Case Study

Clover

Clarifying Strategy to Advance a Whole Family Vision

For 130 years, Clover has served as a lifeline for families across Greater New Orleans, providing nationally-accredited programs to more than 8,000 individuals annually across early childhood education, workforce development, youth services, resident engagement with local residential communities and adult day care.

At the heart of Clover’s model is a belief that families thrive when support systems are interconnected: when early learning programs connect to parent employment pathways, when workforce training addresses real barriers to economic stability, and when services meet the needs of all generations. This Whole Family approach views education not as isolated interventions but as part of a larger ecosystem of family well-being.

After more than a century of service, Clover needed to define its next chapter with strategic clarity. While the Whole Family model had proven effective, the organization sought a framework that would position it to respond to emerging community needs, elevate participant voice, and build stronger alliances across the social services ecosystem.

Additionally, as a key partner in regional workforce development, Clover recognized critical gaps in understanding why unemployed and underemployed residents faced persistent barriers to accessing quality jobs and career pathways. To deliver on a Whole Family vision, Clover needed both a strategic roadmap and deeper understanding of the lived experiences of the families it served.