Empowering Families to Financial Independence with F.A.S.T.

A program at the Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center is focused on building up and supporting families in the area. F.A.S.T, which stands for Families Accelerating Sustaining and Thriving, is designed to support families in achieving long-term success through personalized coaching and resources.

"We take families from just surviving to thriving. We take them wherever they wanna go. Their goals, whether that be buying a home, getting a new car, improving their credit score, getting a new job," F.A.S.T. Coordinator Nia Jameson said.

Jameson notes that there is a large need in the area for this type of support. "In the Pike and Washington township, we see a lot of our ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families. They face a lot of different disparities: transportation, food, not having proper education. They face a lot of barriers," she said.F.A.S.T offers:

• Personalized Family Coaching:
• Goal Setting and Action Planning:
• Access to Community Resources:
• Workshops and Training
• Support Networks
• Ongoing Follow-Up

"It's a two-year commitment. And so people are allowed to choose how fast or slow they go. That just depends on them," Jameson said.

A new cohort of families met at the Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center for an introductory dinner, where Isaiah McGuire and Lanya Musgrove, proud parents of an 11-month-old, expressed their enthusiasm for the program. "This is a good thing for us. Positive route," McGuire said.The couple says they want to set themselves up for success for their child's future. "I want to have a career, education, better finances," Musgrove said. "Better mindset mentally. Better financially. Be a better man for our child," McGuire added.To qualify for the F.A.S.T program, you need to meet the following requirements:• Two-parent household• Live in Pike or Washington Townships• Have at least one child• Make under $65,000/year• Both parents need to be willing to participate