Stable resources like food and housing are essential for students to learn effectively. We use a model of engagement and empowerment to help students and parents access what they need through direct service and referrals to community partners.
Every parent we work alongside has some need. We strive to help parents move from Surviving to Thriving so they have the foundation they need to remain invested in the educational lives of their students.
Our Transitional Model
Surviving →
Food – Basic supply needs met through EBT, WIC, and charitable distribution from church, public agency or nonprofit.
Thriving →
Nutrition – Parent understands healthy eating and makes discerning choices in attaining food resources when possible.
Empowered!
Nourishment – Parent has regular access to healthy foods and engages family in preparing/choosing meals.
Health – Parent health rarely monitored. Child health monitored only through mandatory school check-ups or sick-child visits.
Fitness – Parent and child health monitored regularly and family regularly engages in healthy activities.
Wellness – Parent actively supports family wellness; including mental, physical, and emotional health.
Graduated – Parent has High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
Trained – Parent has HS diploma and a training certificate, some college experience, or skills-based 2-year degree.
Educated – Parent has earned and a 4-year degree or above.
Income – Public assistance, child-support, part time, minimum wage, and/or under the counter only. Poor credit score; below 620.
Employment – Parent has full-time or 2 part-time jobs, or self employed at living wage. In credit counseling with a 620-700 score.
Career – Parent has full-time job and receives wages above living wage while having the ability to advance professionally; credit score 700+.
Shelter – Doubled-up, not on lease, in shelter, unhoused, or facing eviction.
Housing – Family lives in
HACA neighborhood, receives section-8 voucher, rents, or owns home with decreasing property value.
Asset – Family sustainably owns home with increasing property value.
Transit – Family uses public or non-reliable transport; like rides from friends/extended family or ride-share service like Uber.
Transportation – Family member has consistent access to an unreliable vehicle, only appropriate for local travel.
Travel – Family sustainably owns or leases a reliable vehicle that can be used for regional travel.
Examples of our Work
Below are many of the ways we have helped Parents move from Surviving to Thriving;
- Food, Nutrition & Nourishment: Work with MANNA Food Bank to train staff and community partners in completing SNAP applications.
- OpenDoors programs like OneNeighborhood Arts, emphasize the importance of healthy eating and provides healthy food
- Health, Fitness & Wellness: Abundant relationships with area health care providers and behavioral health specialists for referral.
- Graduation, Training & Education: Helping to enroll parents in GED programs, adult Literacy, and testing support.
- Income, Employment & Career: Connecting parents with jobs and internships through our strong network of regional employers.
- Shelter, Housing & Asset: Advocacy and resources for families in public or private housing to prevent instability or eviction.
- Transit, Transportation, Travel: Established relationship with community partner ‘Working Wheels’ to provide vehicles to our referred families in need.
- Advocacy & Community Engagement: Ongoing work with parents and mentors to ensure our families have access and experience equity and inclusion around topics concerning race, poverty, and learning differences.
