Great Families 2020

The Northeast Side Neighborhood of Indianapolis

The Northeast Side

The Northeast area encompasses two previously independent settlements. Brightwood, the eastern section of the neighborhood, was first platted in 1872 and amended in 1874. Railroad workers on the “Bee Line” were the first to settle the Brightwood suburb which soon became the railroad center of Indianapolis. The town of Brightwood was incorporated in 1876 and remained autonomous until 1897 when it was annexed by Indianapolis. The Martindale area was settled in 1874, also by railroad workers who found employment in machine shops and manufacturing. Industrial growth in Martindale was supported by the nearby railroad lines and the area quickly became a working-class suburb.

Like the railroads before, Interstate 70 now supports many industrial jobs. The Mass Ave. industrial corridor is also home to more and more small manufacturers. Neighborhood cultural anchors include Martin University, founded by Boniface Hardin in 1977.

The area is now home to 5,500 residents. The population has declined by 1,500 residents since 2010. 85% of residents are Black, 8% are White, and 4% are Hispanic/Latinx. There are 1,400 youth in the neighborhood. The neighborhood is home to IPS School 51, where 339 students are enrolled. Educational attainment is relatively low in the neighborhood but increasing quickly. 12% of residents have a bachelor’s degree, up from 5% in 2010. 

The Northeast side was also home to the Great Families program, a two-generational approach to building social capital and financial capital with families in need. In this story, we will explore that program and its impacts.

How does the two-generation approach work?

Great Families 2020 was a service delivery model that uses family coaching to direct families in need of financial services to evidence-based interventions and wraparound services using the Aspen Institute’s  Ascend two-generational approach  (2Gen). This approach focuses on providing services to both parents or caregivers and their children, emphasizing high-quality early learning for children and employment pathways and economic asset-building for the parents. Furthermore, the 2Gen approach stresses the need for social capital and health and wellbeing for the whole family to improve long-term outcomes for both parents and children, recognizing each of these components is critical. 

In summary, the five key components of the model as implemented by Great Families 2020 were (1) high quality early childhood development, (2) postsecondary and employment pathways, (3) economic assets, (4) health and wellbeing, and (5) social capital.

How Great Families served the Northeast Side

The Northeast Great Families 2020 program included programming from  Edna Martin Christian Center , which provided employment coaching, financial coaching, and income support counseling through their on-site Center for Working Families program. Participating families worked with a Family Success Coach to set personal and family goals and work on budgeting, building credit, and saving. Families had access to mental health services as well as referrals to other services, and both parents and children were invited to frequent family events designed to build community and social capital. Participating children were enrolled in high-quality early childhood education both on-site and at nearby off-site locations. 

In the Northeast neighborhood, 112 families were served by Great Families 2020. Eligible families are defined as at least one custodial parent or caregiver and at least one child (ages 0–6), living together as part of a family, who need economic support or stabilization services. In all, 115 parents or caregivers and 177 children enrolled in this neighborhood program. 

Postsecondary and Employment Pathways

Program efforts: 78 people received employment counseling. 8 education and work-related goals were completed.

Outcomes: Family incomes increased

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Social Capital

Program efforts: 58 social capital events were held and 50 participants attended at least one event.

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Thinking long-term

“They bring a lot of families together. It’s a great support. It’s I feel like, number one, it’s a great support. It provides information. Sometimes it’s information you didn’t know. Sometimes, maybe information you did know, but [then] hear it from a different perspective. And also it was very supportive to hear that there’s somebody else that’s experiencing those same concerns [...] and also learning different techniques that will work for the children.”

- Program Participant

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Who Great Families Served

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Families participated in coaching to set goals and connect to services.

83% of parents or caregivers participated in coaching. 96 parents or caregivers attended an average of 11.6 family coaching meetings.

44% of parents and caregivers received a warm referral, when coaches actively support the family to make sure they are connected to services. In all, 51 parents or caregivers received 241 referrals.

The most common type of referrals were for community and family services. 45% of referrals were in this category.

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Great Families 2020 was accomplished through collaboration.

Edna Martin Christian Center (EMCC) of the Northeast side shared resources and partnered with many organizations across the city, including other Great Families partners. The network map below shows the connections EMCC made with nonprofits. Great Families 2020 partners are colored blue.

This is just the start.

Breaking the cycle of poverty in families is difficult—but it can be done, with your help. United of Central Indiana's Family Opportunity Fund supports programs to improve the education, financial stability and overall health of the whole family, providing pathways for their success and long-term stability. With your gift, you are giving families the tools they need to secure their own futures.

For more about the Family Opportunity Fund, visit    https://www.uwci.org/family-opportunity .

This story map was produced by The Polis Center at IUPUI. Neighborhood demographics are based on analysis by The Polis Center of data from the American Community Survey 2014-2018 estimates via SAVI Community Information System. Participant information in this report is based on Polis Center analysis of program and survey data collected by sites between October 2017 and June 2020. Quotations from participants and shared resource survey results were collected by the Center for Research on Inclusion and Social Policy at the IU Public Policy Institute, and success stories were provided by the United Way of Central Indiana and the participating service providers.

Full Evaluation Report