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Our Story

Everything Starts at Home

The Amazon for Social Programs and Economic Development.

We deliver 24/7 coordinated support directly into the home — moving families from crisis to stability to self-sufficiency. As the Economic Mobility Backbone provider for 43 community partners, we connect every service into one pathway, so no family falls through the cracks.

[Get Help] [Partner With Us] [Fund Impact]

 

The Return on Your Investment

80¢ of every dollar goes directly to family services. Carrie AI Agent, our AI-powered Digital Case Manager, drives down direct and indirect costs so more of your investment reaches families — with the remaining 20¢ covering indirect expenses.

You don’t just fund a program. You get 24/7 real-time impact reporting and Community Return on Investment (CROI) — proof of impact, delivered live.
 

Proven. Measured. Trusted.

Since inception, we have served 1,060 families. Our Economic Mobility Workshops hold a 4.9/5 satisfaction rating; Digital Case Manager follow-up services hold a 4.8/5. An independent evaluation by UMKC’s Dr. Brent Never confirms measurable outcomes across all five Urban Institute Upward Mobility pillars.

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How the Economic Mobility Backbone Program Works

A 12-month EMPath-certified human Digital Case Manager provides one-on-one coaching. Beside them, Carrie AI Agent works 24/7 to match resources, complete assessments, and track goals in real time.

We currently operate with 39 active Digital Case Managers and 62 ready to be trained and engaged — the human capacity that scales economic mobility across all 43 partners.

Families receive:

  • 12 months of certified human coaching + 24/7 Carrie AI Agent
  • Free Chromebook, broadband, and digital skills training
  • 24/7 Telehealth via a Missouri-approved Medicaid provider for primary and mental healthcare
  • Parenting Support: Parents as Teachers (through age 5) and Nurturing Parenting (ages 5–19)
  • Workforce Pathways to remote work, entrepreneurship, and job readiness
     

Built on Evidence

  • EMPath’s Economic Mobility Bridge — stability across five core pillars
  • Urban Institute’s Upward Mobility — 24 predictors of long-term success
  • Parents as Teachers & Nurturing Parenting — evidence-based parenting models
  • Carrie AI Agent — real-time Community Return on Investment (CROI) data engine
     

A Real-World AI Testbed

Essential Families is a “living lab” for social and economic development innovation, with real-time impact monitoring and Community Return on Investment reporting to funders.

Invest where every dollar is measured — and every family is seen.

[Partner With Us] [Fund Impact]

Essential Economic Mobility Program
"Who We Serve"

Essential Economic Mobility Program

Essential Economic Mobility Program

Essential Economic Mobility Program

Essential Families is revolutionizing family development services by delivering them virtually, 24/7—just as seamlessly as Amazon delivers products to your doorstep. Through our AI-powered platform, Carrie, and collaboration with 40 community partners, we have successfully connected 902 households to affordable broadband and essential digital resources. But our work doesn’t stop there; over 1957 households are currently on our waitlist, demonstrating the urgent need for expanded support.

Proven Impact
The Essential Economic Mobility Program has delivered measurable results that showcase its transformative impact on communities. Designed in compliance with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Section 60304(c) of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021 and aligned with Missouri's Digital Opportunity Plan, this program is built to scale across rural and urban communities nationwide. With adequate funding over the next four years, it promises sustainability and long-term benefits for families across the United States.

Call to Action
The digital divide is a pressing issue affecting millions of Americans. Essential Families is proving that bridging this gap is not only possible but transformative. We invite city, state, federal governments, foundations, and corporate entities to join us in scaling this impactful program. Together, we can create a future where every family thrives in the digital age. Let’s make digital equity a reality—for today and generations to come!

Digital Case Manager Program

Digital Case Manager Program

Essential Families has 48 trained Digital Case Manager in the greater Kansas City area. Essential Families will identify and train Digital Case Managers in your geographic area. The Essential Families Digital Case Manager provides individualized or small group assistance to the unserved and underserved Covered Population, who need affordable internet, new laptop with 1-year premium service, coaching in introductory digital skills, how to protect themselves online, and essential "wrap around" resources to stabilize their household.

The initial contact with Covered Population is in person. 48 hours follow up, and other follow ups, which can be up to 3 months, 2 twice months, are conducted on NoW video (www.nowvideo.us), our live streaming video platform. If seniors, immigrants, or refugee Covered Population clients require additional "in person" support, this can be arranged.

Broadband Internet Access

Broadband Internet Access

Essential Families has NO COST Internet for 3 months and 6 months, with our Internet Service Provider Partners.

Essential Families has 48 trained Digital Navigators. The Essential Families Digital Navigator, provides individualized or small group assistance to unserved and underserved Covered Population, who need affordable internet, new Chromebook with 1-year premium service, coaching in introductory digital skills, how to protect yourself online.

Check Availability for Your Home Address

Chromebook Computer

Chromebook Computer

New Chromebook/Laptop computer, with 1-year premium support, ensuring our Covered Population has the equal opportunity to participate in the Digital Economy.

Computer and Internet Training

Computer and Internet Training

Basic computer knowledge about how computers work and how to use them. This training includes: typing, learning keyboard commands, powering a computer on and off, knowing how to connect, search, disconnect, Microsoft 365, and how to protect yourself on the internet.

Essential Parenting Education

Essential Parenting Education

24/7 Virtual Parental Education Empowering Parents, Anytime, Anywhere!

