Local Program Services

Strong families make strong communities

Family Life Seminar

As the foundational courses in the Home Management Resources program, the daytime and evening Family Life Seminars are a combination of theory and hands-on application, which act as a springboard for the other services available to each student. The courses are intended to introduce each person to what we feel are the essential skills needed to manage a home. Each area can then be addressed more thoroughly through individual sessions, home visits or a Specialized Training Workshop. The following is an explanation of the topics addressed.

Personal Growth

The emphasis is placed on each individual assuming personal responsibility for choices that are made and not on their particular circumstances. We avoid the rhetoric of self-esteem, focusing instead on taking positive action in areas where change is needed. The challenge is to approach decision-making and goal setting based on truth and reason, rather than emotional response.

Attitude

Our students are encouraged to cultivate a sense of gratitude, a willingness to serve others and extend hospitality, a love of order, and most importantly, a heart motivated by charity.

Home

This section covers skills needed to make the home run more smoothly and efficiently. Learning to manage time, daily and weekly, in a realistic manner is a skill that affects many other areas. Paperwork and clutter are two areas, which are hit hard because the failure to manage them results in a chaotic household. In addition, we teach techniques to maintain a reasonable level of cleanliness and order within the home. We are not talking about a white-glove approach, but a level of cleanliness, which is necessary for human dignity.

Family & Community

Understanding that we are addressing a diverse group with a multiplicity of family backgrounds, histories and difficulties, we discuss the topic of improving family relationships stressing simple, yet challenging concepts, which get to the root of parent/child relationships. Instruction is given on the importance of having a family meeting to build unity and foster good communication. Delegation is taught as an essential skill for parents as well as for the children. Finally, we stress the "3 C's:" courtesy, consistency and charity. These elements combined form the basis of establishing better relationships within the family unit.

Money

The ability to become and remain financially solvent is essential for families and is therefore stressed throughout the entire course. Whatever the topic, we approach it with a view of saving both time and money. Being a good steward of resources is also emphasized which encourages each person to see beyond their circumstances and again, take responsibility for how financial decisions are made. The budgeting units include spending accountability, setting financial goals, cost cutting, and giving a detailed model of our budgeting format which is geared toward non-budgeters. Individual budget counseling is available to all clients.

Food

The link between eating right and staying (or getting) healthy is made very clear in our discussion of nutrition. The focus is on applied nutrition since the vast majority of clients are responsible for feeding their families. A temptation for many low-income families is to sacrifice nutrition in an effort to save expense. Students are shown inexpensive, delicious and nutritionally balanced ways to feed themselves and their family.

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