PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE

PROGRAM OUTLINE: PHP'S EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OFFERS EDUCATION, COACHING, AND MENTORING. THE EDUCATION COMPONENT OFFERS A SERIES OF EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS. WORKSHOPS ARE REPEATED REGULARLY AND TAUGHT FROM THE EMPLOYER'S PERSPECTIVE. MENTORING AND COACHING COMPONENTS CONSIST OF 4 PHASES. PHASE 1 COACHING FOCUSES ON EMPLOYMENT PREPARATION. CLIENTS MEET ONE-ON-ONE WITH A VARIETY OF VOLUNTEER BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS TO COMPLETE EMPLOYMENT TOOLS NECESSARY FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB SEARCH WHICH INCLUDES UNDERSTANDING THEIR TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS, THEIR PERSONAL BREAKEVEN, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY GOALS. PHASE 2 MENTORING FOCUSES ON RESUME BUILDING AND POLISHING INTERVIEW SKILLS. BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS VOLUNTEER AS MENTORS TO HELP CLIENTS IDENTIFY APPROPRIATE JOBS, PREPARE FOR RESUME AND INTERVIEW COACHING SESSIONS, AND EXPLORE WHAT THEY LEARN IN WORKSHOPS AND EMPLOYER MEET AND GREETS. THEY HELP CLIENTS DEVELOP A JOB SEARCH PLAN, UNDERSTAND BUSINESS VOCABULARY, PRACTICE FOR INTERVIEWS, AND APPLY FOR JOBS. PHASE 3 EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES SUPPORTS CLIENTS DURING THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF A NEW JOB. THIS PHASE HELPS THEM NAVIGATE THROUGH THE LEARNING CURVE OF A NEW JOB, MANAGE THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, PREPARE FOR PROMOTIONS, AND MAINTAIN STEADY EMPLOYMENT FOR ONE YEAR. PHASE 4 WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL NETWORK (WPN) FOCUSES ON GETTING AHEAD AND PROVIDES ONGOING EDUCATION, TOOLS AND TRAINING TO INCREASE EARNING POTENTIAL, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEMBERS TO GAIN LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND GROW THEIR PROFESSIONAL NETWORK. EVIDENCE OF NEED: UTAH IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS VIBRANT AND DIVERSE ECONOMY AND OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE, HOWEVER, DESPITE SEVERAL SUCCESSES, THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT REQUIRE COLLECTIVE EFFORT. THE US HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF CHILDREN LIVING IN A SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLD THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. IN THE UNITED STATES, ONE THIRD OF SINGLE MOTHERS LIVE IN POVERTY. IN UTAH, THERE WERE 70,647 SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES IN 2021, AND OF THESE, 69.2% WERE HEADED BY SINGLE MOTHERS. THOSE HOUSEHOLDS MADE UP 12.7% OF ALL UTAH FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18. IN UTAH, 25.3% OF HOUSEHOLDS LED BY SINGLE MOTHERS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL. THE IMPACT ON CHILDREN IS PROFOUND. IN UTAH, 6.6% OF CHILDREN DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, APPROXIMATELY 69,000 CHILDREN UTILIZE SNAP FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND 24% OF PUBLIC- SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAMS. CHILDREN LIVING IN POVERTY FACE HIGH RISKS OF MALNUTRITION, HOMELESSNESS, SCHOOL DROPOUT, DRUG ABUSE, TEEN PREGNANCY, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. EXPERIENCING DEPRIVATION DURING CHILDHOOD CAN LEAD TO CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES SUCH AS HEART DISEASE AND SHORTENED LIFE EXPECTANCY, AS WELL AS ELEVATED RATES OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THAT CHILDREN WHOSE FAMILIES RELY ON WELFARE ARE MORE LIKELY TO NEED WELFARE THEMSELVES, CONTINUING A CYCLE OF DEPENDENCE. THE MOST DIRECT AND