Our 24/7 Essential Parenting program brings expert parenting support and guidance directly to your home through our innovative virtual home visiting service. Offering 12 parental education sessions 24/7, by a trained Essential Parental Educator (EPE), who supports expectant mothers, parents, grandparents, or guardians of children birth to nineteen (19).

Our program is designed to equip parents and guardians with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to nurture their children's growth and development.

Join our community of empowered parents today and experience the benefits of 24/7 virtual parental education!

Essential Telehealth Services

Essential Telehealth Services

See licensed Primary Care Doctor and/or Mental Health therapists or psychologist 24/7 - by Video or Phone.

Essential Telehealth provides the same accurate diagnosis and high-quality care you would get in person, but from the comfort of your own home, car, ANYWHERE! No waitlist. Physicians can diagnose, treat and prescribe prescriptions electronically sent to a pharmacy of your choice.

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EveryThing Essential Resources

EveryThing Essential Resources

Providing 24/7 essential basic local essential resources for children and families, such as food, shelter, and transportation for Families, through multiple languages, using Google like model.

NoW Video Conference

NoW Video Conference

Easy Video, Zoom-like video conference Anywhere you can Trust. Translation and translation of English language to 130 languages in real time.

Now, that there is a “new normal” in the world. Easy and secure live streaming video is ESSENTIAL.

Digital Workforce Development

Digital Workforce Development

Ten (10) highly Google searched, "high paying" work-from-home jobs, and business startup opportunities.

 

Work-from-home and business startup opportunities include Digital Case Manager, Remote Digital Marketing Professional, Essential Parental Educator, AWS Linux Administrator, AWS Cloud Job, Virtual Chef (Meal Prep), AI/ML Developer, CyberSecurity Certification, Digital Content Creator, and Starting a Business. 

Covered Population

(Aging, Incarcerated, Veterans, Disabled, Language Barrier, Racial or Ethnic Minority Group, Rural)

Digital Workforce Development

(Economic Development Closes the Digital Divide)

During our first successful Economic Mobility pilot, funded by Kauffman Foundation, Essential Families worked DIRECTLY with the covered population, in the greater Kansas City area, to understand what they needed to close the Digital Divide. 24/7 access to essential resources, laptops, training, affordable Internet, mental/primary health, help with their children, work from home jobs, and starting a business, using the Internet, were the primary needs to close the Digital Divide. Jobs and starting a business scored very high in our empirical data analysis. According to section 60304 (c) of the Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58, 135 Stat. 429 (November 15, 2021), commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, economic development closes the Digital Divide. The below tables illustrate the WAITLIST for our Digital Workforce Development programs, which closes the Digital Divide, and sustains our Essential Economic Mobility Program.

Essential Economic Mobility Workshop

T. White

Essential Families Program is an invaluable asset to our community.This will help us to help ourselves Financially, Physically, Psychologically, and Emotionally.

D. Bausby

I think it’s very beneficial to the community and truly is helping multiple families. They are truly a blessing for families in need.

L. Walker

The training they provided helped me better understand technology and all that goes into it.It was also really cool. The stuff they have is for the benefit of a lot of people.

B. Dauzvardis

Essential Families’ program showed me how to access all the necessary things for my free laptop. It is an amazing service that I think more people need to use and also help spread the word.

E. Zakka

The training provided taught me about resources that will help me in and around my community. They are amazing and I’m glad I was able to learn about them.

S. Crowder

Their training made it clearer and more concise to what exactly the computer should be used for and how to program it.I'm just not sure it will be beneficial to me due to my age, but it’s definitely very helpful for the future.

F. James

The program helped me identify certain computer services that I was unaware of prior to it.I think that they are very useful for those that need it.

- J. Gibson

I think this is a beautiful program & God bless you all for what you are doing!

A. King

I think it’s a great program. It helps people in need.People that need resource and don’t know where to obtain one.

- D. Giles

It’s what this world needs.

T. Young

It’s very enlightening to know someone thinks better of these community.

D. Harris

What I think about the services that Essential Families provide isthat they are very helpful for people who need helpful resources.

Z. Saddler

I think that Essential Families has a lot to offer to those who can’t access the internet or computers.

D. Bowman

I think this service offered is really helpful and good for the community to be able to navigate through the internet just in case you don't have a phone.

K. Harris

I think it’s good for the community, could actually help a lot of struggling people.

T. Clay

I think the services that Essential Families have to offer are amazing and very helpful for the community.

S. Winters

I think it’s amazing that they really try to touch base with the community and help those who cannot afford it.

J. Liggans

I think that's it a wonderful thing to help people, by offering people with a way to stay connected and have a laptop.

- J. Richards

They were above and beyond. They were not only helpful but very informative and nice.

K. Franklin

It is a great program to help with someone who don't know how you use computers. It also has other resources needed in the community.

K. Liggans

I think it’s a great resource for families who are considering homeschooling, those who do work online, etc.

- B. Edgerson

I absolutely love Essential Families services and the variety of resources they have for many people in the city. They mark certain groups of class and people I didn't even think was possible. Such a blessing in itself I think this opportunity is amazing.

S. Harris

Where have they been! Grateful to have them!

E. Clement

I think it’s very helpful to the community. Just with the help of getting the laptop alone will help me so much for studying.

A. Taylor

I think the services provided is amazing it shows that people really care about your well-being.

J. Mitchell

Very thankful and appreciative of the services offered. Essential Families is a blessing in disguise!

L. Liggans

I feel the program will be effective and produce efficiency for informative families in the target area.

Essential Telehealth

Essential Telehealth provides the same accurate diagnosis and high-quality care you would get in person, but from the comfort of your own home, car, ANYWHERE! 

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