EMPOWER PROGRAM

EMPOWER PROGRAM

EMPOWERING YOU TO BE
YOUR BEST SELF

Do you need a GED®? Help with building your resume? Childcare assistance? Then EMPOWER is for you!

EMPOWERING YOU TO BE
YOUR BEST SELF

Do you need a GED®? Help with building your resume? Childcare assistance? Then EMPOWER is for you!

EMPOWER, standing for Economic Mobility Places Ownership within Everyone’s Reach, provides training, workshops, and personalized coaching to ensure Riverside families have the tools they need to achieve financial freedom and build generational wealth.

 

EMPOWER supports our community by investing in Riverside’s human capital. Paired with its companion project, RESTORE, which invests in physical capital, EMPOWER supports the development of the skills, knowledge, and behaviors necessary to achieve economic mobility and financial independence. This holistic support prepares individuals or families for homeownership and decreases dependence on financial subsidies.

 

EMPOWER services educate, coach, and engage residents of the Riverside community in asset-building services to create long-term financial independence and stability for their families. EMPOWER economic mobility services include group financial education, individual coaching, career readiness workshops, and employment assistance. The program equips participants with the skills to operate a positive budget by increasing income, savings, and credit scores, while decreasing debt and dependence on subsidies.

 

When an individual or family begins the EMPOWER program, they are first introduced to the Intake and Crisis Management Specialist (ICMS). The ICMS determines eligibility and reviews the enrollment process for the program. The ICMS then uses an assessment tool to complete an interview to determine the type of support needed for each individual or family. After the assessment, participants are paired with a Navigational Coach or Employment Specialist who creates an individualized service plan to support individuals in achieving their personal objectives.

 

EMPOWER offers connection to a variety of services which include, but are not limited to:

Financial Literacy
Financial literacy workshops are available to EMPOWER participants as well as the wider community to help with building a budget, lowering debt, improving credit, growing savings, and planning for a financially stable future. Services include:

  • Banking/Credit Union Services
  • Credit Building programs and low-interest loans
  • Financial Management Workshops
  • One-On-One Financial Coaching and Assessments
  • Savings strategies

 

Health and Wellness

In partnership with The WRK Group, EMPOWER offers a variety of services that promote community health and wellness, including offering primary healthcare services through ChristianaCare located at Kingswood Community Center. Services also include:

  • Behavioral and Mental Health Services, including substance use services
  • Food/Nutrition Programs
  • Health Screenings/Assessments/Improvement Strategies
  • Primary Care Services

Economic Independence

EMPOWER encourages individuals to pursue their personal dreams for success including career development, GED certificates, and entrepreneurism.

  • Career readiness workshops
  • Connection with higher education and advanced training programs
  • GED Preparation and Adult Basic Education
  • Employment Coaching
  • Homeownership preparation programs and services
  • Individual job search, application, placement, and retention assistance
  • Resume writing support
  • Tutoring and additional academic supports

 

Family Support Services

EMPOWER and Kingswood Community Center are here for you, no matter what.  We offer childcare, emergency support, and so much more. Stop by our location to learn about the full menu of support features.

  • Childcare support
  • Emergency Food and Clothing
  • Fee Assistance
  • Individualized Service Plan (Milestone setting, barrier identification, and crisis management)
  • Referral to external partners who provide supportive resources
  • Transportation Assistance

Through this thoughtful, individualized process, the WRK Group will support an increase in long-term neighborhood employment and income rates. In connection with the RESTORE initiative, the WRK Group is developing additional housing in the Riverside Community with the expressed goal of retaining families from Riverside while increasing the size of the community overall, achieving a balanced mixed-income community. The growing community will provide rental properties in addition to homeownership opportunities. The community can build generational health and wealth for their families when they are able to successfully transition from subsidized housing to affordable housing to market rate housing ultimately leading to homeownership. The journey is entirely directed by the residents, however, and there are no requirements to purchase a home in Riverside or anywhere else.

 

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

You can do this by:

  • Click the button below to fill out the online interest form:
  • OR Call 302-232-7910 to learn more
  • Walk-in and Kingswood staff will assist you

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

You can do this by:

  • Click the button below to fill out the online interest form:
  • OR Call 302-232-7910 to learn more
  • Walk-in and Kingswood staff will assist you