The RuFES Approach

RuFES – created by… Annie E. Casey Foundation With assistance from: Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group

In this session… Brief Intro: Why RuFES: The AECF perspective? Quick Overview: The RuFES Framework: Earn It / Keep It / Grow It Earn It / Keep It / Grow It Outcomes for each Family-focused goals for each

4 Children do well when their families do well. Families do better when they live in supportive communities. AECF Core Belief

 Old economic drivers  Old economic drivers have lost their engine  New economic drivers are developing o quickly in some places o almost imperceptibly slowly in others missing the middle  Increasingly missing the middle class  Changingrealities  Changing spatial realities o The world is flat. The market is global. o Virtual connections are required. Regional connections are critical heightened vulnerability  Stressed communities (economically, socially) + stressed families => heightened vulnerability Tough Transitions How Are Rural Communities Doing? Tough Transitions

Most families work hard. Many struggle to get ahead Most families work hard. Many struggle to get ahead.  Low wages – One in four rural workers make wages that would not lift a family of four above the poverty level.  Multiple Jobs – 25 percent hold multiple jobs, and 50 percent do odd jobs or self provisioning to make ends meet  Environments vary – Some live in struggling communities. Some struggle in thriving communities.  Special obstacles – Limited opportunities. Hard to find appropriate supports. Easy to find predatory practices. How Are Rural Families Doing?

22% 22% of rural children live in families in poverty 27% more 27% more live in working poor families at least one-half That means at least one-half of all rural kids live in families that struggle to get by, let alone get ahead. How Are Rural Kids Doing?

What would Family Economic Success look like? and Families getting by and getting ahead today Building strong financial futures Contributing to and buoyed by thriving communities

The RuFES Framework

increase What does it take to increase Rural Family Economic Success? Earn It – Increase earnings and income Keep It – Stabilize financial lives Grow It – Acquire assets and build wealth in thriving communities

> The whole > than the sum of the parts Quilted together With families at the center Remember: Rising tides don’t lift leaky boats – assuming you even have one! Intentional and targeted Remember: Rising tides don’t lift leaky boats – assuming you even have one!

work pay Earn It Make work work. Make work pay.

Earn It: Desired Result Confident, predictable, sufficient earnings and income. Readiness to earn. Skills match jobs. Preparing for first-time employment Readiness to earn. Skills match jobs. Links to available jobs. Work infrastructure: transportation, child care. Landing and keeping a job Links to available jobs. Work infrastructure: transportation, child care. Pipelines to better jobs. Jobs that are better. Advancing in career and income Pipelines to better jobs. Jobs that are better.

Goals Earn It Goals Make Workers Ready Qualifying for a Job E1 E1: Job seekers have the basic life skills – attitudes, behaviors and reliability – to succeed in jobs in their region. E2 E2:Job seekers have the basic workplace skills – communication, language, math and technology – to succeed in jobs in their region. E3: E3:Job seekers have the education or training diplomas and credentials they need to start on a career ladder in their region.

Goals Earn It Goals Make Work Work Landing and Keeping a Job E4: E4: Job seekers connect to pipelines that effectively route them to employment opportunities in their region. E5: E5: Workers have a reliable, affordable and efficient means of transport to get to their jobs E6: E6: Workers have a reliable, convenient and appropriate child and dependent care they need to maintain a job. E7: E7: People who create full- or part-time self-employment ventures access technical and financial assistance to improve their chances of business success.

Goals Earn It Goals Make Work Pay Advancing in a Career E8: E8: Workers hold jobs that pay wages and offer benefits that support a stable family life. E9: E9: Workers upgrade their skills and education credentials over time. E10: E10: Workers advance along a career pathway into better jobs in the region.

Keep It Lower the “high cost of being poor” Avoid the “money traps”

Keep It – Desired Result Financial stability Families get by and begin to get ahead Get banked. Repair credit. Avoid predators. Financial education linked to critical life events. Establishing Financial Health Get banked. Repair credit. Avoid predators. Financial education linked to critical life events. Close the gap: Secure all EITC and Child Care tax benefits, vouchers and subsidies. Make good purchasing choices: Options are available for fairly priced goods. Protecting Income / Decreasing Costs Close the gap: Secure all EITC and Child Care tax benefits, vouchers and subsidies. Make good purchasing choices: Options are available for fairly priced goods.

Goals Keep It Goals Count Every Dollar Establishing Financial Health K1: K1: Families set short-term and long-term financial goals, and attain them. K2: K2: Families use reasonably priced services, accounts and products for their savings, checking and other financial transactions. K3: K3: Families get loans they need without using predatory lenders. K4: K4: Families reduce their debt burdens and improve their credit ratings over time.

Goals Keep It Goals - Make Every Dollar Count Protecting Income / Decreasing Costs K5 : K5 : Families file tax returns annually. K6: K6: Families secure all tax benefits for which they qualify, starting with those that reward work – the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit. K7: K7: Families know about and take full advantage of the wide range of available public and private services that help reduce their cost of living. K7: K7: Families have ready access to affordable basic goods and services – food, clothing, housing household goods and health care.

Grow It Help families help themselves

Grow It: Desired Result Double Bottom Line for Communities and Families Families get ahead. Communities thrive. Start and increase savings. Purchase and protect assets. Attain higher levels of education. Prepare for retirement. Accumulating family assets & building wealth Start and increase savings. Purchase and protect assets. Attain higher levels of education. Prepare for retirement. Homes and businesses are maintained and increase in value. Community economies improve. Charities & endowments thrive. Better economy keeps people in the community. Increasing the value of family assets in the community Homes and businesses are maintained and increase in value. Community economies improve. Charities & endowments thrive. Better economy keeps people in the community.

Goals Grow It Goals Build Family Prospects Accumulating Family Assets & Building Wealth G1: G1: Family members establish a financial cushion by regularly building their savings over time. G2: G2: Families find, finance at competitive rates, and purchase quality homes in their communities. G3: G3: Families build retirement-restricted financial assets. G4: G4: Families maintain and retain the value of any owned or inherited land and property. G5: G5: Children of working families get high-quality pre-K-to-12 schooling, and attain higher education levels that improve their family’s economic status.

Goals Grow It Goals Build Community Prospects Increasing the Value of Family Assets in the Community G6: G6: Family members increasingly participate in community activities and hold leadership roles. G7: G7: Family-owned housing stock increases in value throughout the community. G8: G8: Family purchasing power, productivity and entrepreneurship strengthens local businesses. G9: G9: Families contribute to charitable causes and endowments that benefit the community and its people. G10: G10: Families and young people want – and are able – to stay in, return to, or move to the community.

RuFES Delivery Systems Desired Result: Family-centered Simultaneous Sustained Approaches: Make services accessible to families Make a “quilt” Avoid unintended consequences

Thank You! John Molinaro Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group