As an organization, we are growing, learning, pruning, growing. We hope this is continually the case.
In our first year of operations, we have been involved in many lives and helped many local families in a homeless circumstance. We have also learned where our strengths and specialties are, and where we can focus moving forward.
As we have discussed community needs, helping philosophies, and our model of sustainable independence, we have found that we are always seeking a balance – helping families with needs NOW as well as empowering them to care for their own needs in the future.
The authors of When Helping Hurts have provided very helpful guidance on this:
- Relief is urgent and temporary provision.
- Rehabilitation restores people to pre-crisis conditions.
- Development is ongoing change that moves us all, helpers and helped, to right relationships in all realms and health to give back in community.
When a guest enters our program in crisis, they need Relief. They need shelter, transportation, food, clothing, diapers, etc., and we are there to provide those things…to stop the bleeding!
Guest Families Guide Recovery
However, once guests are more stable and find employment, for example, even while in our Rotation Program, our approach needs to move quickly to Rehabilitation, and eventually Development. This means that we don’t do for them what they can now do for themselves, but instead, work WITH them as THEY participate and guide THEIR OWN recovery. This is the path that leads to Sustainable Independence.
This is tricky because it is sometimes easier and it makes us feel good to do things FOR our guests. But we want to look together with families farther down the road.
Renewed Focus
In this time of transition, we have been working to focus our efforts even more targeted on our Rotation Program, because that is our specialty, what we can uniquely provide in our community.
We are seeking deeper investment in guests in our program, with the goal of empowering them reach stability in transportation, budgeting, and parenting, at the same time they are seeking employment, childcare, and housing. This often involves connecting them with other community resources (we have so many wonderful local agencies and partners!) and encouraging them to work on problem solving skills. Each guest already has many strengths and sometimes just needs the confidence to move forward.
We are also focused on building a support network with guests that extends beyond their time in our program, which is where A Thrive Community comes in. This is a powerful way that guests and graduates build social capital and resources.
Staff Restructure
All of these discussions and reviews of processes have led us to also re-focus staff time and energy. As we build toward a Second Rotation of congregations hosting families, we plan to direct more staff to Case Management and harness the skills and talents of volunteers for more of our administrative duties.
And in the big picture, we are seeking an Executive Director who will lead this charge, represent and pursue our mission on a daily basis, and coordinate all the moving pieces of our organization. We appreciate your referrals if you know of someone who may be a good fit, and your prayers for guidance in this process.
You Can Help!
Other ways you can be involved in our forward movement:
- Volunteer in the Day House office. We especially need afternoon volunteers to assist with phones, data entry, and donation processing.
- Volunteer as a mentor/ally with A Thrive Community. Families need ongoing support after they graduate from our program.
- Join a team to help with fundraising, transitional housing, Second Rotation, or marketing.
- Recruit your friends for the above – know anyone who might be a fit?
We are grateful for you in our community of extended family and your flexibility as we navigate change. The goal is Sustainable Independence. And we know that, when a family moves from homelessness into a home of their own home with attainable plans for the future, the work is worth it.
Family Promise of Greater Wichita unites hearts and hands to provide compassionate hospitality and empower homeless families with children to achieve sustainable independence. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
