COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS:

BASICS OF PROGRAM DESIGN

Working Families Success Network Conference

November 7, 2013

Financial Opportunity Center Model

• Improves family financial stability• Intentionally integrates 3 services• Employment placement• Financial coaching• Income supports

• Outcomes• Increases in Net income• Increases in Credit score• Long term job retention• Increases in Net worth

Elements of Successful FOCs

Sample Client Flow

COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONSBASICS OF PROGRAM DESIGNPresented by: Pauline Sylvain, North Lawndale Employment NetworkEllen Ray, Center for Changing Lives

WHO WE ARE Pauline Sylvain, Program Director

Center for Working Families, a program of North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN)

NLEN’s mission is to improve the earnings potential of North Lawndale residents through innovative employment initiatives that lead to economic advancement and an improved quality of life.

Ellen Ray, Executive Director Center for Working Families model is embedded into

Center for Changing Lives (CCL) CCL’s mission is to provide comprehensive support to

community residents at-risk of or experiencing homelessness or housing instability so they may obtain and maintain permanent housing.

CBO PROGRAM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS When to design (and revisit) program flow How process reinforces staff/service

integration What practices build a team-wide

understanding How to use data to inform flow and design How to encourage conversations about

finances

Design/Flow as logistics vs.

Design as an expression of service methodology & organizational values

LOGISTICS VS. IDENTITYIf your flow or design is all about

mechanics, the process ends when you put it on paper.

BUT

If your flow or design illustrates your beliefs about change and your values as an organization, then it becomes ALIVE.

Living flows can help us do the work more effectively, efficiently and

collaboratively.

LOGISTICS VS. IDENTITYSome questions to ask at the start:

How does change happen? Who’s responsible for the change process? How do we balance our needs and our clients?What is that nature of our service relationship?What do we believe about what services are

valuable? (and which are not?) How do clients move through our programs

currently? What values or beliefs does that movement evidence?

Where do our current programs intersect? What does that say about our values or beliefs?

TIMING When to design (and revisit) program flow Flow first – At start-up and at intro of new

elements Tweak the flow/visual representation Solicit and incorporate feedback Review at common evaluative spaces

INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION How process reinforces staff/service

integration Changing people vs. changing process Coupling or connecting services Balancing Desirable, Needed & Mandatory

Services Reinforcing Practices (data review, integration

mtgs)

MODEL RATIONALE What practices build a team-wide

understanding Cross Training Coaching and Financial Content Inter-disciplinary meetings CWF staff in external departmental meetings

DATA INFORMED How to use data to inform flow and design

Own one system as yours! Review it together Identify successes and challengesFoster retention or reengagement strategies

TALK ABOUT MONEY How to encourage conversations about finances Coach from the start Many financial touches Understand your culture/client’s culture Be willing to go “there” (including to your own) Share the rationale

CLIENT NEED & ORGANIZATION VALUES How to create a design as unique as you are!

Who are your clients and what do they need? What are your organization values? Is your design accessible, culturally competent,

and responsive? Where are the places you can take a risk?

Center for Changing Lives

Revised Spring 2013

Eligibility and Crisis Screening

Appt:Income Supports

with Case Manager

External Referrals for Crisis Services:

Emergency Food Shelter & Interim Housing

Emergency Medical or Mental Health Care

IC

IntensiveCase

Management

Appt:Housing and

Financial Coach

Orientation(1 hour)

AE2

Housing PlacementHomeless

Prevention Credit & Asset

Building

Emergency Fund & ACA Walk-Ins Only

Job Placement

Job Readiness Workshop

Visit:Resource

Room

EW

RR

Appt:Employment

Coaches

EC

Appt:Housing and

Financial Coaches

FC

FC

CFA

CFA

AE1

Appt:Intake with Intake Worker and ACA Walk-In Services

Job Placement(Subsidized and Unsubsidized)

Visit:Resource

Room

Appt:Fin. Coach

CFA

Appt:IS CoachOrientation

U-Turn Permitted Urban Weatherization (UWI)

U-Turn Xpress

Assessment

UWI(5 weeks)

CFA

Income Supports

Financial

Computer Class

North Lawndale Employment Network

Creating a Community That Works

Meet with Job Developer

U-Turn Xpress(1 weeks)

U-Turn Permitted(4 weeks)

CFACFA

CTA Moving Forward