Denver, CO (PRWEB) June 24, 2014
At the fourth annual Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America) meeting, Single Stop announced an expansion of its services by building the first integrated, client-facing technology to seamlessly connect users to all of the existing tools in the anti-poverty arsenal—government aid, health care, student financial aid, and community resources. By providing a self-service, user-friendly tool, this new iteration of Single Stop’s technology will be more cost effective and will have the potential for greater, more scalable reach. Building from its existing infrastructure of more than 100 locations across 8 states, Single Stop has committed to reach more than 1 million households annually by 2018.
Single Stop believes that finding things like low-cost childcare, nutrition assistance and financial aid should be as easy as purchasing an item from your favorite online seller. Inspired by the convenience of e-commerce platforms, Single Stop’s new tool will transform the way in which low-income people receive information and connect to benefits and services. Moreover, the client-facing technology will seamlessly integrate into a powerful data management system that will provide key insights for providers and policy-makers across the social service sector.
A key focus for the first phase of implementation is piloting within Single Stop’s footprint at community colleges. Current data shows that Single Stop students are able to access on average more than $5,000 in additional funds annually, effectively doubling the maximum value of need-based Pell Grants. These resources help bridge the financial needs gap that sees more than half of all community college students drop out, the majority because of financial constraints. Preliminary data also indicates that Single Stop has been shown to increase retention rates by 17%. For millions, completion of higher education programs is the key to economic mobility and viability through employment, especially given that nearly 50% of newly available jobs require a post-secondary degree.
“We are at an inflection point in our country. As jobs continue to move towards a knowledge-based economy, it is increasingly important that all students have the opportunity to attain the skills needed to enter and thrive in the workforce,” said Elisabeth Mason, Co-Founder and CEO of Single Stop. “If we don’t do a better job of connecting students with the resources that already exist, we are putting ourselves in danger of leaving an entire generation behind. We cannot close the door on the American Dream for millions of young people.”
Partnering with the Association of Community College Trustees and institutions including Miami-Dade Community College, with funding from The Robin Hood Foundation, The Baton Rouge Area Foundation, The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Ford Foundation and The Kresge Foundation, Single Stop cuts through information and navigation barriers to expand the universe of people who can access government supports and community programs. Designed through the lens of the individual seeking aid, instead of the organization providing aid, the platform will make the search for and coordination of resources more user-friendly and intuitive for students. Single Stop has been working with Pivotal Labs and thought leaders in technology and retail to apply best practices from the corporate world to the social service sector.
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About Single Stop
Single Stop harnesses America's most effective anti-poverty tools to create economic mobility for low-income families and individuals. Through a unique one-stop shop, Single Stop provides coordinated access to a safety net worth $750 billion and services provided by 1.5 million nonprofits—connecting people to the resources they need to attain higher education, obtain good jobs, and achieve financial self-sufficiency. Since spinning off from The Robin Hood Foundation in 2007, Single Stop’s outreach and capacity has grown dramatically. By the end of 2014, Single Stop is on track to connect one million households in eight states to $3 billion of resources and services. To achieve this, Single Stop provides community-based organizations (CBOs) and community colleges with training, evaluation, program support, change management consulting, and proprietary technology. These tools empower sites to provide low-income families with wraparound services that include benefits screening, application assistance, case management, tax preparation, and legal and financial counseling. To learn more, visit singlestopusa.org. Follow us on Twitter @SingleStop. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/singlestopusa
About The Clinton Global Initiative America
About the Clinton Global Initiative America The Clinton Global Initiative America (CGI America), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, addresses economic recovery in the United States. Established in June 2011 by President Bill Clinton, CGI America brings together leaders in business, government, and civil society to generate and implement commitments to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, foster innovation, and support workforce development in the United States. Since its first meeting, CGI America participants have made over 300 commitments valued at more than $15 billion when fully funded and implemented. To learn more, visit cgiamerica.org.
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Bill, Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders year-round and at its Annual Meeting to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI also convenes CGI University, which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their communities and around the world. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 2,800 Commitments to Action, which are already improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $103 billion. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
