Updates from graduates include the following successes: work in the WEX program, volunteer as a reading coach, completed Work Keys, work at Friends Aware in a job with benefits and a schedule that doesn’t require her to get child care, obtained a car, received the Live Your Dream Award from the Soroptimists, settled into independent housing, obtained driving permits, purchased a house, and registered for college. Of the nine Opportunity Youth that graduated in FY17, four obtained employment, two enrolled in college level education, three obtained driving permits, one had probation terminated, one left an abusive situation, and two obtained housing.

Though all graduates in target population reported increased resources shown in pre-post mental models, tracking tools are distributed at 3- 6 and 12 months post-graduation. This causes a delay in reporting of change. 100% of the Getting Ahead graduates in the target population report an increase of resources, but not yet through the listed instruments. Since December 2015, 38% of graduates have increased overall stability, 23% decreased monthly debt, and 10% increased monthly income. 22% of graduates also report increased social capital.

Data is collected at the start of each Getting Ahead class and the stability scale, self-assessment resource guide, and return on investment are obtained at 3,6 and 12 months respectively post-graduation. This is done at monthly gatherings; follow up meetings with facilitators or by mail if possible. Data from these forms is entered into Charity Tracker a database used by other Getting Ahead programs across the nation. Participants complete the forms and require varying levels of support.  In each Getting Ahead class the investigators also create a mental model of their current life and then they create another mental model at the end of the 20 week session. These diagrams are often very enlightening, and demonstrate increased confidence and hope when comparing the pre and post versions.