PathWays PA - Services and advocacy for women, children and families.

Self-Sufficiency

The Self-Sufficiency program helps low-income families build paths out of poverty and encompasses outreach, training, education and research. The program’s keystone is the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania, which outlines living costs for each of the state’s workforce investment areas. To view the Standard, click here.

PathWays PA’s Self-Sufficiency programs engage multiple strategies to help individuals and families realize the goal of economic self-sufficiency. These include:

Healthcare Sector Industry Partnership: PathWays PA convenes the Delaware County Healthcare Partnership, comprised of employers, educators and workforce development entities to help low-wage healthcare workers develop career paths and increase their earnings, while improving the competitive position of healthcare providers. PathWays PA has worked with Delaware County Community College to provide a number of short-term classes designed to increase access and foster success for low-skilled, low-income workers. These college-credit bearing courses promote higher education and training to facilitate career and wage advancement
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): Provides extensive free tax preparation services and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) education and outreach throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with a focus on promoting asset development and financial stability
Financial Path$: Financial education workshops and individual counseling, as well as: outreach and assistance to low-income families to provide access to public benefits; resolve benefit problems; credit counseling and strategies to conserve, manage and build financial resources
In addition to the Standard, Self-Sufficiency produces several other publications that offer tools and strategies for low-wage working families, including:

Keeping it Real: Teen Finances: Designed for teen parents and young adults, this comprehensive guide promotes informed financial choices to build financial stability
The Financial Resources Guide: A statewide resource guide that outlines the economic supports and financial services available to low-income workers, as well as other topics regarding financial resources and self-sufficiency
Paths to Banking: A guide to the basics of banking that includes a brief overview on credit and predatory lending practices
Tax Benefit Resources: Extensive outreach & educational materials, in English and Spanish, detailing the benefits and eligibility requirements for EITC
Health Careers Training Directory: Details career options, training requirements and availability, as well as anticipated demand and earnings for health professions requiring less than one year of training or more
Paths to Self-Sufficiency: An easy-to-use reference guide that provides low-income workers with proven strategies to achieve economic self-sufficiency