@
Improving the quality of life in Northern Greenville County
Imagine this: A school system that bases its success and is accountable, not only on the number of graduates, but how successful they are in the years that follow. How might this change the way we educate?
The National Model
The Annie E. Casey Foundation developed the Center for Working Families (CWF) model as “an approach to help low-income families reach financial stability and move up the economic ladder” that specifically helps families “increase their earnings and income,” “reduce financial transaction costs” and “build wealth for themselves and their communities.” In order to move from FFR’s historical model of services, the national CWF model was modified to fit the population and region that we serve.
LISC, another leader in workforce development, recently analyzed the outcomes from 40,000 people who visited their Financial Opportunity Centers (CWF model) nationwide and their findings showed “a direct relationship between the number/type of services accessed and the clients’ ability to grow their earnings and secure their finances”. They also found that “clients who received both financial counseling and employment services had net income increases that were 89 percent higher than those receiving only financial or income support counseling.”
More specifically:
- 76 percent of clients increased their net income
- Over half increased their net worth
- 60 percent either increased their credit score or acquired a credit score
- 58 percent of those who started with zero or negative net income moved to positive net income
Addressing the Industry Need
The CWF at Foothills Family Resources (FFR) was adapted to fit the community of Northern Greenville County by consulting with local industry leaders to determine what their needs were and the results were surprising.
50% of employers lose half of their new hires within 90 days
- 80% lose 4 of 10 employees within 90 days
- 96% report absenteeism/tardiness as the most likely reason for poor retention rates
To combat this, FFR focuses on creating the habits of punctuality, preparedness and proper dress. Students are held accountable to these three simple disciplines in all one-on-one coaching sessions while also learning skills such as money management, interviewing skills, and resume development.