GREATER DETROIT

CENTERS FOR WORKING FAMILIES

2019-2020 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Pre-application Webinar | 4.29.2019

Megan Thibos, Director of Economic Mobility Initiatives, United Way for Southeastern MichiganJacqueline Burau, Senior Program Officer, LISC Detroit

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Agenda

1. Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families Network

2. Centers for Working Families model

3. Request for Proposals process and requirements

4. Questions & answers

Feel free to ask a question at any time using the chat function in the webinar

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GREATER DETROIT CWF NETWORK

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Greater Detroit Centers for Working Families Network

• Founded in 2008 following Annie E. Casey Foundation model

• Intermediary partnership between United Way for Southeastern Michigan and LISC Detroit

• Intermediaries provide technical assistance, training for staff, data platform, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities (incl. national conference)

• Services provided by a network of community-based implementation partners

• RFP required for organizations wishing to receive 2019-2020 funding as a network partner

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CENTER FOR WORKING FAMILIES MODEL

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Centers for Working Families core principles

1. The critical ingredients to economic prosperity are adequate income and strong financial capabilities, coupled with access to quality employment and financial opportunities.

2. Achieving economic prosperity is a long-term process requiring a long-term commitment from both supporting organizations and individuals. Small successes build upon each other, but small setbacks threaten to derail fragile progress.

3. Services to support economic prosperity work best when they are grounded in clients’ own goals, integrated with complementary services, and seamlessly delivered by a community-based organization.

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The goal: increase economic prosperity

Increase financial wellbeingIncrease income

Access to & skills for living-

wage jobs

Increase financial

capabilities

Economic prosperity

Income supports (food stamps, TANF, EITC, housing

assistance, etc)

Access to financial

opportunities

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Centers for working families model

• Employment services • Financial capabilities services• Income supports services

Three core services

• Integrated & seamless service delivery• Coaching approach• Leadership buy-in• Data-tracking and data-driven

decision-making

Essential execution principles

• Continuous improvement, innovation, and focus on outcomes

• Human-centered design• Long-term relationship with clients• Professional development and peer

networking

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Why is integration important?

Financial capabilities / wellbeingJobs skills / income

New skills help client secure a better-paying job,

increasing income

Increased income allows client to get current on old debts,

improving credit score

Improved credit score allows client to lower borrowing costs, increasing disposable income, in turn allowing client to pay down debt, build

savings, and increase financial resiliency

Increased savings allows client the financial cushion to take a few weeks off for further

training, increasing earning potential

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Evidence-based model

In an independent study, two years after program entry, participants were:

More likely to be employed year-round21 percentage points more likely than at intake (36.5% vs 15.6%)5.4 percentage points more likely than a control group receiving standard workforce services only (36.5% vs 31.1%)

More likely to reduce non-asset-related debt (e.g., credit card debt)

More likely to build positive credit histories

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Employment services

Multiple delivery methods• 1:1 employment coaching • Workshops• Structured training programs• Long-term relationships• Career advancement /

alumni engagement

Range of services• Assessment of job skills, literacy/ math,

career interests & aptitudes• Job readiness and soft-skills • Job search assistance (resume review, mock

interviews, 1:1 support, etc.) • Job placement (direct connections to

employers)• Adult basic education• Sector-specific occupational skills• Entrepreneurship training/coaching

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Financial capabilities services

Built around 1:1 financial coaching • Workshops provide added engagement & outreach / recruiting

Key elements• Coaching approach grounded in client goals• Create an action plan unique to each client’s situation • Builds financial capabilities and skills to support long-term changes to financial

behaviors -- much more than financial “literacy”• Long-term relationship that evolves over time as clients’ needs and goals evolve• Baseline assessment and outcome tracking built around budget/cash flow,

balance sheet (assets and debts), credit report• Connections to financial opportunities

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UNITED WAY FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN

