Why It Matters

For people navigating poverty, service systems can feel overwhelming, transactional, and often inaccessible. A 2023 Urban Institute report found that even when families are eligible for public benefits, they often fail to access them due to administrative burdens, siloed applications, and poor communication. Complexity alone prevents millions from receiving the support they need.

This is where coaching makes a powerful difference.

By partnering with clients rather than prescribing to them, person-centered coaching positions the client as the expert in their own life. It helps them navigate systems with more clarity and confidence, increasing their ability to access support, follow through on next steps, and build self-trust.

In fact, national studies — including those cited in The Milbank Quarterly — have shown that coaching and navigation services not only reduce social risks but also improve health outcomes and decrease avoidable health care utilization. These improvements occur not only through service connection but also through emotional support, relationship-building, and clients’ improved connection to health and social systems.

Coaching builds confidence, strengthens decision-making, and helps families work toward goals that reflect their real needs and values, not just eligibility checkboxes. It also supports practitioners to lead with greater presence, flexibility, and trust.