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Easterseals Expanding Program Targeting Poverty With Education

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The Cincinnati chapter of Easterseals is expanding its Prosperity for All program after a two-year pilot showed positive results.

Easterseals, which provides services to children and adults with disabilities, says at least 19 of the 33 Prosperity for All participants completed the program, 13 found jobs and six are looking.

Now the effort has a grant to expand to 50 participants.

Prosperity for All leaders say the key is funding career and personal guidance services while working with Job and Family Services. That's because they found participants were getting caught in a catch-22 of having to quit a current job in order to attend classes to get a better job, which meant they'd lose state benefits for things like childcare or transportation.

Prosperity for All is working with Cincinnati State on short-term training programs.

The concept for Prosperity for All comes from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's first Leadership Action class.

Senior Editor and reporter at WVXU with more than 20 years experience in public radio; formerly news and public affairs producer with WMUB. Would really like to meet your dog.