Christian Community Services Inc

THE MISSION OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. IS TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED FAMILIES THROUGH CARING RELATIONSHIPS TO ACHIEVE A LEGACY OF SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY.

MENTORING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE MENTORING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE (MTI) IS OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM. THIS NINE MONTH (SEPTEMBER - MAY) PROGRAM TARGETS FAMILIES EARNING BETWEEN 100%-200% OF THE HHS FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. THIS PROGRAM UTILIZES ABOUT 80 VOLUNTEERS EACH MONTH AS TUTORS, MENTORS, AND FOOD TEAMS WHO PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS FAMILY STYLE MEALS DURING THE WEEKLY SESSIONS. MTI TYPICALLY HAS 15-20 FAMILY PARTICIPANTS DURING A PROGRAM YEAR. TOPICS INCLUDE THE FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM AS WELL AS LIFE ENHANCING TOPICS THAT ADDRESS MINDSET AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL GOALS. THROUGHOUT THE WEEK THE PARTICIPANTS (MENTEES) COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR MENTORS AND THEY MEET IN PERSON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO ENCOURAGE AND SERVE AS ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERS. ANOTHER GREAT COMPONENT OF MTI IS THE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS (IDAS), DESCRIBE IN NOTE 3. THE IDAS ARE MATCHED SAVING ACCOUNTS IN WHICH CCSI WILL MATCH 2 FOR EVERY 1 THEY SAVE UP TO A TOTAL MATCH OF 3,334. A PARTICIPANT HAS 5 YEARS TO SAVE THEIR PORTION OF 1,666 AND RECEIVE THE MAXIMUM MATCHED PORTION, GIVING MENTEES A COMBINED TOTAL OF 5,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF A HOUSE, MICRO-ENTERPRISE OR HIGHER EDUCATION. TO DATE AT LEAST 180 FAMILIES HAVE ACHIEVED SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WITH 142 OF THOSE AS FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS AND THE REMAINING PAYING FAIR MARKET RENT. TO KEEP IDA SAVERS ENCOURAGED AND ENGAGED AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR ASSET PURCHASE, WE OFFER QUARTERLY SAVERS CLUBS. THESE MEETINGS ARE FOR THE MTI MENTEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE INITIAL NINE MONTHS OF THE MENTORING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM BUT HAVE NOT PURCHASED THEIR ASSET. THE SAVERS CLUB OFFERS GUEST LECTURE TOPICS RELATED TO HIGHER EDUCATION, SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND HOME PURCHASES, ETC. TO PROMOTE PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL WELLBEING. MTI ALSO OFFERS A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE CHILDREN WHILE THE ADULTS ARE IN THEIR SESSIONS. THE CHILDREN LEARN TOPICS SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE ADULTS. THEY ENGAGE WITH THEIR TUTORS FOR HOMEWORK ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL EDUCATION, CAREER EXPLORATION, VISION BOARDS, PERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHILDREN ENGAGE IN SERVICE PROJECTS AS A COMPONENT OF THE "EARN IT, SAVE IT," INITIATIVE IN WHICH THEY EARN MATCHED SAVINGS FUNDS BASED ON THE TIMELINESS, COMMITMENT, AND QUALITY OF THEIR WORK/SERVICE.

BASIC FINANCIAL TRAINING (BFT) IS AN SEVEN HOURS CERTIFICATE BASED WORKSHOP THAT PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND ENHANCES THEIR SKILLS ON HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR MONEY. THE WORKSHOP RAISES AWARENESS OF SUCH ISSUES AS THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MAINSTREAM FINANCIAL CENTERS AND PREDATORY LENDERS. TOPICS INCLUDE UNDERSTANDING MONEY, CREDIT, SAVINGS AND BUDGETING. DURING THE WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS CREATE A ZERO BASED BUDGET, AND LEARN HOW CREDIT SCORES ARE CALCULATED, HOW TO PULL AND CHECK THEIR CREDIT REPORT, AND WHAT TRANSACTIONS IMPACT CREDIT SCORES. ADDITIONALLY, THEY BEGIN TO ACCESS AND COMPARE THE PROS AND CONS OF RENTING VERSUS HOMEOWNERSHIP. PARTICIPANTS REVIEW STEPS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND ARE PROVIDED WITH AN OVERVIEW OF OPTIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING FOR THE PURCHASE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF A MAJOR ASSET. BFT WORKSHOPS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BUT ARE A PRE-REQUISITE FOR THE MENTORING TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM (MTI). BFT WORKSHOPS ARE HELD TYPICALLY 3 TIMES PER YEAR. FULL DAY WORKSHOPS ARE HELD ON SATURDAYS AND BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ARE PROVIDED. THERE IS A 10 REGISTRATION CHARGE.