Great Families 2020
The Far Eastside Neighborhood of Indianapolis
The Far Eastside
The Far Eastside is a diverse community home to 88,000 residents. Most of the neighborhood was built in the 1950s and 1960s. Interstate 465, Pendleton Pike, and Washington Street provide commercial corridors. With a racial diversity index of 0.6 out of 1.0, this area is more diverse than the average Indianapolis community. 47 percent of the population is Black, 36 percent is White, and 14 percent is Hispanic/Latinx.
The community includes 25,000 children and youth. There are six high schools in the community, including Warren Central, a community institution with over 3,600 students. There are 20 elementary schools, including five charter schools such as Tindley Summit Academy and Andrew J. Brown Academy. Indian Creek Elementary is the largest primary school in the community.
The Far Eastside is 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 Far Eastside
The Far Eastside Great Families 2020 program was housed by the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) , through which case management services were provided, as well as personal finance services through the on-site Center for Working Families. Participating families worked with a Family Success Coach to discuss and set personal and family goals and receive referrals to other services in the community. Families also worked with a Financial Coach about topics such as budgeting, building credit, and saving. In addition to being enrolled in high-quality early childhood education, participating children had access to additional educational supports.
In the Far Eastside neighborhood, 173 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, 182 parents or caregivers and 237 children enrolled in this neighborhood program.
Economic Assets
Program efforts: 137 people received financial counseling. 55 financial goals were completed.
Outcomes: Family incomes increased.
f
f
Postsecondary and Employment Pathways
Program efforts: 68 education- and work-related were goals completed.
f
Thinking long term
“I'm not going to be in this program forever, so I'm learning every day, and at the same time planning for the long term. So I think with the budgeting they’re doing a nice job with that, because it's not just for the day-to-day only. It’s for a way longer period.”
- Program Participant
-
-
f
f
Who Great Families Served
Race and ethnicity
Most participants were Black, while about half of neighborhood residents are Black. One quarter of participants were Latinx compared to one seventh of the neighborhood.
Median Household Income
Participants had much lower incomes than neighborhood residents on average. Many participants had no income, which drove down the average significantly.
Education Levels
The educational attainment of the participants matched that of the neighborhood. One-in-four participants lacked a high school diploma, but 22 percent had some college or a two-year degree.
Employment
Compared to the neighborhood, a higher share of program participants are in the workforce and seeking employment.
-
-
Families participated in coaching to set goals and connect to services.
87% of parents or caregivers participated in coaching. 159 parents or caregivers attended an average of 5.4 family coaching meetings.
76% of parents and caregivers received a warm referral, when coaches actively support the family to make sure they are connected to services. In all, 138 parents or caregivers received 399 referrals.
42% of referrals were in the community and family category, making it the most common type.
Great Families 2020 was accomplished through collaboration.
Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE) shared resources and partnered with many organizations across the city, including other Great Families partners. The network map below shows the connections CAFE 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 .
