Workshop 2H: Reducing Barriers to Economic Independence Through Partnership
Content
2008-09
CC partners with Regence Blue Cross/ Blue Shield to provide
cash assistance to employees impacted by the recession.
2009
Providence Health engages CC to replicate Regence
program for their employees.
2010
CC begins management of Providence Health System’s
Helping Hand Fund.
What the Helping Hand Fund Was
•
•
•
•
•
In house for 30 years
Managed by Mission, HR, or EAP
Taxes paid on both ends (Providence and the employee)
Little oversight or managed care
Not a long term solution
What We Learned
• ATM / annual bill pay
• Lasting solutions needed
What the HHF Looks Like Now
• Confidential once in a lifetime benefit (no more repeat users)
• Ability to assist with a greater amount
• Financial Wellness seminar is a requirement
Results of the Partnership
•
•
•
•
•
Ensure consistent and comprehensive approach
100% of donations go directly to fellow caregivers
Offers a real hand up (foreclosure prevention)
Greater awareness of needs of employees
Other community partners have asked us to manage
similar funds
• Based on the initial success of our Regence and
Providence emergency assistance programs, the
agency undertakes a formal Asset Building Initiative
in 2011-12.
• This initiative engages stakeholders – clients, staff,
community partners, financial institutions, Board
members, & funders – to assess the place of asset
building in social services and potential roles for
Catholic Charities in this strategic area.
From Community Stakeholders:
•
•
•
•
Be dynamic – one size does not fit all agencies
Leverage existing internal strengths & compliment existing external
capacities/partnerships
Balance scale with quality
Embrace innovation
The Services Needed by our Clients:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Financial wellness/literacy services
Financial Coaching
Credit Building/Repair
Foreclosure Prevention
Affordable Tax Prep/ EITC Promotion
Job Training/Workforce Development/Job Placement
Self employment development support
Savings Promotion – IDA programs
Microenterprise/small business development/ loans
1.
Create organizational structures that integrate and prioritize asset
building across the agency.
2.
Enhance Financial Wellness Services by developing culturally
effective curricula and expanding to all populations served by CC.
3.
Build capacity (staff and volunteer) to deliver services.
4.
Add long term Financial Coaching support to improve client long
term success rate.
5.
Create new opportunities for clients through IDA programming,
micro/social enterprise.
6.
Identify and focus on strategic partnerships to achieve asset
building goals and to leverage needed resources and services.
The Fabric of Human Development
Communities in Need
• Low-income families
• Victims of Domestic Violence
• Homeless Women
• Pregnant Women
• Families in Crisis
• Refugees
• Youth at Risk
• Immigrants
• Individuals Impacted by Abortion
• Victims of Human Trafficking
Economic Development
EMERGENCY
A S S I S TA N C E F U N D
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
FINANCIAL
E D U C AT I O N
ONGOING
SUPPORT
Referrals from all CC Programs
Providence Health Employees
Helping Hand Fund
Lupus Patients
Molly’s Fund Patient
Assistance
Financial Education
• Saving Money
• Money Attitudes
• Budgeting
• Reducing Debt
Referrals
from
Parishes &
Community
Partners
Community
Members
• Additional
Classes
• Coaching
• IDAs
“Danesha”
• Sleeping in her car with her four children
since being evicted and running out of money
for a motel room.
• HHF paid for immediate lodging and CC staff
worked hand in hand with Danesha to help
her find affordable housing for her family.
• Danesha learned new money management
skills from CC’s Financial Wellness course
and is now enrolled in our Financial Coaching
program.
• The HHF paid the rental deposit and helped
acquire household items. Now Danesha and
her family are settling into their new home!
DANESHA’S
RESPONSE:
“Thank you for everything
you have done for me and
my family. You were an
answer to prayer and have
showed me how I can move
to the next level in my future
goals. I see my life moving in
a positive direction now.
Thank you from the bottom
of my heart!”
“Thank you for your help! I think it is great that this
[class] is a requirement of the Helping Hand Fund.
I know I am walking away with the extra support
and tools I need to achieve my goals.”
“I just wanted to say that the class is so good.
My husband I were treated with kindness and
a non-judgmental attitude as we were helped
with our finances. We were put at ease.
I am really looking forward to the classes
helping us as my husband has lost two jobs
in the last few years.”
