Career Family Opportunity (CFO)
A groundbreaking multi-year program that has a proven track record of helping families experiencing poverty reach the middle class and beyond.
EMPath’s flagship program, Career Family Opportunity (CFO), is an intensive, three-year program designed to holistically support families to map out, strategize, and reach their economic mobility goals. This is a newly revamped program based on the original pilot of EMPath’s coaching approach. Program participants and mentors together set goals to support participants’ increased economic mobility and aspirations including goals such as, contributing to a matched savings account, earning a college degree, securing employment that earns a family sustaining wage, and homeownership.
Flagship Program Outcomes
72%
of program graduates have a college degree at exit
154%
average increase in annual income of program graduates
97%
of program graduates are employed at exit

Apply to CFO
The Career Family Opportunity (CFO) program puts you in charge of creating your own path to your economic mobility goals. Work with a coach for up to three years to make a plan to achieve your own goals for you and your family.
Through the program, you will:
- Meet monthly with a coach over the three years
- Create a plan to achieve your own goals
- Attend quarterly group meetings
- Support and encourage fellow CFO participants
- Develop leadership skills
- Receive a match for your savings, so you can graduate with with $10,000 in total savings
You may be eligible if you:
- Are head of household with stable permanent, subsidized housing (Section 8, etc.)
- Are a parent (18+ years) with children or legal dependents (under 18 years) living with you
- Are a high school graduate or GED/HiSET recipient, or U.S. recognized equivalent
- Are legally eligible to work in the U.S.
- Are committed to pursuing a career that will pay family sustaining wages
- Have a household income that is 50% or less than the area median income
- Are attending school/training/certificate/apprenticeship program, OR are working (for at least 6+ months)
To apply to this FREE program, click the button below. Or, to learn more, email CFO@empathways.org.
Meet Lauren
Flagship program graduate shares her journey

10 Years of CFO
Eight women graduated from the five-year program in 2019, the 10th anniversary of the program