Steps to Success Rochester: Coaching, Support, and Rewards for Progress

A new program is helping Rochester families move toward long-term stability through coaching, coordinated support, and financial rewards tied to progress. In Steps to Success Rochester, participants work with a coach to set goals related to education, employment, financial stability, and family well-being.

Eligibility includes:

• Living in Rochester ZIP codes 14605, 14608, 14611, or 14621
• Having a child under 18
• Being ready to work toward personal and financial goals

CGR is assisting Monroe County and the City of Rochester with administering the program, which is working to enroll 700 participants. Participants work to achieve measurable gains across five key pillars: family stability, well-being, financial management, education/training, and employment and career. They receive individualized support through an evidence-based mobility mentoring model called EMPath alongside customized services, including housing assistance, financial coaching, workforce training, and healthcare connections. Financial incentives are provided as participants reach milestones in their plans.

Steps to Success Rochester is the second initiative under Monroe County’s Project Prosper, a $25 million effort funded by the NYS Office of Temporary Assistance to boost upward mobility among low-income residents in targeted zip codes. The program operates across three community organizations: the Urban League of Rochester, Action for a Better Community, and Catholic Charities Family and Community Services. TogetherNow is providing digital access and coordination support through MyWayfinder.

To learn more, apply, or refer others, visit www.monroecounty.gov/hs-steps-success. For more information on CGR’s role, please contact Donna Harris at dharris@cgr.org.

July 16, 2026 CGR Briefs Edition