Here's to you...on the pathway to financial stability!

With a colleague and two staff from a partner agency, I recently attended a conference "Promoting Family Financial Stability."  The Conference highlighted - with national evaluation and research, service delivery, and policy sessions -  a 9-month  learning network, sponsored by Bank of America, of nine United Ways (including United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley!) and their lead agencies (including Serving People in Need located in Lynn, MA).    The United Way Financial Stability Center, powered by SPIN was noted in a report, Achieving Financial Stability for Individuals and Families Through Integrated Service Delivery.   For those of you who would like to learn more, the full report is attached. However, here are some report highlights about the United Way Financial Stability Center, powered by SPIN, launched in September of 2009:

• located in the heart of a resurging economic development district
• emphasized free tax preparation and financial education/counseling; engages partners
• met or exceeded most of its goals for the year
• initiated organically between UW and SPIN, with shared outcomes
• dedicated a staff position to engage local leaders, promote the Center, and identify opportunities for partnerships and referral services; UWMBMV offered communications expertise to broaden community awareness of the FSC and SPIN
• highlighted in-kind resources to drive down costs
• provided an opportunity for SPIN to expand services to a population beyond those transitioning out of homelessness.

For the hundreds of families in Lynn who had successful outcomes toward financial stability - Here's to you!  You are an inspiration!  For the partners of the Financial Stability Center - another cheer!  For Serving People in Need, as lead agency - yet another BIG cheer!  Congratulations... and keep up the good work!  Three cheers!

Would like more information about the conference?  Visit www.CWF2010.org.   Thanks to United Way Worldwide and Bank of America for the opportunity of the Learning Network.