Innovative Programs

Building Wealth and Health Network

Mission/Goal of Program
The Building Wealth and Health Network pilots a trauma-informed approach to peer support and financial empowerment. Network cohort members meet regularly to discuss goal setting, financial management, and other topics that foster resilience and empowerment. The Building Wealth and Health Network pilots a trauma-informed approach to peer support and financial empowerment. Network cohort members meet regularly to discuss goal setting, financial management, and other topics that foster resilience and empowerment. The Building Wealth and Health Network (The Network) is a 5-year research study that began in July 2014. They plan to enroll a total of 750 TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) customers, and conduct a quantitative analysis looking at survey data results from the 750 TANF customers from their program (the intervention group) and 750 TANF customers that are in other mandatory Employment and Training programs (the control group). The long-term goal of The Network is to improve maternal and child health and family self-sufficiency among TANF customers.
Programs/Services Offered

The concept of peer support is paramount in the Network, which brings together a group of people who have shared experiences so they can tap into each other and stimulate resilience, personal growth, recovery, and well-being. What ties trauma-informed practice and financial empowerment components is the concept of SELF – Safety, Emotional management, Loss and letting go, and developing a sense of Future. Through the 16-session Financial SELF Empowerment curriculum, a SELF empowerment coach and a financial empowerment coach guide group discussion related to finances, employment, family, and community. 

In addition to learning money management techniques and problem-solving skills, Network members also share their knowledge, experience, and support with each other. They share information and opportunities, such as a diaper bank or a job fair that is occurring. There is also an asset-building component to the program: members save money each month towards their individual life goals, and their savings are matched $1:$1, which helps them build a nest egg for investment faster than they otherwise could. The matching funds come from grant funding. 

Addressing and healing individuals’ trauma is where the safety, emotions, and loss parts come in, and goal setting and building new financial opportunities is where the future is born. “People who have experienced trauma can have a hard time creating individual goals and being able to stick to them, or even to thinking that they have a future. The savings account is a future-oriented type of experience, and it's experiential, where people can start to invest in their future,” says Dr. Mariana Chilton, the Network’s founder. At the start of each cohort, they set group goals for saving and track their collective progress towards those goals, so everyone is invested in the group’s success. 

Local TANF offices refer potential participants to the Network program and their participation in the group sessions count towards their TANF work requirement. Participants are referred to as members and remain members of the Network even after they complete the sessions. The program hosts quarterly meetings of its Network member advisory council with members who have completed the program, who advise on programming changes, marketing and recruitment, and expansion.

Start Date
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Type of Agency/Organization
University
City
Philadelphia
State
Pennsylvania
Geographic Reach
Onesite
Clientele/Population Served
Work-mandatory TANF participants
Topics/Subtopics
Family Strengthening
Two-Generation Approaches
Asset Building
Individual Development Accounts
Supportive Services
Health/Behavioral Health Referrals and Supports
Special Populations
Domestic Violence Survivors
TANF Program Administration
Collaborations and Partnerships
URL
https://drexel.edu/hunger-free-center/projects/building-wealth-and-health-netwo…

Trending on Peer TA

TANF and FBCO Partnership Resources

Trauma-Informed Care and Why It Matters

Record Description
This web article from Psychology Today looks at how we are falling short in treating trauma victims and what we can do to fix it. The article addresses how coping mechanisms for post-trauma are poorly understood even by those in the best situation to provide assistance, and that it is important to understand that victims of trauma might not always react or behave as one might expect. It further suggests that many factors including public education, early identification, and effective trauma treatment are necessary to break the cycle of violence, and that we need to intensify and expand the availability of trauma-informed care. Various examples of trauma are illustrated, along with how victims react differently and often unexpectedly to trauma, and that just because someone might not show a lack of emotion, it does not mean they have not been abused. Without shattering the myths that limit the understanding of trauma victims, providers will not be able to deliver assistance effectively.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-07-05T20:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
SFS Category
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/modern-day-slavery/201707/trauma-informed-…
Publication Date
2017-07-06
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)

What’s Love Got to Do with It? Healthy Romantic Relationships and Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Record Description
This webinar, presented by Child Trends, looks at signs of healthy versus unhealthy relationships, discusses how healthy romantic relationships prevent teen pregnancy, and identifies links between healthy relationship education and teen pregnancy prevention programs. The presentation includes demographics and information about teen dating over time, and the importance of understanding how teens date. It also includes how technology has changed dating, including the rise of cyber abuse. Unstudied populations are also mentioned, including LGBT, racial/ethnic minority groups, and youth in foster care. Knowing how teens interact with their peers and parents and supporting healthy relationships are key to pregnancy prevention and better outcomes, particularly for high-risk teens.
Record Type
Combined Date
2014-02-18T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/healthyrelationshipswebinar.pdf
Publication Date
2014-02-19

Research Roundup: Family-Based Approaches to Preventing Teen Dating Violence

Record Description
This research roundup, provided by the Family & Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), highlights three research articles that focus on parent-teen relationships, dating violence, and the effects of exposure to domestic violence. These articles looked at the effectiveness of the Families for Safe Dates materials, including six booklets of information about healthy relationships that were given to families with teens. The researchers interviewed 324 families at four points in the intervention. The studies found that parents were more comfortable talking with their teens about dating violence with the assistance of the brochures, and that the teens themselves experienced less dating violence than teens who had not read the brochures. The researchers also highlighted the importance of strong parent-child relationships in all three articles.
Record Type
Combined Date
2015-10-25T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/news/2015/10/research-roundup-family-based-approaches-…
Publication Date
2015-10-26

Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships

Record Description

Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s comprehensive teen dating violence prevention initiative based on evidence about what works in prevention. Dating Matters® focuses on 11– to 14–year–olds living in urban high-risk communities and includes preventive strategies for individuals, peers, families, neighborhoods, and schools.

