The overarching goal of One Family’s Credential to Career Coaching program (C2C) is to help parents who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness identify pathways into family-sustaining careers, thereby breaking the cycle of poverty. To achieve this, C2C helps parents determine what career to pursue based on their skills and interests, where to obtain any necessary credentials, and how to finance their education or training. At the end of the 12-week intensive program, each participant has created a detailed and actionable plan to enter a career that can support their family. Each participant also receives a full year of follow-up coaching on a quarterly basis to ensure they stay on track to their established goals, and help troubleshoot any barriers that arise.

The C2C program includes both group workshops (to convey foundational information on credentials and career paths) and one-on-one coaching (to apply this information and construct each participant’s individual plan).

The program takes place in two key phases: “Exploration” and “Planning”. During the Exploration phase, participants work with their One Family coach to identify their skills and interests, and align them with careers that can support a family. This phase also builds up participants’ knowledge of the different types of credentials; the connection between credentials, career paths, and earnings potential; and the different types of universities and training programs, along with key metrics for evaluating them.

After the Exploration phase, participants synthesize what they have learned and make decisions about credentials and career paths in the Planning phase. Herein, the focus shifts toward creating each parent’s personal roadmap, outlining the key steps they will follow to obtain their credential (if needed) and enter their chosen career. This includes creating a budget and planning to finance their credential; detailing the steps to apply and enroll in credential programs, including deadlines, key tasks, and resources needed; mapping how the credential will lead into their chosen career path; and planning considerations for common obstacles to success such as stress management, childcare, and transportation.

By empowering low-income parents to access postsecondary education, C2C opens the door to better careers, increased income, and long-term stability. In fact, 80% of participants are employed or enrolled in a credential by the end of the program, and new jobs secured by program participants yield an average salary increase of over $22,000! Not only does this provide much-needed stability in the short-term, it also sets a higher floor for future earnings and career growth.

The impact of making good information available to all can be seen in stories like Fitzroy’s. When Fitzroy first heard about One Family’s C2C program in March 2022, he was working in an entry-level role as an Environmental Services Technician at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital. He was looking for a way to advance his career and increase his income, and C2C seemed like a great opportunity to explore his options.

In the program, Fitzroy worked one-on-one with his One Family coach to align his skills and interests with career growth opportunities in the hospital network, and he realized a career in mental health counseling could provide both personal fulfillment and a family-sustaining wage. Reflecting on this experience, he says:

“The coaching I received helped give me a broader perspective of what’s possible in my career. It helped for others to see my potential, and gave me more confidence. Sometimes you don’t realize there’s more in you to give the world, until you start to empower yourself, motivate yourself, and share that with others. And that’s what makes me want to do mental health counseling.”

During C2C, Fitzroy worked with his coach to prepare for job interviews and promotion conversations, and since then Fitzroy has been promoted within Signature Healthcare not once but twice, and his income has increased roughly 20%! He now works as a Mental Health Specialist – a role perfectly aligned with his ultimate career goal of mental health counseling. He is an incredible role model for his two children, working hard to advance his career, build assets, and achieve lasting economic stability.