Of the 818 surveyed participants to date…
• 99% found the class helpful
Of 528 participants who answered questions about how the class
influenced them…
• 82% were committed to starting an emergency fund
• 96% were committed to using a monthly budget plan
• 84% were committed to paying down debt
Of 130 class participants who provided an update 6 months later…
• 50% report having increased their savings
• 50% report using a monthly budget plan
• 57% report a reduction in personal debt
• Address immediate presenting issues by providing tools,
resources, and referrals to improve financial situations.
• Help clients change financial behaviors by providing
accountability.
• Assist clients in identifying financial goals (short and long term)
and support client while they work toward meeting those goals.
• Enroll in IDA’s if appropriate to client goals.
Attended 4th
Session
14
Attended 3rd
Session
17
Attended 2nd
Session
23
Attended 1st
Session
36
Packet Rec'd
Back
39
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
“I always felt that I was a conscientious and thrifty spender,
but I was not organized. Catholic Charities enabled me to
take a hard look at my finances, which my partner and I
avoided for far too long, and they provided easy-to-follow
guidelines for saving money and managing our finances.
They also offered very easy budget sheets and other
methods of tracking our spending that worked best for our
lifestyle. After a few months of one-on-one coaching, my
partner and I feel confident with our spending routine, and
we are actively saving money for emergencies and
homeownership.”
•
Internal audit conducted in 2012
•
FWS’ administration of the HHF received recommendation of Best Practices within
the Providence Health System with the additional recommendation that it be shared
with the National Catholic Healthcare Association
•
Replicated in Spokane, WA w/partnership between Providence and CC
•
Quote from our partner:
“The partnership with Providence Health & Services Oregon and Catholic Charities has
been incredible. Our Helping Hand Fund traditionally was a program that provided support
to individual employees based on their immediate short term needs. Today it has been
transformed into a model for ongoing sustainability. Through this partnership our healthcare
professionals and caregivers are empowered to take real and lasting steps for sustainable
change. Our investment has united our organizations to form a lifeline in the face of what
could be an overwhelming financial crisis. It has also enabled us to learn how our efforts
are making a difference.”
OUR VISION
Every financially vulnerable but motivated household
served by Catholic Charities Oregon will seamlessly
access and develop the financial, physical, spiritual,
and relational tools and resources they need to
achieve economic independence according to their
self-identified goals for long-term prosperity.
“Give a man a fish,
feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish
and feed him
for a lifetime.”
CC partners with Regence Blue Cross/ Blue Shield to provide
cash assistance to employees impacted by the recession.
2009
Providence Health engages CC to replicate Regence
program for their employees.
2010
CC begins management of Providence Health System’s
Helping Hand Fund.
What the Helping Hand Fund Was
•
•
•
•
•
In house for 30 years
Managed by Mission, HR, or EAP
Taxes paid on both ends (Providence and the employee)
Little oversight or managed care
Not a long term solution
What We Learned
• ATM / annual bill pay
• Lasting solutions needed
What the HHF Looks Like Now
• Confidential once in a lifetime benefit (no more repeat users)
• Ability to assist with a greater amount
• Financial Wellness seminar is a requirement
Results of the Partnership
•
•
•
•
•
Ensure consistent and comprehensive approach
100% of donations go directly to fellow caregivers
Offers a real hand up (foreclosure prevention)
Greater awareness of needs of employees
Other community partners have asked us to manage
similar funds
• Based on the initial success of our Regence and
Providence emergency assistance programs, the
agency undertakes a formal Asset Building Initiative
in 2011-12.
• This initiative engages stakeholders – clients, staff,
community partners, financial institutions, Board
members, & funders – to assess the place of asset
building in social services and potential roles for
Catholic Charities in this strategic area.
From Community Stakeholders:
•
•
•
•
Be dynamic – one size does not fit all agencies
Leverage existing internal strengths & compliment existing external
capacities/partnerships
Balance scale with quality
Embrace innovation
The Services Needed by our Clients:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Financial wellness/literacy services
Financial Coaching
Credit Building/Repair
Foreclosure Prevention
Affordable Tax Prep/ EITC Promotion
Job Training/Workforce Development/Job Placement
Self employment development support
Savings Promotion – IDA programs
Microenterprise/small business development/ loans
1.
Create organizational structures that integrate and prioritize asset
building across the agency.
2.
Enhance Financial Wellness Services by developing culturally
effective curricula and expanding to all populations served by CC.
3.
Build capacity (staff and volunteer) to deliver services.
4.
Add long term Financial Coaching support to improve client long
term success rate.
5.
Create new opportunities for clients through IDA programming,
micro/social enterprise.
