Seedco—Job Training, Benefits Access, Business Assistance, Loans & Grants

Opportunity NYC

				Seedco has helped individuals and families receive more than $17.5 million in financial incentives to date.
				

In 2007, Seedco was selected by New York City's Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) to implement a promising new anti-poverty program, Opportunity NYC. The first large-scale conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the United States seeks to use monetary incentives to help families break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Seedco was a partner in the design of the Opportunity NYC: Family Rewards and Work Rewards programs and is leading the implementation with the assistance of community-based organizations across New York City.

Based on the lessons of Mexico's successful program, Oportunidades, Opportunity NYC is the first CCT program of its scale in the world to additionally offer a comprehensive package of incentives to participants, including:

› Education to help children advance academically
› Health to promote preventive health care
› Work and Training to reward adults for maintaining full-time employment and advancing their careers

The national social policy research group, MDRC, is leading a full-scale random assignment evaluation of Opportunity NYC to determine whether the program provides an effective tool for reducing poverty through both short-term and long-term poverty reduction goals. Seedco is also participating in a learning network on CCT programs that is disseminating lessons learned, engaging in a dialogue with other countries that are involved with CCT programs and exploring replication opportunities.

Visit the Web site for Opportunity NYC Family Rewards, which provides families with comprehensive information about health, education, and work resources that can help families achieve their targeted activities and earn rewards.

You can also read more about the different programs, Family Rewards and Work Rewards.

Related News

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
On-the-Ground Lessons from a Landmark Anti-Poverty Initiative in New York City
April 28, 2010
Barbara Dwyer Gunn, president of Seedco, provides commentary on the interim evaluation of Opportunity NYC and the lessons learned through its implementation.

True/Slant
Paying the poor to do right doesn't work. Or does it?
April 12, 2010
True/Slant reporter issues critique of recent media coverage about the interim evaluation of Opportunity NYC. Report details positive results and outcomes from the program, concluding that it shows promise for reducing poverty.