Founded in 2011, the Siemer Institute has grown from two cities to communities all across the United States. In every community we’ve served as we’ve grown, our partners are committed to improving educational outcomes and fighting the effects of housing instability.
As a dedicated schoolteacher, Barbara Siemer witnessed the devastating impact of homelessness and frequent school changes on students and their classroom experiences. She empathetically understood how challenging it was for students to face eviction or abrupt school switches. Motivated by these experiences, Barbara, alongside her supportive husband, Al, took the initiative to develop a program in 2003 in collaboration with the United Way of Sarasota and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the Suncoast to address this critical issue.
The root of the proficiency issue was realized. Each time a child moves schools, it results in detrimental academic outcomes. Barbara realized she needed to do something. If she could help people by providing support to keep them in their homes, could they turn things around?
This thought led Barbara – with the support of her husband, Al – to develop a program in 2003 with the United Way of Sarasota and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the Suncoast. With the United Way of Sarasota serving as a funding partner and matching the Siemers’ investment and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the Suncoast providing care coordination for families, this effort eventually became the basis for the Siemer Institute Family Stability Initiative.
In the first year, the program served 50 families with one social worker. The following year, another social worker was hired. More and more people were hired each year after that, and the program grew from a $50,000 investment to $450,000. The need was profound.
When the recession arrived in 2008, Barbara realized she needed to do more. With Al’s encouragement, the program expanded to Columbus, Ohio, and five more cities in Florida and six in Ohio. Based on the success of the original work, the Siemer Institute was officially launched in 2011.
While the recession had officially ended by 2011, many families, particularly those living in poverty, faced significant challenges. Recognizing that the need extended beyond the two communities they were initially serving, the Siemers launched their initiative on a nationwide scale, with the primary aim of promoting the 2Gen approach, which addresses the needs of parents (or caregivers) and children simultaneously. Additionally, the Siemer Institute is dedicated to preventing unplanned moves, acknowledging that housing instability and school instability have a lasting impact on low-income families. Since 2011, the Siemer Institute has continued to expand by identifying new potential partners.
The Siemer Institute leads this work from Columbus, partnering with a national network of trusted, community-based organizations to implement programs locally. While our work began in close collaboration with United Way affiliates, today we partner with a diverse group of lead organizations—including United Ways, The Salvation Army, YMCA of the USA (YUSA), Family Scholar House, and Family Promise—that are deeply rooted in their communities. We believe these organizations are best positioned to identify local needs and bring together the right partners and resources to support families. Each serves as a funding partner and on-the-ground expert, helping to identify and support high-impact programs that advance family stability within their communities.
Our network actively engages in a collaborative impact model, sharing best practices to align successes with the goal of effecting national change. We conduct research to continually inform and enhance the work of our partners, using our outcomes as a compass. Moreover, as a nationwide community, we foster ongoing opportunities for our partners to connect and learn from one another.
At the Siemer Institute, we understand when to take the lead with our experiences and expertise and when to step back. We actively encourage our program partners to voice their opinions, and we prioritize collaborative decision-making. Our approach is far from one-size-fits-all, as we recognize that each community possesses unique needs. That’s why we provide our partners with funding to support direct expenses, coaches, or care coordinators, ensuring the greatest impact. Our partners, in turn, match Siemer Institute funding with external resources to create sustainable programs.
Interested in seeing the effects of our and our partners’ work over the years? Check out our collection of annual reports.
Our Reports
