The Little Collaborative Program provides a single location where our neighbors can receive guidance, encouragement and assistance in seeking resources across the human services system to help them create and stay on their path out of their current situation. HelpLink’s trained volunteers, maximize the time and resources of those seeking assistance. Through careful listening, guidance, encourageme
nt and support, this program provides a direct relationship with the goal of accurate resource information and connections to assist clients in the journey out of poverty. By addressing missing resources for a client, HelpLink can fill a gap between poverty and self-sufficiency. Next: Family Partnership provides longer-term support through mentoring. Trained mentors empower those they work with to identify and set goals, identify and overcome road blocks, discover their talents and strengths, and work together on a plan for reaching their goals. They begin to expand their personal network to include a more diverse group of people, which is statistically a key in the journey of exiting poverty. And finally: AGAPE Financial removes barriers for those on their journey to success by providing interest free micro-loans for employment related needs along with related supportive counseling and skill building. Trained volunteers provide concrete help that not only supports employment retention and advancement, but the accompanying structured mentoring teaches the tenets of financial responsibility. All three programs of The Little Collaborative provide role modeling to address missing relational and material resources for people living in the crisis of poverty. In addition, The Little Collaborative programs focus on finding each client’s strengths, builds their network of supports and contacts in the community, as well as confidence in the journey to self-sufficiency.
