According to the Washington Budget & Policy Center, a family’s economic security is a precondition for a child to thrive. “When children do not have their basic needs met, it affects their brain development, the strength of their relationships, their ability to learn and perform in school, and their physical and mental health. Economic security of parents is inextricably tied to the well-being of their children.”
Goodwill helps people with barriers to employment go to work by providing jobs, job training and educational opportunities. Our programs provide a pathway for people with disabilities or disadvantages to earn a paycheck, gain a sense of security and
dignity and the means to support their families.
Two of Goodwill’s newest programs are using a two-generation approach to help raise families out of poverty by focusing on the needs of both adults and children:
Women 2 Work is a two-year pilot program funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation that offers single mothers with children under age 8 a plan to get off public assistance. The program offers wrap-around services including job assessment and education, parenting skills, cooking and nutrition education, and financial education.
Centers for Strong Families is a United Way of Pierce County program that targets families living in poverty or just above the poverty line. Goodwill provides financial coaching and asset building to participants who are newly employed, helping them during the crucial time when they start earning a paycheck and need to plan for their family’s finances.
To learn more about Goodwill programs, attend an information session on on the first or third Thursday of each month.