Olivia Montana, SHIM’s Economic Mobility Mentoring Specialist
Here at SHIM, we focus on helping neighbors holistically, and I’m so excited to be expanding our services to provide individualized coaching to South Hills residents who are ready to make a change.
Comprehensive One-on-One Mentorship for Lasting Economic Independence
The Economic Mobility Mentoring Program pairs participants with trained mentors who provide personalized support in setting and achieving long-term goals. The program is tailored to address critical areas such as career advancement, financial stability, education, family well-being, and overall health. Through regular mentorship sessions, participants build executive functioning skills, develop SMART goals, and work toward sustained self-sufficiency. This individualized approach ensures participants receive the guidance and tools they need to make real, lasting changes in their lives.
Empowering Participants with a Structured, Goal-Oriented Approach
The program’s core framework, known as Mobility Mentoring, is rooted in the Bridge to Self-Sufficiency model, which helps participants navigate key areas of their lives—like housing, finances, and education—while fostering personal growth and skill development. The structured goal-setting process is designed to be participant-driven, ensuring each individual sets and works toward goals that are meaningful and attainable. Participants also can earn financial incentives as they meet milestones, further motivating progress and celebrating achievements along the way.
A Proven Path to Economic Mobility
Participants in the program commit to a minimum of one year, with the option to extend into a second year for continued support. Mentorship offers options for both virtual and in-person meetings to accommodate varying schedules. The program is open to individuals aged 25-55 from the South Hills area, with no income requirements or participation fees. By addressing chronic stressors like financial insecurity and access to resources, the Economic Mobility Mentoring Program helps participants move toward greater financial security and independence, building a stronger foundation for their future.
Why Mobility Mentoring is Unique
Mobility Mentoring is unlike traditional case management in which the service coordinator usually manages and does the tasks for the participants. In Economic Mobility Mentoring, the participant and their mentor collaborate to create and accomplish goals; it is a partnership. The way I describe it is the participant is the driver of the car, and the mentor is in the passenger seat. The mentor is their guide right beside them. The work is participant driven. If participants are not sure how to complete a task, for their goal, we can do it together the first time, and then the next time the participant will give it a try on their own. We encourage the opportunities to learn, explore, to be unsure, and make some mistakes along the way. It is how we learn and grow! Ultimately, we want participants to develop skills they can continue to utilize once they leave here instead of feeling like they must go to another agency for services.
I’m Here to Help
Having a trusted mentor is important for participants involved in Mobility Mentoring. As a life-long resident of Bethel Park, I’m familiar with the region and local resources. After initially exploring a career in law enforcement, my time working in loss prevention gave me a deeper understanding of the systemic barriers many individuals face. While addressing safety and security issues, I often encountered people whose actions were rooted in struggles such as experiencing poverty and overall, limited access to resources and support. These encounters helped me realize that punitive measures alone do not address the root causes of these challenges. This awareness sparked a shift in my passion toward social work, where I could contribute my time in advocating and providing solutions to help individuals access the resources and support they need to overcome systemic obstacles and achieve sustainability.
As the Mobility Mentoring Specialist, I’m here to help participants envision a future that excites them. Together, we will explore their dreams and aspirations, identifying not just immediate goals, but also what their life could look like over the next 3-5 years. I encourage participants to think bigger, beyond the challenges of today, and to picture what they truly want for themselves and their families. Through guidance, support, and concrete planning, we can turn those visions into achievable milestones, empowering them to break through barriers and build the life they’ve always imagined.
The Holistic Approach
Our program operates within a trauma-informed framework, ensuring participants are welcomed into a safe, nurturing, and confidential environment. We prioritize the overall well-being of everyone we serve, fostering a space where individuals can feel secure and supported. Economic Mobility Mentoring is a holistic, comprehensive approach designed to help participants make sustainable, long-term changes in their lives. By integrating trauma-informed principles, we create an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, and respect, recognizing the unique needs of each individual.
SHIM is committed to addressing the needs of South Hills residents, even if Economic Mobility Mentoring is not a good fit right away. Sometimes, a participant is not ready to connect with Economic Mobility Mentoring, and in response, SHIM keeps the metaphorical door open for when they are ready to circle back and commit to the work of Economic Mobility Mentoring. If the participants have explained they do not have basic needs met or are in crisis, SHIM will ensure, to the best of their ability, to provide resources that potentially can be helpful. I encourage interested neighbors to reach back out after addressing basic needs and/or financial emergencies.
How to Get Started
If you’re interested in participating, fill out this form. You can also reach out to me if you have any questions via email at omontana@shimcares.org or by phone at 412-854-9120 x124. Once you’ve filled out the application, we’ll schedule a call to go in-depth and find out if this program is a good fit for you at this time. Please know that participants need to be prepared to put in the time and effort to make this work! I encourage you to reach out to me to learn more.