New Siemer Institute for Family Stability Helps Keep Kids in Their Schools
Imagine what it would be like if children had the opportunity to learn and grow in the same classroom throughout the entire year without fear of moving.
Imagine how much more productive and self-assured students would be because they had the same teacher throughout the school year.
Research shows children in families who lack permanent housing have difficulty learning. Not only do the children experience the anxiety created by the family situation, but they often have increased incidences of school absences and serious discipline problems.
What is United Way of Central Ohio doing about it?
With the partnership of UWCO, Community Shelter Board, Communities in Schools, and a generous donation from Al and Barbara Siemer, The Siemer Institute for Family Stability has been launched.
The Siemer Institute for Family Stability will lead the work of initiatives in ten communities in Ohio and Florida that help families at risk of homelessness stay in their homes and keep their kids in their current schools. It will also spearhead efforts to enhance the initiatives and expand into new communities. The Institute is part of UWCO and represents the first time any local United Way organization has led an initiative on a national level. It will be funded by a $4.9 million gift from the Siemer Family Foundation -- the largest single gift ever made to UWCO.
In central Ohio, the Institute will build on the successful work of the Stable Families program, the Columbus-based initiative, which has over the past three years helped 525 families with 1,112 children become and remain stable. 90% of the families who completed the program have maintained or found permanent housing and resolved the issues that led them to a housing crisis. Stable Families has also proven itself very cost effective, with an average intervention cost per family that is approximately one-third of the average total cost per family in Franklin County's emergency shelter system.
Rob Podlogar has been hired as the National Director of the Siemer Institute for Family Stability. In his role he will oversee and expand the Institute. Rob is based in Columbus and has offices at United Way of Central Ohio.
