A resident-inspired program that helps senior living staff members achieve US citizenship became so much more for one organization, which shared its success in the hopes of inspiring other communities to adapt the program to their needs. 

In 2018, a former social worker and resident of a Virginia-based Goodwin Living community came to the Goodwin Living Foundation with an idea, according to Valerie Burke, Goodwin Living chief philanthropy officer, who discussed the winning approach of the program during a recent roundtable discussion hosted by senior living marketing group Varsity. 

The program began, Burke said, when a resident of Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads in Falls Church, VA, Rita Sieebenaler learned that the US citizenship application fee was more than $700 (closer to $750 today). She recognized that it took staff members several years and multiple jobs to save up that amount of money, so she proposed raising funds among residents to cover those fees.

With the support of the Goodwin Living Foundation, the residents raised $40,000 in a few weeks, leading to the creation of a citizenship program. 

The only eligibility requirement to be eligible for the program is to be an active employee in good standing for at least six months. Due to “significant generosity,” the program expanded to cover application fees for up to two additional family members of staff members after one year of employment. The program also began to cover fees for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program renewals, work permits and green card renewals.

To help other senior living operators address their workforce challenges and assist foreign-born staff members with the immigration process, Goodwin Living created a citizenship program playbook, which lays out all the steps necessary to implement a similar program.

In addition to writing the check for the fees, Burke said, Goodwin Living also asks staff members whether they want to be paired with a resident to help the staff members study for the citizenship test. Residents, she said, enjoy establishing further relationships with employees and learn about them and their paths to citizenship.

“It’s a wonderful way to showcase the impact of generosity,” Burke said. “This is really a low-cost, bottom line effort that makes such a difference, in terms of inclusion for any of your employees looking for that US citizenship.”

Standing out from the crowd

The program also helped Goodwin Living differentiate itself from other senior living organizations, Burke said. Some staff members weighing their employment options with other providers chose Goodwin Living as a result of the citizenship program, which also attracted more volunteers and supporters of its foundation, aiding in areas such as tuition support and emergency grants. The program has 30 resident tutors, with a waiting list of volunteers eager to teach.

Burke said that staff members who go through the program have an average tenure of six years. Since its inception, the program has helped 150 employees and 26 of their family members achieve US citizenship. Among the countries staff members hail from are Ghana, Haiti, Jamaica, Philippines, Romania, Sierra Leone and Vietnam. 

“They have a pattern of sacrifice — giving up their life and language and culture and starting anew, and not seeing family members for years,” Burke said. “Imagine giving up seeing your children and family in person. This is really to help them have a better life and a better chance of education.” 

Burke shared the story of a staff member from Sierra Leone who went through the program who used his citizenship to achieve his goal of becoming a dental hygienist. At Goodwin Living, he worked in dining services and was promoted several times. Although Goodwin Living knew he eventually would leave them to pursue his dream, Burke said, the operator valued his strong work ethic.

That former staff member is now one of Goodwin Living’s biggest advocates and sends referrals from the dental chair, Burke said, adding that he also teaches certified nursing assistants about the importance of good dental hygiene to promote overall health in residents. 

Burke said the effects of the return on investment of the program can be seen through mission fulfillment of supporting and uplifting older adults and their caregivers, culture enhancement, retention and recruitment, and increased resident engagement. 

“I think there is a true economic value in the sense of belonging and trust that the Citizenship Program offers,” Burke said.