Families Flourish Expands Initiative for Columbus-Area Single Moms
with Vital Support for 100 Families During Critical Times
Humana is Inaugural Program Partner
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nov. 30 2020 – Columbus-based Families Flourish (MTP), which helps single mothers and their children flourish, today announced that it is moving forward with a $6.4 million initiative to expand its efforts by providing 100 additional local families with vital financial assistance and personal development resources during these challenging times.
Leading health and well-being company Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is the first organization to commit as a program partner, providing $75,000 in funding as well as health care and research expertise.
MTP is a collaboration between The Ohio State University and community organizations to determine how safer, more prosperous, and higher resourced neighborhoods can change the trajectory of a person’s life. Today’s announcement regards an expansion of MTP’s initial pilot program involving ten families – low-income households with children age 13 and under – who receive access to rental homes in higher-opportunity, safer neighborhoods in central Ohio. The program also offers workshops and life coaching to support women in reaching their financial, career, educational and wellness goals.
\”We are excited to announce this program expansion and to have Humana, a national leader in health and well-being, recognize the importance of improving the lives of women and children,” said Amy Klaben, Project Facilitator for Families Flourish. “Particularly as we navigate the tremendous challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic, this initiative is vital as we work to foster an environment in which families can flourish.”
Humana’s commitment is part of its Bold Goal population health strategy to improve the health of the communities it serves.
“Particularly during the pandemic, it’s important to proactively address nonmedical challenges that impede the well-being of people in vulnerable communities,” said Humana’s Regional Vice President of Health Services Nisha Patel, M.D., who is based in the Columbus area. “We’re proud to work with Families Flourish to help meet the comprehensive and diverse needs of Central Ohioans, especially in these difficult times.”
MTP’s efforts to date have been studied by an Ohio State research team, which has projected that for participants, the pilot program will result in positive mental and physical health changes; medical cost savings due to reduced emergency room utilization; and cumulative increased lifetime earnings for participating children due to improved educational outcomes.
“Research conducted by The Ohio State University already shows the profound impact Families Flourish is having on participating families,” said Rachel Garshick Kleit, PhD, Chair of Families Flourish’s Steering Committee and Associate Dean, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University. “By expanding our pilot program, we’re very pleased to provide additional Central Ohio families the chance to thrive in a higher-opportunity community.”
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About Families Flourish
Families Flourish improves life outcomes for children and their families by creating opportunities for residential and financial stability. We provide temporary rental support and comprehensive coaching to facilitate individual and family success in their transition to higher-opportunity communities. MTP launched its three-year pilot in the spring of 2018, and recently extended the pilot for 1 year due to the impact of COVID-19 on the children and families in the initiative.
To learn more about MTP’s evaluation of the pilot, you can find summaries and the complete evaluations in 2019 and 2020 on Families Flourish’s website, at https://www.movetoprosper.org.
