Community Action Agency, Getting Ahead

3/4/2024: NO FUNDING AVAILABLE AS OF APRIL 7, 2023 *Program consists of two components including a 15-week class called Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-by World; then upon completion, participants shift to the Staying Ahead Program where they are paired with 2 mentors who meet regularly for about 6 months to advise, counsel and encourage *Program assists with GED, trade/vocational education, higher education to improve opportunities for jobs with a livable wage; employability skills, and opportunity to participate in the Agency’s On-The-Job Training (OJT) Program; job placement, coaching, and counseling; ongoing counseling, monitoring, and support from a case manager/social worker to ensure continued progress toward family self-sufficiency goals; multiple opportunities for crisis/emergency assistance during the first year (rent, utilities, food vouchers, transportation, childcare) based on the availability of resources *Participants meet once a week in a relaxed discussion type atmosphere and class members work closely with Career Source, TCC and Lively Vocational School; funding may be available to pay for tuition, books, job training, childcare on a case by case basis *Call for more information about class dates and times *Persons interested in becoming a mentor may fill out an application on website or call to volunteer

Services: Career Counseling, Child Care Expense Assistance, Economic Self Sufficiency Programs, Employment Preparation, Financial Literacy Training, GED/High School Equivalency Test Instruction, Mentoring Programs, Personal Financial Counseling, Vocational Education, Volunteer Opportunities

DCF, A Pathway to Prosperity

*DCF program that aids foster youth from the ages of 18-26 who will, or already have, aged out of foster care, in transitioning to becoming an independent adult *Connects foster youth with care navigators who provide resources in the area that help achieve economic self-sufficiency, special services for former foster youth, and resources that help young adults thrive in independence *Open to public benefit customers, pregnant mothers with substance use disorders, and parents who need assistance

Services: Case/Care Management, Economic Self Sufficiency Programs, Information and Referral

HUD, Tallahassee Housing Authority, Family-Self Sufficiency

*HUD-sponsored assistance to families in Public Housing or Section 8 programs to become economically independent (Family Self-Sufficiency Program) *Families enroll by signing a time-limited contract (currently 5 years); work on individual goals, which might include education, job training, developing a monthly budget, starting a savings account and working toward home ownership *Head of each FSS family required to become employed *FSS staff provides case management and referral services for clients, offers workshops and support groups on topics relevant to self-sufficiency *Some FSS families eligible for escrow account that saves a portion of rent payment in an interest bearing account for future use *All applicants must begin by attending a program orientation and then an interview; orientations are only held a few times a year

Services: Economic Self Sufficiency Programs, Low Income/Subsidized Rental Housing