Expanding Education IDAs: New Partnerships & Program

1. Expanding Education IDAs:New Partnerships & Program Maggie Reilly Program Manager CASA of Oregon

2. Mission The mission of CASA of Oregon is to develop housing, programs and facilities that improve the quality of life and self-sufficiency of farmworkers and other low-income populations. 

3. Asset Building Programs at CASA • Established VIDA in 2001; MESA in 2007 • Serve thirty-one counties in Oregon; forty VIDA members and twenty-two MESA schools • Savings goals • Homeownership • Microenterprise development • Post-secondary education • Home rehabilitation and repair • Adaptive equipment, technology or specialized training related to employment

4. VIDA Collaborative Since 2001: • Over 700 participants • Over 350 graduates • About 17% of participants save/saved for post-secondary education • Adult savers

5. MESA College Initiative • Matched Education Savings Accounts • Partnership with community colleges, universities and high schools • Youth and adult participants • In year one, approximately 75 new participants

6. MESA’s Program Goals • Create access for students and potential students to post-secondary education • Provide schools a resource to complement their supportive programs • Increase the participation of underrepresented groups in post-secondary education, such as first-generation students, students of color and non-native English speakers

7. Roles and Responsibilities • Schools recruit, enroll and support participants • CASA provides back-office function for schools, including data management, reporting, fundraising and establishing bank relationships • CASA and schools develop materials, curricula and refine program concurrently

8. Creating a New Initiative: Why MESA? • Different partners • Schools operate differently from non-profits, housing authorities, Native American tribes and social service agencies • Different structure for new target population • Ability to save • Timing • Different language & approach • IDAs? What? • Point of entry/initial contact

9. High School Participation • GEAR UP schools • Save 10th-12th grade • Deposits come from youth’s earnings • Involvement from parent/guardian • Complements GEAR UP’s programs that prepare kids to access and succeed in college • Youth-oriented financial education and college planning curricula • Match from state and federal funding

10. Community College Participation • Mt. Hood Community College’s Transiciones & Transitions Programs • Save during college for preplanned, intermittent goals or for transfer to a four-year college • All women participants (95% Latina) • Curriculum mixes financial, college and life planning • Match from state and federal funding

11. College Partnerships • Oregon Independent College Foundation • Ten independent colleges in Oregon • Phase 1: retention tool; phase 2: outreach tool • Save during college for preplanned, intermittent goals or for transfer to a four-year college • Financial aid office, student services/affairs and academic advisors involved • Match comes from private, state and federal funding

12. Choosing Partners • Look for existing infrastructure • Start small • Find a champion/advocate • Understand their Weltanschauung and adapt accordingly • Geographical diversity • Financial need

13. Designing Program Research gap to achieve goal (both financial and human capital)—then work backwards: • Savings vis-à-vis earnings • Seasonal employment • Intermittent disbursals (mini-goals) • Timing and future planning • Match • Training requirements (build on existing programs!)

14. For More Information www.casaoforegon.org www.vidaoregon.org www.mesaoregon.org Thank you!