encompasses the Self-Sufficiency Standard (The Standard). The Standard is a tool the project uses to calculate how much income a working family needs to meet their basic expenses of housing, childcare, food, health care, transportation and taxes, based upon geographic location and the number of adults and children in a family. WOW views the tool as a way to move low-income families toward economic independence. Since then, WOW has established 35 statewide FESS coalitions, as well as a coalition in the District of Columbia. Since 1996, WOW has established 35 statewide FESS coalitions, as well as a coalition in the District of Columbia that represent over 2,000 community-based organizations, state and local government, employers and labor. The Elder Economic Security Initiative Wider Opportunities for Women's Elder Economic Security Initiative was established in 2006. The Initiative also encompasses the Elder Economic Security Standard Index (The Index). WOW partnered with the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2005 and developed the Standard which serves as WOW's measure of income that elders need to meet their basic expenses to age in place including; housing, health care, transportation, and food costs. The Index now is a tool that provides important information to policy makers, aging advocates, and others as they develop policies and programs to promote economic security for elders. DC Metropolitan Programs Wider Opportunities for Women established several DC Metro Programs to focus specifically on helping women in the geographic area find employment and become economically secure. DC Jobs Council The DC Jobs Council was established in 1999 as an informal volunteer consortium. The Council originated to help nonprofits organization navigate landscape change by passage of the Workforce Investment Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1998 and was meant to encourage businesses to participate in local delivery of Workforce Development Services. Currently, the DC Jobs Council is a group of over 40 organizations and four standing committees and WOW serves as their fiscal sponsor. DC Women's Agenda Wider Opportunities for Women partnered with the DC Employment Justice Center in 2003 to establish the DC Women's Agenda (DCWA). The DCWA is a local advocacy and policy coalition that promotes the advancement of equality and well-being of all women and girls in DC. The DCWA hosts public forums throughout DC on women's issues. Washington Area Women in the Trades Wider Opportunities for Women partnered with the YWCA