Our Program

OUR MODEL

Families Flourish is a new and innovative program unique in the United States and created in Central Ohio.

The program improves life outcomes for children and their families by creating opportunities for residential and financial stability. Families Flourish’s strategy is to foster inclusivity, equality and opportunity throughout the region by providing 3 years of  rental support to enable parents in low-wage jobs to have access to existing rental housing, together with comprehensive life coaching.

Research has shown that coaching builds resiliency. Families Flourish, with OSU’s assistance, created a life coaching model which addresses trauma, helps people learn to navigate systems to solve problems and improve their lives, and avoid eviction. The coaching revolves around four key pillars so families with children thrive and prosper:

Catapult to Change: Living in a Better Atmosphere

Catapult to Change: Healthier Today, Healthier Tomorrow

Families Flourish Coach Tina Diggs

Our Families Achieve

Housing Stability

Mobility, moving to a new neighborhood and tenant responsibilities.​

Financial Capability​
Stability and eviction prevention.​
Improved Health Outcomes​

Reduce toxic stress to improve physical and mental health.

Education/Career Goals​

Empowering parents to navigate their child’s school and coaching for parent’s career growth.

Stability Enables Growth

Once parents are able to reduce their toxic stress, they begin to fully engage
with the coaching and gain confidence to set and achieve their goals.

Reduce stress for parent.

Physical health improvements for children

Parent able to engage with coaching and plan for the future.

Engagement with coaching deepens (financial literacy, wellness, etc…)

Mental health improvements for children and parents.

Economic outcomes improve for parent.

Children’s socio-emotional health improves.

Children more engaged in school.

Additional school resources benefit children’s academic growth.

Parent more economically resilient and participating in enterprising activities.

Children’s academic outcomes improve.

Testimonials

Lisa S. Courtice, President & CEO, United Way of Central Ohio
Families Flourish is a bold, innovative effort created to demonstrate that our community supports families who are seeking pathways to prosperity.  All children deserve equal access to the American dream of receiving quality education and becoming economically self-sufficient. Families Flourish makes this a reality by opening doors to opportunity.  United Way of Central Ohio endorses this initiative, one that promises to be a game changer.
Patricia and Yaromir Steiner
Economic prosperity requires access to both good schools and safe neighborhoods, in addition to affordable housing and jobs. We support Families Flourish as it is demonstrating a way to create upward mobility for our workforce.
Ann Bischoff, CEO, Star House
At Star House, we have the privilege of truly knowing young mothers who are living without stable housing. We know the stiff barriers to stability that they face.  We also know their talents and potential to overcome and thrive when given the right leg up. We are grateful to Families Flourish for being part of our community’s ongoing movement to prevent chronic homelessness. Their plan to provide temporary rental support and comprehensive coaching for mothers is exactly what we need to lift young families out of catch-22 situations and give them a chance to achieve stability in a safe neighborhood. 
Angela Stoller-Zervas, MSW, LSW, Director of Family Center Programs, YWCA Family Center
We see the face of homelessness every day and know how important a quality, affordable home in a safe neighborhood is to both children and adults in our community.  We also know the importance of a strong support network that  helps ensure family stability no matter the circumstances life presents. The Families Flourish Demonstration program will discover more about the keys needed for low-income families to benefit from both and prosper.
Dr. Kelly Kelleher, Pediatrician, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Families Flourish is a unique and potentially powerful approach to decreasing housing insecurity and improving child well-being. A Demonstration Project is needed to evaluate the effect on families and cost-effectiveness given the positive outcomes of the initial rollout.
Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, VP for Health Promotion, Chief Wellness Officer & Dean of College of Nursing, OSU
Having a healthy home in a safe neighborhood is a social determinant of health.  We know that when children and adults don’t have such a home, their physical and mental health is adversely impacted. Families Flourish will help us understand this critical issue and lead to policy changes to improve the lives of people locally as well as nationally. We are excited to be part of this important and impactful study.

PILOT PROGRAM

How the Pilot Program Began.

The pilot program started with 10 families moving into their new homes in August 2018 and, due to COVID disruptions, ended in July 2022. The families all consisted of single mothers with 1-3 children in ages ranging from 2-12 at the start of the program.

Results

Moms experienced an average increase of $17,000 or 58% in annual income since joining Families Flourish.

They experienced these results even though more than half experienced employment changes due to the pandemic. All had savings to assist them, and none missed a rent payment. All were engaged in enterprising activities to earn additional income.

I am at the same employer and have received several promotions.”
- Families Flourish Pilot Mom

Results

Eight of the families stayed in their new neighborhoods and

100% were ready to take on rent without subsidy.

Five Families Flourish children, in their newer, healthier homes, have had

20 fewer emergency room visits per year, resulting in $30,000 annual healthcare savings.

Participating landlords estimated

savings of $800-$2,000 per unit annually in turnover costs.

Full Report

Families Flourish Pilot Families Reflect on the Program

Pilot Families Offer Advice to Applicants

The Kids Are Alright