2.1: The Un-Program

Put families in control of their own process and learn from them what works — and doesn't — as they endeavor to improve their lives.

Other Information:

Family Group Demonstrations: The Un-Program -- FII's Demonstrations are our most well-known innovation. In 2001, FII began testing what would happen if families, not social workers, were put in control of their own process. We also wanted to learn from families what works — and doesn't — s they endeavor to improve their lives. FII's model is partly based on historic and recent examples of communities that moved from poverty to self-sufficiency. From Polish immigrants in the meat packing industry in the 1800s to African-Americans establishing independent townships after slavery to the contemporary example of California's Cambodian refugee community building a doughnut empire — history is ripe with examples of friends and families working together and sharing resources to build a path to economic security and well-being. FII enrolls groups of families — the families must assemble their group by choosing friends with whom they want to enroll. Each group meets regularly to support each other, hold each other accountable, and share resources, ideas, and advice. Additionally, each family gets a computer to access FII's online data-tracking system. Here they input data about their household's income and savings, health, education and skills, housing, resourcefulness and leadership, and networking and helping others. In exchange for sharing their progress, each family can earn up to $200 every month. Every three months the families' data is verified.

Stakeholder(s):

• Low-Income Families

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

Content