Benefits Access/Project Go

Project GO!: Breaking Down 

Financial Barriers to College 

Completion
Benefits Access for College Completion

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion

A national demonstration to develop and 

institutionalize scalable and sustainable policies 

and practices that help a diverse population of 

eligible students gain access to an array of public 

benefits. Accessing benefits and financial aid will 

better address students' financial and support 

needs, and thereby improve academic performance 

and completion. 
 Billions of unused 

public benefit dollars 

are returned to state 

and county funders 

each year

 Students drop out of 

college for financial 

reasons

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
 Billions of public 

benefit dollars are 

returned to state and 

county funders each 

year

 Students drop out of 

college for financial 

reasons

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Benefits Access/Project Go

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion

Cuyahoga Community College Mission

To provide high quality, accessible and affordable 

educational opportunities and services - including 

university transfer, technical and lifelong learning 

programs - that promote individual development and 

improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural 

community.
Benefits Access/Project Go

Ohio Department of Job & Family Services 

(ODJFS)

Ohio Board of Regents

Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB)

Cleveland Foodbank

United Way 211

Project GO! Partners

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Student Communications

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion

Benefits Access/Project Go
Benefits Access/Project Go

Tier One:

Faculty, counselors, Call Center, student ambassadors and other Tri-C staff will have brochures and 

flyers with information to refer students to Project GO!’s personnel, locations, webpage, and 

student portal

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion

Tier Two:

Division office, Enrollment Center, Financial Aid personnel provide general information to our 

students of kiosk locations, distribute program brochures and explain how to contact a Project GO! 

staff member.

Student Engagement

Tier Three:

Financial Aid Advisors, Student Support Specialist, Career Center personnel, BACC interns, Peer 

Financial Coaches, and Benefit Coach Coordinator work with students one on one during an 

appointment or as a walk-in to assist with navigating the site, and understanding and completing 

the Ohio Benefit Bank application process.
Benefits Access/Project Go

Project GO! Student Data

849 students responded to the Project GO! intake survey

182 students have received benefits 

234 benefits have been accessed by students

49 students are receiving multiple benefits

132 students have completed the “common” application

*Information gathered from CJFS as of December, 2013.

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
• Focus for integration is to support student’s 

financial needs through an inherent process in the 

Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships

• Expanded the integration within financial aid 

processes in December 2013

• Resulted in increase of pre-screened applicants by 

• 61.8 % (2013-2014)*

• 180 % increased (2014-2015)**

*Fall 2013 to Fall 2013 comparison

**Fall 2014 - Feb. 2013 compared to Sept. 2014 o Feb. 2015 

Benefits Access/Project Go

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Peer financial coaches, funded by federal 

work-study funds, will sustain peer-to-peer 

workforce

Maintain relationship with county and state 

partners to ensure continuous training and 

program changes

Determine opportunities to expand 

memorandum of understanding with county 

agencies to measure impact

Benefits Access/Project Go

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Benefits Access/Project Go

Project Go! Testimonial 

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Contact Information

Angela Johnson 

Cuyahoga Community College

Executive Director, Enrollment and Financial Aid 

Angela.Johnson@tri-c.edu

216-987-4213

Benefits Access/Project Go

Breaking Down Financial Barriers to College Completion
Chris Walker

LISC Research and Assessment

Financial Literacy and 

Education Commission

Public Meeting

May 21, 2015

Integrating Financial Services to 

Enhance Employment Outcomes
75+ FOCs in 33 Cities

 5,800 placed in jobs

 6,200 improved net income 

 5,300 improved net worth

 5,700 improved credit score

Clients engaged in three services are 

Financial Opportunity Center 

Locations and Outcomes - 2014
Integration of 3 Core Services

Employment Services

• One-on-one coaching 

• Job readiness/job placement

• Bridge & Skills Training

Financial Opportunity Centers

Financial Services

• One-on-one coaching

• Set budget & balance sheet

• Tie to mainstream finance

• Credit-building (Twin Accounts)

Income Support Services

• SNAP (food stamps)

• Health insurance

• Housing and energy subsidies 

• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
26%

32%

39%

46%

EC Only EC + ISC EC + FC All Programs

Bundling Boosts Job Attainment

Placement Rates Increase as Services are Added to Employment Counseling

EC=Employment Counseling

ISC=Income Supports Counseling

FC=Financial Counseling
Higher Dosage Boosts Job Attainment

Placement Rates Increase Across Quartiles of Time Spent in Program

19%

29%

40%

50%

First Quartile Second Quartile Third Quartile Fourth Quartile
High Dosage Bundling and Employment Gains

Highest Quartile Bundlers Register Highest Placement and Retention Rates

33%

56%

74%

78%

Placement 180 Day Retention

All participants Top Time Quartile, all three services
Skills Programs Produce Better Jobs Outcomes

81

113

Skills Participants

Matched Control Group

Days to Job Placement

$11.89 

$10.77 

Skills Participants

Matched Control Group

Starting Wage

73%

65%

Skills Participants

Matched Control Group

180-Day Job Retention
Chris Walker

Director, Research & Assessment

cwalker@lisc.org