Families Achieving Self-Sufficiency Together

Supporting disconnected adults and youth with disabilities in achieving financial self-sufficiency

About the Program

Families Achieving Self-Sufficiency Together (FASST), supported by the Disability Innovation Fund, assists adults with disabilities who are receiving or eligible to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and youth with disabilities aged 14-24 in their household. In addition, FASST provides services to youth with disabilities who are low income, housing insecure, in foster care, or involved in the justice system. Operating within Colorado, Delaware, Florida, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia, FASST aims to assist individuals to achieve financial self-sufficiency by preparing them for competitive integrated employment. The program helps individuals overcome employment barriers, connect with Vocational Rehabilitation partners, and develop occupational skills, ultimately leading to financial stability.

Our program supports individuals to:

Navigate and eliminate vocational and nonvocational barriers
Connect with vocational and youth transition partners, training providers, and community employers for both short-term and career positions
Gain occupational and/or employment readiness skills
Gain financial capability leading to self-sufficiency and financial stability

Eligibility

Individuals must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Have a disability that makes it hard to work without our help
Adults must receive or be eligible to receive TANF benefits
Be a youth (age 14-24) who is either low-income, housing insecure, in foster case, or involved in the justice system.
Must be eligible to work in the United States
Must be available to receive services in our service areas.
Household income must meet your state’s federal poverty level percentage.

For more information regarding the TANF program, please visit www.usa.gov/welfare-benefits. To determine your eligibility for our program, contact us.

FASST Referral Form

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Areas We Serve

FASST supports disconnected adults and youth with disabilities across multiple states, including:

Colorado: Denver-Metro Area, Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, & Jefferson Counties
Florida: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Leon, Duval, Orange, Lake, and Osceola counties
Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania, or Stafford counties, and the cities of Alexandria and Fredericksburg
North Carolina: Cumberland, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Harnett, Robeson, and Bladen counties
Utah: Davis, Box Elder, Weber, and Salt Lake counties
State of Delaware

News and Updates

FASST Featured at United Way Speaker Series on Community Needs

Previous News

FASST Featured on the VRTAC Manager Minute Podcast

National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials Promotes FASST on New Resource Hub

FASST Leadership Presents at Disability Innovation Fund Project Directors Conference

ServiceSource Launches Families Achieving Self-Sufficiency Together (FASST) program

FASST Leadership Team

Lucas Halverson

Lucas Halverson is the Project Director for ServiceSource’s Families Achieving Self-Sufficiency Together (FASST) Disability Innovation Fund Project. Lucas has 20 years of experience in the disability sector, including job skills training/employment supports, substance abuse counseling, and various positions within state and privatized Vocational Rehabilitation. Most recently, Lucas served as an Assistant Director for the Abilities of Florida Privatized Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Lucas holds a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Kathy Davis

Kathy Davis is the Internal Evaluator and Assistant Project Director for ServiceSource’s Disability Innovation Fund Project, FASST. Kathy has more than 20 years of experience advancing the employment and independence of people with disabilities. She began her career in disability services in Illinois as a community support specialist with a nonprofit provider and later managed a traumatic brain injury program. She has served in leadership roles in state Vocational Rehabilitation in North Carolina and Florida with responsibilities in business engagement and operations management. Kathy holds master’s degrees in economics and rehabilitation counseling and a Doctor of Education from the University of Florida.

Resources, Materials, and Partnerships

Resources

Materials

Partnerships

Our Ability focuses on providing employment solutions for people with disabilities. Our Ability provides AI job matching, business engagement, technical assistance and training support to the FASST project. Learn more about Our Ability at www.ourability.com.

River Rock Creative collaborates with ServiceSource Communications to support webpage design and maintenance for our FASST webpage. Learn more about River Rock Creative + Interactive at https://riverrock.agency/.

The Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) administers the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF), a discretionary grant program of the U.S. Department of Education that supports innovative activities to improve education, career development, and Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) outcomes for youth and adults with disabilities.

Grantibly serves as the external evaluator for the FASST project. Specializing in evaluation of education and workforce development initiatives, Grantibly helps projects like FASST use data strategically to strengthen programs, improve participant outcomes, and communicate impact to stakeholders and funders. Learn more about Grantibly at www.grantibly.com.

Disclaimer: The contents of this webpage were developed under grant H421F240144 from the U.S. Department of Education (Department). The Department does not mandate or prescribe practices, models, or other activities described or discussed in this document. The contents of this webpage may contain examples of, adaptations of, and links to resources created and maintained by another public or private organization. The Department does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. The content of this webpage does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department. This publication is not intended to represent the views or policy of or be an endorsement of any views expressed or materials provided by any Federal agency. (EDGAR 75.620)