Family Strengthening is a holistic approach to providing services to individuals and their families. Thanks to funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Northwestern Mutual and AmeriCorps, many local Goodwill agencies offer family strengthening programs in their communities.

Logo for Goodwill Is Good For Families.

Goodwill Helps People Who Are…

* Looking for work or better jobs so they can better provide for their families.

* Finding that they can’t access affordable childcare so they can go to work.

* Unable to focus on their own careers because of family members who need special support.

* Working, but can’t quite figure out how to make ends meet, or plan and save for their families‘ futures.

* Interested in learning more about special tax programs that can put more money in their pockets.

Goodwill Offers People…

* Job readiness, placement, retention and career advancement services.

* Financial education to help avoid money traps and save for the future.

* Family needs assessments and long-term career planning and services.

* Programs that encourage and develop family engagement.

* Access to community resources so they can stabilize their families while identifying job opportunities.

Logo for Goodwill's Family Strengthening strategies.

Leadership Commitment
A philosophical commitment to supporting family strengthening approaches and practices.

Financial Commitment

* Dedicating Goodwill and other financial resources to support family strengthening activities.

Human Resources Policies and Practices

* Adopting internal policies and practices enabling the organization to offer family strengthening services, resources and support to its own employees.

Community Resource Connections

* Engaging in the local community by learning about and forming relationships with community organizations.

Youth Development

* Providing direct services to youth and assisting family members with educational and career goals.

Job Readiness and Placement Services

* Offering services and programs that improve employability and result in placements that provide families sustaining wages, career ladders and/or benefits.

Job Retention and Advancement Services

* Offering long-term follow up, retention and advancement support for the individual and his or her family.

Employer Relations

* Cultivating relationships with local employers that lead to quality entry-level and advanced employment opportunities for Goodwill clients.

Financial Education

Contributing to the financial education and asset building capacity of families.

Asset Development

* Providing assistance with asset development options.

For more information about Goodwill is Good for Families/family strengthening strategies, contact GII National Family Strengthening Specialist Andrea Edelman.