WSM Receives National Grant to Address Family Poverty

We are delighted to announce we recently received a $100,000 grant over the next three years from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to address and help break the cycle of family poverty. We are one of only three workforce development organizations in the U.S., and the only one on the East coast to be awarded a grant.

“This grant puts Montgomery County on the national stage and gives us great exposure for the impactful work we are doing in one of the most economically diverse counties in the nation,” said Dr. Ellie Giles.

The grant is unique in that it takes a “two-generation” or “whole family” approach to addressing poverty, meaning it focuses equally on services and opportunities for the parent and child.

WorkSource Montgomery will launch a pilot program comprised of 50 young “disconnected” parents — those ages 16-24 who are not enrolled in school or working — with the goal of making a positive impact on these individuals early in their career. Research has shown that improving a parent’s career path improves their child’s future.

WorkSource Montgomery also will aim to align workforce development with Early Head Start programs. We want to begin an earnest discussion with local employers and the community around employment barriers and solutions for parents with young children.

“Increasing the labor involvement of parents with young children, and especially young parents, can help to decrease the labor shortage in Montgomery County and build a strong talent pipeline for our County businesses,” said Vice President of Industry Engagement and Job Services, Heather Henry, who will serve as the grant’s program manager.

In launching the pilot program, we will partner with several well-known and established local organizations, including the Department of Health and Human Services; Montgomery College; Montgomery Moving Forward, an alliance of nonprofit leaders; and Family Services, the County’s oldest private nonprofit social services organization.

In addition to the money we receive from the Kellogg grant, we will provide matching funds for the pilot program using money we receive from the federal government’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. We also will provide in-kind matching funds of office space, supplies and personnel; $5,000 toward outreach; and project oversight.