Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley

Program Evaluation Specialist

Project Goal(s)

The Philly Fellow will improve the Education Financial Services program’s efficiency and capacity for evaluation and communication in order to better provide college and career planning services that give students and families the knowledge and empowerment they need to effectively select an affordable post-secondary option that complements the student’s goals. The fellow will accomplish this through communications and outreach as well as program evaluation.

Agency Information

Website www.cccsdv.org

Agency Mission The mission of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley (CCCS) is to create hope by helping people identify and secure the most important assets in their lives. CCCS updated our mission statement in 2011 to reflect our core objectives and the effect we have on our program participants and the community.

Address 1608 Walnut Street, Tenth Floor; Philadelphia, PA 19103

Total number of Agency Staff Members 60

Agency Budget $5,750,000

Community Need

Please state in measurable and quantifiable terms the specific community need that the Philly Fellow will address

Higher education remains a desirable goal for young people and families, but the financial advantages of college may be diminished by spiraling college costs and inadequate education on managing student loan debt. The cost of college has risen an average of 5.4% annually, with 66% of undergraduates and 88% of graduate students now carrying student loan debt, many in the six-figure range. Recently, U.S. student loan debt levels reached $830 billion and passed U.S. credit card debt levels, and the U.S. Department of Education shows defaults increasing to 7% for federal borrowers with higher rates for for-profit loans and private colleges. Delinquent repayment increases the cost of debt as interest and fees compound, and this debt cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. The Philadelphia area is home to more than 100,000 high school sophomores and juniors in the Philadelphia area, and these students and their families could benefit from in-depth personal evaluation and advice about choosing and financing post-high-school options.

Describe how your agency addresses this need, and how the new capacity created by this fellow will help alleviate the problem

The Education Financing Services (EFS) program provides college/career planning services that give students and families the knowledge and empowerment they need to effectively select an affordable post-secondary option that complements the student’s goals. The program provides one-on-one counseling with the student to focus them on their skills, interests and values. Additionally, program staff will meet one-on-one with the parents or guardians to determine the most effective means for financing the student's education. Program counselors will continue to remain in contact with the student through the completion of their post-secondary education. Online tools will also be used to help the student and family create profiles, assess interests and skills, and track progress toward school selection and financing goals. We expect that program evaluation will be an important part of the 2011-12 pilot with 250 families and that this early evaluation will help to shape the program when it is expanded in the future.

Describe the level of community involvement in the fellow’s project

The EFS program has received a high level of interest since it was introduced in October 2011. For example, the City of Philadelphia, Mayor's Office on Education has partnered with the EFS program on the Financing College Campaign, which will develop capacity and knowledge on the post-secondary education process. We have also received interest from United Way of Southeastern PA Education division to provide our services to low-to-moderate income student groups.

Job Description

Please outline in list form the fellow's duties and responsibilities

- Develop e-newsletter for communication with EFS members

- Cultivate additional partners to assist with funding, venues, program development and - Review and analyze counseling session results

- Compile project evaluation report

- Research additional funding/investment opportunities that will financially support the program

- Research ongoing industry events and conferences relevant to the program

Please outline in list form the skills/qualifications a fellow should have to succeed in the position

- Strong reading and writing skills

- Research and analysis capability

- Knowledge of MS Office

- Knowledge of SalesForce CRM preferred

Please describe your agency's plan to orient and train the fellow

Our agency's technology and evaluation department is led by the same director and the Philly Fellow will be placed in a two-week formal training program on the process of technology that CCCS and EFS use to collect and evaluate data. The Fellow will also receive orientation from EFS project staff and from other departments at CCCS to acquaint him or her with the processes, procedures and values of the agency.

Name and title of the fellow's immediate supervisor

John Roche; Vice President, Education Financing Service Program

Please briefly describe plans for supervision of fellow

The Philly Fellow will work from CCCS' main office in Center City Philadelphia and will report to the director of the EFS program.

Will fellow be working at the same address listed above? Yes

Will the fellow have their own…

Office? Fellow will share Desk? Fellow will have their own Computer? Fellow will have their own

Please approximate the percentage of time the fellow will work…

Independently 80

As a team member in a group setting 20

As a team leader in a group setting 0

Will the fellow be expected to travel as part of the position? Yes

If so, how often and where? Less than 25% in Greater Philadelphia area.

Will the fellow need the following to carry out the position…

A driver’s license? No

Their own car? No