Record Type
Combined Date
2017-01-04T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/datingmatters/
Publication Date
2017-01-05

Co-Occurring Risks in Adolescence: Implications for Teen Pregnancy Prevention

Record Description
This publication was developed by Child Trends in partnership with the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy for the Office of Adolescent Health. It highlights co-occurring risk factors that increase the risk of injury, illness, and death among adolescents that can also impact sexual risk taking and result in pregnancy. These risk factors include: substance abuse (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana or other drug use), dating violence, physical or sexual abuse, and mental health. Also included are risk factors associated with multiple negative outcomes for adolescents. The publication concludes with a list of questions the reader can use in discussing with team members and/or partners how to coordinate efforts to address co-occurring risk factors strategically.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-03-01T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/sites/default/files/co-occuring_risks_in_adolescenc…
Publication Date
2017-03-02

Can You Talk to Teens About Healthy Relationships and Teen Dating Violence?

Record Description
This resource from the Administration for Children and Families provides information about recognizing the signs of teen dating violence in teenagers for professionals, parents, and other caring adults to prepare them for discussing dating violence with teens in their life. It highlights the signs of dating abuse, how to talk to a teen dealing with an abusive relationship, and how to connect them to services. The site also links to many resources, including the Hanging Out or Hooking Up: Teen Safety Card so teens can evaluate their own relationships for signs of abuse.
Record Type
Combined Date
2017-02-15T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/blog/2017/02/can-you-talk-to-teens-about-healthy-relati…
Publication Date
2017-02-16

Teen Dating Violence

Record Description

This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website helps readers get familiar with the issue of Teen Dating Violence. It provides background information, tips for addressing the issue by focusing on healthy relationships, and links to useful tools and important prevention initiatives such as Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships. This violence prevention training, created and distributed by the CDC, focuses on 11- to 14-year-olds in high-risk communities. The initiative is evidence-based and includes examples of programs across the U.S.

Record Type
Combined Date
2018-02-04T19:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.cdc.gov/Features/DatingViolence/
Publication Date
2018-02-05

OFA Webinar: Strengthening the Safety Net for Survivors Through Collaboration

Record Description

A virtual roundtable was held on November 30, 2017 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. EST, co-presented by the Office of Family Assistance, the Office of Child Support Enforcement, and the Family and Youth Services Bureau. Via plenaries and breakout sessions, the roundtable  defined family violence, explained good cause, and highlighted examples of excellence across the nation.

The Opening Plenary Session was titled, "Family Violence and Accessing and Applying for Public Benefits and Work Supports: Challenges and Solutions," and was led by Dr. Janet Mickish, Lead Trainer and Manager of Staff Development, Colorado Department of Human Services and Krista Del Gallo, Public Policy Manager, Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV).

The Plenary was followed by 4 breakout sessions to include:

  • Breakout Session #1: Discussion Around Building Good Relationships with DV Coalitions and Programs
  • Breakout Session #2: Promoting Disclosure and Safety for Victims Accessing Child Support
  • Breakout Session #3: Establishing Good Cause
  • Breakout Session #4: Family Violence with Native American Populations

The roundtable closed with a plenary titled, "State and Local TANF/Child Support Programs of Excellence," led by Meghan McCann, National Conference of State Legislatures; Amber Harchuk, Temporary Assistance to Domestic Violence Survivor’s (TA-DVS) Policy Analyst and DHS Domestic Violence Co-Located Advocates Program Coordinator; Belit Burke, Self-Sufficiency Program Administrator, Oregon Department of Human Services; and Traci Underwood, Program Coordinator, Economic Justice Project, Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 

Record Type
Combined Date
2017-11-30T08:00:00
Source
OFA Initiatives
SFS Category
Region
City/County
URL
Safety Net Webinar Opening Plenary & 4 Breakout Sessions YouTube Video
Safety Net Webinar Closing Plenary YouTube Video
Publication Date
2017-11-30
Section/Feed Type
Latest Information from Network (Home)
Upload Files
Attachment Size
Family Violence and Public Benefits PPT 17.07 MB
Underwood Establishing Good Cause PPT 403.87 KB
Natl Conf of State Legislatures Child Support and Domestic Violence PPT 473.81 KB
Vrancken Vermont Office of Child Support and Domestic Violence PPT 834.99 KB
Koptur Strengthening Safety Net for Survivors PPT 464.59 KB
Texas OAG-CSD IV-D Mission Survivor Safety PPT 734.06 KB
Underwood Washington State: Working for Survivors PPT 403.75 KB
Yellow Light Individualized Case Management Tool 228.27 KB
Public Benefits Progs and Domestic and Sexual Violence Victims 205.35 KB
Harchuk Oregon Department of Human Services PPT 832.71 KB

Children’s Exposure to Violence, Crime, and Abuse: An Update

Record Description
This bulletin discusses the second National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV II), which was conducted in 2011 as a followup to the original NatSCEV I survey. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sponsored both surveys. The Crimes against Children Research Center of the University of New Hampshire conducted the NatSCEV I survey between January and May 2008. NatSCEV I represented the first comprehensive national survey of children’s past-year and lifetime exposure to violence, crime, and abuse in the home, school, and community across children and youth from ages 1 month to 17 years. (For more information on NatSCEV I, see “History of the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence”). (author introduction)
Record Type
Combined Date
2015-08-31T20:00:00
Source
Region
City/County
URL
https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/248547.pdf
Publication Date
2015-09-01