Community Issues

According to the 2006 LIFE Study:

• 17% of our residents reported worrying about having enough food for their families.
• 41% of single mothers with children under the age of five live in poverty.
• 19% of students qualify for free or reduced meals.
• Almost 51,000 households or 35% had total household income below $35,000 in 2004.
• An updated survey from the U.S. Census Bureau reported that nearly 35,000 people, or more than 9.5% of the people living in the Appleton/Oshkosh area, had incomes below the federal poverty level in 2006.  This is a greater than 50% increase since 2004, when the Census Bureau reported that 6% of area residents lived in poverty.

Project Description

In conjunction with release of the 2006 LIFE Study, United Way Fox Cities' Strengthening Families Impact Area had just completed a two-year extensive study of issues affecting families in the Fox Cities. The impact area learned that many families living in poverty lack the necessary life skills to effect changes in their circumstances and that the best way to address life skills is through a family mentoring program.

The Family Mentoring Program matches a team of mentors with families desiring to make long-term changes in their lives through the establishment and accomplishment of meaningful, self-sufficiency goals as determined by the families. A professional family support specialist (social worker) serves as the primary service provider for each family and their volunteers. The family support specialist matches families trying to address their issues related to poverty with volunteers who are willing to support that family in reaching their self-sufficiency goals. Volunteers are matched based on family goals and the volunteer's skills, talents and interests.

This initiative is being done in partnership with the ThedaCare-led Community Health Action Team (CHAT) and is administered by CAP Services.

Results to Date

The program began enrolling families in December of 2007.  After eighteen months of operation, the program reported the following results:

• 23 families have been served by the program.
• Families are able to identify and work on at least one self-sufficiency goal.
  • 100% have identified at least one self-sufficiency goal.
  • 93% are working on at least one self-sufficiency goal.
• Families show improvement on the self-sufficiency assessment tool.
  • 85% improved one step in one area in six months.
  • 67% improved one step in two areas after one year.
• Families demonstrate improved problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • 85% of families reported they learned and were able to use new problem-solving and decision-making skills.
  • 83% of families were able to identify at least three people they trust and can go to for guidance and advice.