6.
Identify and focus on strategic partnerships to achieve asset
building goals and to leverage needed resources and services.
The Fabric of Human Development
Communities in Need
• Low-income families
• Victims of Domestic Violence
• Homeless Women
• Pregnant Women
• Families in Crisis
• Refugees
• Youth at Risk
• Immigrants
• Individuals Impacted by Abortion
• Victims of Human Trafficking
Economic Development
EMERGENCY
A S S I S TA N C E F U N D
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
FINANCIAL
E D U C AT I O N
ONGOING
SUPPORT
Referrals from all CC Programs
Providence Health Employees
Helping Hand Fund
Lupus Patients
Molly’s Fund Patient
Assistance
Financial Education
• Saving Money
• Money Attitudes
• Budgeting
• Reducing Debt
Referrals
from
Parishes &
Community
Partners
Community
Members
• Additional
Classes
• Coaching
• IDAs
“Danesha”
• Sleeping in her car with her four children
since being evicted and running out of money
for a motel room.
• HHF paid for immediate lodging and CC staff
worked hand in hand with Danesha to help
her find affordable housing for her family.
• Danesha learned new money management
skills from CC’s Financial Wellness course
and is now enrolled in our Financial Coaching
program.
• The HHF paid the rental deposit and helped
acquire household items. Now Danesha and
her family are settling into their new home!
DANESHA’S
RESPONSE:
“Thank you for everything
you have done for me and
my family. You were an
answer to prayer and have
showed me how I can move
to the next level in my future
goals. I see my life moving in
a positive direction now.
Thank you from the bottom
of my heart!”
“Thank you for your help! I think it is great that this
[class] is a requirement of the Helping Hand Fund.
I know I am walking away with the extra support
and tools I need to achieve my goals.”
“I just wanted to say that the class is so good.
My husband I were treated with kindness and
a non-judgmental attitude as we were helped
with our finances. We were put at ease.
I am really looking forward to the classes
helping us as my husband has lost two jobs
in the last few years.”
Of the 818 surveyed participants to date…
• 99% found the class helpful
Of 528 participants who answered questions about how the class
influenced them…
• 82% were committed to starting an emergency fund
• 96% were committed to using a monthly budget plan
• 84% were committed to paying down debt
Of 130 class participants who provided an update 6 months later…
• 50% report having increased their savings
• 50% report using a monthly budget plan
• 57% report a reduction in personal debt
• Address immediate presenting issues by providing tools,
resources, and referrals to improve financial situations.
• Help clients change financial behaviors by providing
accountability.
• Assist clients in identifying financial goals (short and long term)
and support client while they work toward meeting those goals.
• Enroll in IDA’s if appropriate to client goals.
Attended 4th
Session
14
Attended 3rd
Session
17
Attended 2nd
Session
23
Attended 1st
Session
36
Packet Rec'd
Back
39
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
“I always felt that I was a conscientious and thrifty spender,
but I was not organized. Catholic Charities enabled me to
take a hard look at my finances, which my partner and I
avoided for far too long, and they provided easy-to-follow
guidelines for saving money and managing our finances.
They also offered very easy budget sheets and other
methods of tracking our spending that worked best for our
lifestyle. After a few months of one-on-one coaching, my
partner and I feel confident with our spending routine, and
we are actively saving money for emergencies and
homeownership.”
•
Internal audit conducted in 2012
•
FWS’ administration of the HHF received recommendation of Best Practices within
the Providence Health System with the additional recommendation that it be shared
with the National Catholic Healthcare Association
•
Replicated in Spokane, WA w/partnership between Providence and CC
•
Quote from our partner:
“The partnership with Providence Health & Services Oregon and Catholic Charities has
been incredible. Our Helping Hand Fund traditionally was a program that provided support
to individual employees based on their immediate short term needs. Today it has been
transformed into a model for ongoing sustainability. Through this partnership our healthcare
professionals and caregivers are empowered to take real and lasting steps for sustainable
change. Our investment has united our organizations to form a lifeline in the face of what
could be an overwhelming financial crisis. It has also enabled us to learn how our efforts
are making a difference.”
OUR VISION
Every financially vulnerable but motivated household
served by Catholic Charities Oregon will seamlessly
access and develop the financial, physical, spiritual,
and relational tools and resources they need to
achieve economic independence according to their
self-identified goals for long-term prosperity.
“Give a man a fish,
feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish
and feed him
for a lifetime.”
