Financial Opportunity Center

1. Volunteers of America, Texas a faith based, non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities reach their full spiritual, emotional and physical potential and well-being through though a vast array of services that target the elderly, the intellectually disabled, those striving to overcome substance abuse, and those transitioning form correctional centers.

2. Financial Opportunity CenterVolunteers of America, Texas serves the residents of the Independence Heights neighborhood, a LISC Sustainable Community and the clients of VOA , through the VOA Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) at the Yale Street Empowerment Center.

3. Financial Opportunity Center The FOC is a one-stop bundled service, neighborhood-based facility that provides: • Screening for public benefits eligibility • Employment services, • Job skills training, • Financial counseling, • Fairly priced financial products • Job Readiness Workshops • Financial literacy workshops.

4. Financial Opportunity Center The FOC helps families become more financially secure in three critical areas: • Increased wages, • Improved finances • Access to public benefits

5. FOC Bundled Services • Income Support - assess clients with eligibility for public benefits such as food stamp, Gold Card and FASFA enrollment. • Employment Service -job placement, job retention, re-placement and career advancement assistance. Job Readiness Workshops Computer Literacy • Financial Coaching -one to one financial counseling including fairly-priced financial products and services through FOC partner banks and credit unions. • Workshops -Job Readiness, Financial Literacy, Computer Literacy and Microsoft Office Computer Classes. • Job Skills Training - Optical Technician, Forklift Operator and CDL Class B License

6. FOC Job Skills for Employment FOC provides job skills to help clients with placement for employment. • Optical Technician - Through the partnership with Visual Compassion - In Focus University training is provided for FOC clients interested in a variety of optical skills including, retail, technician and lab. (5 Week Class) • Forklift Operator – From Forklift Services, LLC the FOC provides forklift operator classes. The class is three hours and upon completion the client will receive operators and OSHA certificates good for three years. • CDL Class B License - Through CDL Express the FOC provides training for the Class B License. The class has a three hour video prep course with written materials for permit test, driving time and will provide truck for license road test.

7. Initial client phone call, walk-in’s or referral from VOA substance abuse/housing or THRIVE Appt with substance abuse intake or other VOA programs Orientation (2 hour) and Interview by each: Income Support Coach Employment Coach Financial Coach VOA FOC Flow Chart Key = Employment Service = Financial Service = Income Support Service Job Readiness & Financial Literacy Workshop (4 days) = Group Activity = Ongoing Service = Mandatory Next Step = Optional Next Step Appt: Income Support Coach Appt.: Employment Coach Appt: Financial Coach = Appointment / Visit Financial Assessment = What participant came for Baseline Budget Job Placement Job Skill Training Program Financial Coach

8. Financial Opportunity CenterYear 2012 Clients completing job skills - 121 Vision Tech Level 1 – 20 Vision Tech Level 2 - 7 FORKLIFT Certifications with OSHA Card good for 3 years - 72 Class B CDL License – 12 Hair Braiding Certification – 11 Certified Nurses Aid (CNA) - 6 Clients job placement – 89 Income support – clients working on one benefit – 107 Clients receiving Financial Coaching – 114 Clients with improved credit scores - 42