Families Moving Forward
ABOUT
Families Moving Forward is a free, two-year economic mobility program designed to help Cambridge and Somerville parents build lasting economic self-sufficiency. Through individualized mentoring and goal-setting, families receive personalized support to create meaningful, sustained changes that strengthen their families’ financial stability.
Participants can build greater self-sufficiency and long-term economic independence by connecting to essential resources and engaging in strong peer support networks.
The Mobility Mentoring® Approach
Our approach is rooted in Mobility Mentoring®, which is a holistic, comprehensive approach designed by Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) to help you make sustainable, long-term changes in your life.
Our mentors use Just A Start’s Bridge to Stability and Resilience to help you to set personal and family goals to achieve greater stability and happiness.
- Family Stability: housing stability and family needs
- Wellbeing & Support: physical and mental health and support networks
- Financial Stability: manage cash flow, increase savings, and reduce debt
- Employment & Career: education attainment, increase income, and job quality
Mobility Mentoring® creates a supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered. Through one-on-one mentoring sessions and small and large group meetings, participants you can build meaningful connections rooted in compassion and empathy.
INDIVIDUALIZATION
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” path to economic stability. Each plan is tailored to your goals, strengths, and challenges.
TIME
Real changes take time. Our holistic, two-year program supports you as you build lasting habits and stability
CO-INVESTMENT
You are the expert in your own life. This is a partnership where you take the “driver’s seat” and the mentor is a passenger guiding you along your journey.
NETWORK DEVELOPMENT
No one reaches economic independence alone. We help you build the personal and professional networks that make long-term progress possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
- You must be a Cambridge or Somerville resident
- You must have children under the age of 17
- Your gross income must be at or below 50% of Cambridge’s AMI
There is no cost to qualifying families.
Enrollment is currently closed. When opened please complete the following steps:
- Complete this Families Moving Forward Inquiry form.
- It is a 2-year program. When the cohort is full, we close the application process but allow people to join the waiting list.
- When there are openings available, we will contact people on the waiting list for an interview.
- It could take anywhere from 6 to 18 months to be considered.
For more information about the Families Moving Forward program, please feel free to contact Marijke van der Hiel, the Financial Empowerment Program Manager at [email protected].
Advisory Board
This program is guided with the support of our Advisory Board with partner agencies:
Bridges Homeward
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge Housing Authority
Community Action Agency of Somerville (Head Start)
Institute for Health and Recovery