In tough economic times, you can either lie down and accept defeat or you can pull yourself up by the bootstraps and get to the business of living.

“The Financial Stability Collaborative, offered through the East Toledo Family Center, offers those “take-charge-and-fight individuals” the tools and skills needed to overcome poverty.

Created two years ago by the United Way of Greater Toledo, the program offers clients two services – mentoring and education. “The ideal candidate is someone who is ready to take control and make their finances more stable,” Anika S. Fields, coordinator of the Financial Stability Collaborative, said. “We help people take steps on the path to financial stability.”

The program provides one-on-one mentoring with an advocate who helps clients set their own personalized goals. “It could be someone who has budget issues,” Fields said. “It may be that the client has suffered a loss of income and they need to get back on track to increase their income. We also work with clients who are on a fixed income and having issues managing their monthly bills. The program is personalized to offer the client the services he or she needs.”

Crystal Gulick with her children, Jamar and Lanaysia

Clients may refer themselves into the program by calling and making an appointment, Fields said. They may also stop in and, if one is available, speak with an advocate.

Some clients are also referred through community resource providers or through the outreach efforts of Fields and her staff. “We are out in the community at different fairs, events, and at employers in order to increase the awareness of our services.”

According to Tracy Jadlos, director of Community Impact for the United Way of Greater Toledo, the FSC believes that in order to impact the people in the community positively, three components must be addressed.

“You have to approach community issues with a three-pronged approach. You have to address education, health and income,” Jadlos said. “The foundation of the program is to meet the financial, health and educational needs first.” Jadlos said the ETFC is a coordinator for the FSC with advocates who will help clients establish their own financial plan as well as offering an educational component.

The services a client may receive depends on what they need. Jadlos said the FSC deals with those in situational poverty and those stuck in what is referred to as generational poverty.

“The need grows every day,” Jadlos said. “We have a lot of folks in situational poverty, who may have just lost a job. Those people do not know who to call for help. The advocates can help refer those with immediate needs to community resource providers that may be able to offer help so they can stay in their household.”

The Family Stability Program, may be able to help with rent, mortgage payments, utilities, health programs and food to help those with children suffering an acute financial need get through the next 30 days, Jadlos said.

The clients stuck in generational poverty, those who may have grown up in poverty, may already know who to call for help, but they need the basics in order to get up and out of the poverty trap.

“These faced with generational poverty are different,” Jadlos explained. “The underlining issue is education. If they did not complete high school, we can help them get a GED. Many times we can coach them onto higher education or help them develop a work plan.”

“There has been an increase in people presenting with financial crisis and they need to be connected to community resources,” Jadlos said. “The advocates will connect them to programs or services that might meet their needs. Advocates help individuals move toward financial stability by helping them increase income, build savings and gain assets. Advocates explain how we can assist them with the financial information piece and help them identify and establish financial goals.”

Fields said the FSC is seeing more people coming into the program who are in situational poverty. Countywide, the program sees and helps 3,000 families per year.

“We offer workshops designed for every client,” Fields said. “We hold workshops on how to percent foreclosure, life insurance benefits, basic budgeting, investments, etc. We want clients to commit to at least four months in the program in order to work with the advocate. We have some clients that have been around for two years. It just depends on the client’s goals.”

For more information or to enroll in the program, call 419-691-1429 ext. 214 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .