women. Under the direction of Kathleen Hayes, SuitAbility provides support services, appropriate interview/work clothing, an evening drop-in center, mentor program and free Steps to Success Workshops to low income women.

SuitAbility is committed to helping women become self sufficient and economically independent. We strive to bridge the gap between job training programs and employment. After completing a job training program, women have the skills to perform, but often cannot afford the appropriate attire for the initial interview and subsequent job. SuitAbility provides interview clothing at no cost to women applying for a position at any level in both traditional and non-traditional fields.

How Can My Program Access SuitAbility?

If your organization is a job training or social service program assisting women to find employment, contact us at 978-934-8898 to request a questionnaire, which will serve as an application.

Designate a staff person who will be the contact person to SuitAbility.

Complete and return the job training program questionnaire.

Participate in an on-site or phone interview conducted by a board member to assess the compatibility of the needs and goals of both SuitAbility and the job training program.

How Does SuitAbility operate?

SuitAbility is staffed by trained volunteers. Clients will be scheduled by appointment only.
Once your program has become a referral partner with SuitAbility, appointments can be scheduled by faxing the Client Statement of Understanding to (978) 934-8899. We will fax back an appointment which we will ask you to confirm. Please be sure to indicate your client's size and any special needs.You may call us to discuss an appointment at (978) 934-8898. If we are unavailable when you call, please leave your name and number and a member of SuitAbility will return your call as soon as possible.
After scheduling an appointment for your client and confirming it with SuitAbility, please emphasize the importance of keeping the scheduled appointment and being on time. If there is a need to cancel the appointment, call SuitAbility at (978) 934-8898 and leave a message preferably 24-hours before the appointment. A notified cancellation allows a rescheduling of your client's appointment. A client will only be able to reschedule once unless there are mitigating circumstances.

What can the Client Expect on the Day of the Appointment?

On the day of the appointment the client should bring the Statement of Understanding form. Because our space is limited and we want to give individual attention, the client should come alone. Upon arrival the client will be greeted by a trained volunteer who will show the client what is available and make suggestions in selecting clothes and accessories. The client can choose an outfit that will give the extra boost in confidence needed for the job interview. Depending on the availability of clothing in the needed sizes, the client will be given additional outfits for a week of workdays.

After the appointment, there will be a follow up telephone and mail questionnaire for the client and contact person. You will be asked to evaluate SuitAbility's process as well as questions pertaining to the client's success in securing employment. This information is required by our underwriters and is used as the basis for funding needed to continue our efforts at SuitAbility.

For more information about SuitAbility, call Kathy Hayes at 978-934-8898 or visit the SuitAbility web site at www.suitabilityma.org.