Coaching helps people build financial capabilities

Set goals

Manage money

Increase income

Build savings

Pay down debt

Build credit

New oppor-tunities

for less stress and fewer late fees

from work, benefits, and tax credits

for emergencies and occasional bills

for less money spent on interest

for lower rates and more opportunities

to increase income and build wealth

life goals determine financial goals

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Income supports services

Multiple delivery methods• Built into intake process• Dedicated 1:1 coaching sessions

Key elements• Screening at intake for eligibility for public benefits• Assistance with completing applications and navigating process• Assistance with maintaining eligibility and filing for recertification• Expert help to understand how change to income will impact benefits• Connection to free tax prep and Earned Income Tax Credit• Re-assessment as client circumstances change

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Multiple possible staffing & client flow models

Client BClient A Client C

Financial coach

Employment coach

Income supports

coach

Client BClient A Client C

Coach BCoach A Coach C

• Employment• Financial• Income

supports

• Employment• Financial• Income

supports

• Employment• Financial• Income

supports

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RFP PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS

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Three application tracks – choose only one

Existing center

• Currently operating as a CWF member

Transitional center

Pilotcenter

• NOT currently operating as a CWF member• Are currently providing at least two of the three services • Wish to transition to full implementation of the

integrated Center for Working Families model.

• Currently operating only one or none of the three services

and/or

• Require more time and support to implement the model

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Timeline

• Applications due: Thursday, May 16, 5pm

• Conversations on budgets and outcome metrics: Week of June 3rd

• Final selected partners notified: Week of June 10th

• Grant start date, transitional centers begin transition: July 1, 2019

• Intensive technical assistance period: July – September, 2019

• Pilot centers begin phased implementation: October 1, 2019

• Transitional centers achieve full implementation: January 1, 2020

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Required application components

Must apply through United Way’s online Apricot system

• Contact information• Narrative proposal, submitted as a single document, guidelines vary by application track.

• Existing Centers (10 single-spaced pages) • Transitional Centers (15 single-spaced pages) • Pilot Centers (10 single-spaced pages)

• Client flow diagram.• Statement of support from senior leadership. • Leveraged budget. Please use provided template.• Copy of most recent audited financial statements.• IRS 501 (c)(3) designation.• List of board members.• Proposed outcome metrics for the grant period and, to the extent available, actual

performance metrics for the prior 9 months.19

Narrative proposal sections & scoring

Existing Transitional Pilot

Organization overview 5 5 5

Existing services & transition/implementation plan n/a 15 15

Program structure & client flow (& diagram) 20 15 15

Service integration 10 10 10

Staffing model & capacity 10 10 10

CWF model execution 15 n/a n/a

Lessons learned & future plans 15 n/a n/a

Program execution & lessons learned n/a 10 10

External partnerships 5 5 5

Budget & budget narrative 10 10 10

Projected outcomes & narrative 10 10 10

Data infrastructure n/a 5 5

Timeline n/a 5 5

TOTAL 100 100 100 20

Using Apricot

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https://apricot.socialsolutions.com/auth

Problems?Contact holly.bresson@liveunitedsem.org313-226-9292

Log in

If you need to make an account

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www.unitedwaysem.org/spring-2019-requests-for-proposals

Find the bulletin

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Update your partner information

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Start your application

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Fill out part 1 (very simple!) and save

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After saving, click “view folder” to access part 2

Access and fill out part 2

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Part 2 (substantive application)

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Save and submit

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1. Save record

2. View folder

3. Submit

4. Receive confirmation

Apricot tips

• Fill out Part 1 as soon as possible

• Don’t wait until the last minute

• Save often. System times out after about 45 minutes and data will be lost

• Contact Holly Bresson if you need help navigating or troubleshooting holly.bresson@liveunitedsem.org 313-226-9292

• Deadline Thursday, May 16, 5pm

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QUESTIONS?

Please use the chat function in the webinar to ask a question

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THANK YOU!

Slides and recorded webinar will be posted at https://unitedwaysem.org/spring-2019-requests-for-proposals/

Any additional questions, please contact Kalaya.Long@liveunitedsem.org

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