EPEC Inc.

Our goal is to break the cycle of generational poverty, to train impoverished parents in pet grooming so they can earn enough money to get off government supports and afford food, childcare and housing on their own. We want parents to be home with their children in the evenings and at school functions to show their support of their children's education. The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

When Natasha Kirsch set out to develop a program to help single parents work their way out of poverty, she wanted her organization to be built upon proven research findings. Utilizing the Department of Labor's "What Works in Job Training: A Synthesis of the Evidence," she analyzed the components they found to be crucial in successful job training programs, and then used them as the underpinnings of EPEC's structure. Natasha knew that in order to have long-term success she would need to find a profession that would offer a living wage with family-friendly hours, require a short training period, and be open to hiring people with low education levels or criminal records.  Intrigued by her mother's inability to find qualified groomers to work at her own pet grooming salon in Iowa, Natasha realized that the very job she had watched her mother excel at fit all of those requirements. With an annual salary of $30,000-$70,000, pet grooming provides a livable wage. Additionally, most pet groomers work traditional hours, allowing parents to be engaged with their children during the evenings and before school. Pet grooming is also a skill that can be learned in 6 months. Our program is an intensive 6 month program that pays students a weekly stipend for their hands-on training. "What Works" indicates that this kind of work-based training has proven successful, because it allows students to support their families while working towards a higher-paying career (U.S. Department of Labor, 2014). Additionally, because our school is housed next to Spay and Neuter Kansas City, which services low-income residents, our students have a steady influx of dogs to groom at reduced rates. Another component referenced is training leading to "industry-recognized credentials related to indemand jobs" (U.S. Department of Labor, 2014). The pet industry is growing at a rapid pace, nearly doubling over the last decade, thanks to a generational shift in how pet owners view their animals (Pet Grooming, 2017). Consequently, local industry giants like Petco and PetSmart are currently offering bonuses and competitive salaries to fill their grooming positions. Because the closest pet grooming school is several hours away, we are regularly producing qualified graduates to fill local vacancies. Perhaps one of the most profound reasons our model is so successful is that it encourages students to rise above their pasts, which often include criminal records and an unfinished high school education, without the worry that those failures may affect their chances at a meaningful career. Pet grooming licenses do not require a high school diploma, nor do they prohibit criminal records. Our program serves as a true second chance at financial success and independence for parents who feel weighed down by the shortcomings in their pasts.

Our capabilities come from our staff. Our grooming instructors have a combined 60 years experience as groomers and trainers.  Our Director of Student Services has her masters in social work and is trained in animal therapy. Our case manger is a recovery specialist and aids students that have suffered addictions in the past due to their upbringing. Our operations manager is a retired regional director for Goodwill and is the administrator for our school.

We have not seen the long terms affects on our students' kids yet, because we are so new. We have been able to enroll elementary age children into charter schools that were not in school at all due to homelessness.