LASTING WAY TO CHANGE THESE NUMBERS IS THROUGH EMPLOYMENT THAT PROVIDES A LIVABLE WAGE AND ROOM FOR ADVANCEMENT. HOWEVER, UTAH HAS A PERSISTENT GENDER WAGE GAP IN WHICH WOMEN WORKING FULL-TIME EARN JUST 72% OF WHAT MEN EARN, CREATING SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS. MANY SINGLE MOTHERS ARE CONCENTRATED IN LOWER-PAYING JOBS WITH LIMITED BENEFITS, OFTEN IN INDUSTRIES WHERE ADVANCEMENT IS LIMITED. WITHOUT ACCESS TO HIGHER- PAYING ROLES, EVEN FULL-TIME WORK CANNOT ALWAYS MEET THE COST OF HOUSING, CHILDCARE, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS. INVESTING IN EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS MEANS EQUIPPING SINGLE MOTHERS WITH THE SKILLS, NETWORKS, AND CONFIDENCE TO ACCESS CAREER PATHWAYS THAT OFFER BOTH STABILITY AND GROWTH. MEDIAN INCOME AMONG UTAH SINGLE MOTHERS HAS RISEN ONLY SLIGHTLY, FROM 33,100 IN 2010 TO 37,900 IN 2020, AND HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RISING COST OF LIVING. CONSIDERING THE PERSISTENT GENDER WAGE GAP, THE HIGH COST OF CHILDCARE, AND THE STEADY RISE IN LIVING EXPENSES, THE PATH FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO SELF-RELIANCE CAN FEEL OUT OF REACH FOR MANY LOW-INCOME WOMEN AND SINGLE MOTHERS SERVED BY PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE. THESE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES CREATE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO SECURING STABLE, LIVABLE-WAGE EMPLOYMENT. THESE BARRIERS, WITHOUT TARGETED SUPPORT, CAN KEEP FAMILIES TRAPPED IN CYCLES OF POVERTY. EMPLOYMENT SOLUTION: THERE IS NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION TO POVERTY, BUT MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT CAN BE TRANSFORMATIVE. A GOOD JOB WITH GOOD BENEFITS AT A GOOD COMPANY, COUPLED WITH LONG-TERM SUPPORT, HELPS SINGLE MOTHERS MOVE FROM CRISIS TO SELF-RELIANCE. WHEN LOW-INCOME WOMEN LEARN HOW TO FIND, KEEP, AND GROW IN A JOB, THEY CAN STABILIZE HOUSING, AFFORD QUALITY CHILDCARE, AND ACCESS HEALTHCARE. THEY ALSO GAIN ENTRY TO EMPLOYER- SPONSORED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE LONG-TERM EARNING POTENTIAL. WHILE REMOTE WORK, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, AND JOB SHARING HAVE OPENED NEW DOORS FOR WOMEN, THE JOB MARKET HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE. AUTOMATION AND AI, ALONG WITH GLOBAL CANDIDATE POOLS, HAVE RAISED THE STAKES. NOW MORE THAN EVER, WOMEN NEED SUPPORT TO UPDATE EMPLOYMENT TOOLS, RE-EVALUATE CAREER PATHS, BUILD A NETWORK, AND OVERCOME EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS. EMPLOYMENT IS NOT JUST A PAYCHECK, IT IS THE FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SECURITY, HEALTHIER FAMILIES, AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES. POPULATION SERVED: OVER 65% OF OUR CLIENTS ARE SINGLE MOTHERS AND MANY RECEIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. 62% IDENTIFY AS WHITE, 16% AS HISPANIC/LATINO, 7% AS BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, 2% AS ASIAN, 3% AS AMERICAN INDIAN, 2% AS PACIFIC ISLANDER, AND 8% AS MULTIPLE RACE OR OTHER. 100% ARE CONSIDERED LOW-INCOME BY HUD GUIDELINES WHEN THEY ENTER OUR PROGRAM. VOLUNTEERS, EMPLOYERS, & AGENCY PARTNERS: PHP MANAGES HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS ANNUALLY. APPROXIMATELY 150 BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS SERVE AS MENTORS, COACHES, AND WORKSHOP FACILITATORS. EACH YEAR, PHP CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH MORE THAN 150 EMPLOYERS THROUGH MONTHLY EMPLOYER MEET AND GREETS AND BI- ANNUAL EMPLOYER OPEN HOUSES. WE COLLABORATE WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES, INCLUDING HOUSING AUTHORITIES, UTAH COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES, DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES, UNITED WAY, UTAH LEGAL SERVICES, UTAH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, SAFE HARBOR, SOUTH VALLEY SERVICES, HOLDING OUT HELP, AND THE YWCA. MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING: PHP CONTINUOUSLY TRACKS PROGRAM PARTICIPATION THROUGH CLIENT INTAKE FORMS, WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE, AND COMPLETION OF COACHING AND MENTORING SESSIONS. CLIENTS ARE RECOGNIZED AS THEY COMPLETE EACH PROGRAM PHASE, AND DATA IS REPORTED MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 6,500 LOW-INCOME WOMEN. OF THOSE, 1,389 ENROLLED AND RECEIVED MONTHLY SUPPORT VIA PHONE, EMAIL, AND MAIL. 641 PARTICIPATED IN WORKSHOPS, AND 507 ENGAGED IN AT LEAST ONE PHASE OF MENTORING OR COACHING. CLIENTS COLLECTIVELY EARNED 1,998 AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES IN FY2025, INCLUDING 250 FOR EDUCATION, 763 FOR PHASE 1 COACHING, 320 FOR PHASE 2 MENTORING, 263 FOR PHASE 3 EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES AND PHASE 4 WPN, AND 402 FOR EMPLOYMENT MILESTONES. PHASE 4 PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO COMPLETE AN ANNUAL SURVEY ASSESSING THEIR CURRENT EMPLOYMENT STATUS, SALARY, PROMOTIONS, AND FINANCIAL MILESTONES. FISCAL 2025 PHASE 4 CLIENT SURVEYS PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING RESULTS: 97% ARE EMPLOYED FULL-TIME WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF 62,997, 100% HAVE BENEFITS OFFERED THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER, 91% HAVE ACCESS TO COMPANY TRAINING AND EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT, AND 79% RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE RAISE AND/OR PROMOTION IN THE LAST YEAR. SINCE ENROLLING IN OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, PHASE 4 CLIENTS REPORTED THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 100% ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING ASSISTANCE, 67% PAID OFF DEBTS, 67% RECEIVED RECOGNITION AT WORK, 65% STARTED A SAVINGS AND/OR RETIREMENT PLAN, 31% COMPLETED AN ASSOCIATE'S, BACHELOR'S, OR MASTER'S DEGREE, 56% BOUGHT A NEW CAR, 26% ENROLLED KIDS IN COLLEGE, AND 41% BOUGHT A NEW HOME. SUSTAINABILITY AND HISTORY: SINCE 1993, PHP HAS DELIVERED COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO LOW-INCOME WOMEN, EFFECTIVELY LEVERAGING VOLUNTEER SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL, LASTING IMPACT. WE HAVE BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH DOZENS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO INVEST IN OUR SUCCESS. SUMMARY: SINCE OUR EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM WAS EXPANDED 22 YEARS AGO, PHP HAS COLLABORATED WITH OVER 350 AGENCY PARTNERS, PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT TO OVER 22,000 WOMEN, EDUCATED OVER 12,000 WOMEN THROUGH OUR EMPLOYMENT WORKSHOPS SERIES, PARTNERED OVER 7,500 WOMEN WITH MENTORS AND COACHES, LAUNCHED THE EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES NETWORK (ESN) FOR WOMEN ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL NETWORK (WPN) FOR THOSE SEEKING LONG-TERM ADVANCEMENT, RECRUITED AND MANAGED OVER 4 MILLION DOLLARS IN VOLUNTEER HOURS, AND MADE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR BOTH TAX PAYERS AND OUR COMMUNITIES OF OVER 36 MILLION. WE HAVE EXPANDED PROGRAM REACH FROM SALT LAKE, UTAH, WEBER, AND DAVIS COUNTIES TO ALSO INCLUDE TOOELE, CACHE, BOX ELDER, AND SUMMIT COUNTIES. RECENT RESEARCH FROM THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION EMPHASIZES THAT MEANINGFUL PROGRESS IN REDUCING POVERTY WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON EXPANDING ACCESS TO QUA