Our Research

Our research is community-centered and informed in collaboration with local experts.

The last study that was done for women and girls in Allen County was conducted in 1974. Since that time, women and girls have changed, but many issues remain the same. Women are disproportionately affected by poverty. They tend to hold jobs in low-paying sectors, with little to no time off, and hold greater responsibility for caring for their loved ones.

What we know, 45 years later, is that women and girls in Allen County are resilient, educated, talented and responsible. Yet many feel they don’t receive enough support. And they’re not wrong.

There are 10 key factors that affect a woman’s economic self-sufficiency (defined as 250% of the Federal Poverty Level or about $50,000 for a family of four).

Although we know that each of these aspects of people’s lives are interconnected, we focused on the following four areas –

Education, Employment & Training (including Living Wage), Healthcare, Caregiving, Personal Safety

We also wanted to understand young women and girls in our community. How they feel about their outlook and how they are impacted today, affecting how they make choices for the future. This led to a fifth focus on Young Women & Girls.