Research Based Model
Based on the Center for Working Families model developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Financial Opportunity Centes (FOC's) seek to increase low-income families’ financial well-being by providing integrated services in three core areas: employment placement and career improvement, financial education and coaching and public benefits assistance. These core services are integrated and bundled together to reinforce one another and to provide a multi-faceted approach to income and wealth-building.
Our Approach
Human services work best when seamlessly bundled together and people do best when supported by a team of coaches. As participants reduce expenses, obtain benefits, and remove barriers to employment, the net value of their earnings rises sharply.
Pair coaching connects each participant with both an employment and financial coach at every step of their journey, while public benefits assistants work with participants to maximize their chances of financial stability.
While employment is a victory, success is measured by the long-term financial stability of a family that comes from investing in themselves and their community.
How We Measure Success
FOC's are a data-informed program, using short and medium term indicators to help each participant tune their plan to maximize their outcomes. Over the long-term, we measure success by each participant’s changes in their net income, credit score, job retention and net worth. FOC partners track the impact of their work in the Family Financial Tracking data system, built on a Salesforce platform.
Program Services
Employment and Career Coaching
Personal branding/self-discovery, career development exploration, skills assessment, interviewing skills development, digital literacy training and job readiness training and job placement.
Financial Capacity Building
Budgeting, saving, banking, credit report evaluation and repair, homeownership planning, savings strategy, asset protection programs and solving specific financial challenges.
Benefit and Income Support
Benefit screening, naviagte public benefit systems to supplement income (health insurance, SNAP, utilities assistance, FAFSA, financial aid and subsidized housing).
