Catholic Charities' Neighbor to Neighbor: Preliminary Findings of a Faith‐Based Initiative

Abstract

A faith‐based welfare‐to‐work program infused spiritual content throughout a 14‐session group intervention to improve client self‐sufficiency. To study the effectiveness of the program, investigators measured participant self‐ratings on 12 self‐sufficiency skills upon entry to and exit from the program, and documented goal attainment at six‐month follow‐up. Results showed that graduates reported statistically significant improvement in budgeting and goal‐setting skills and an increased sense of hope and spiritual awareness. At follow‐up most participants reported achieving at least one of four goals. The study demonstrates how faith‐based programs can make spiritual content explicit and measure client outcomes.

Keywords:

• Faith‐based
• welfare‐to‐work
• program evaluation