CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
They Need a Home Tonight
The Susan H. Snyder Center for Women and Children recognizes the unique needs of women and women with children who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, and addiction. As women arrive they bring many concerns, fears, and worries that weigh heavily on their souls. The Center for Women and Children goal for each woman is threefold:
Establish a stable environment which can be called “home” for women and children for 77+ weeks;
Provide an spiritual foundation to grow in faith and to find God’s ultimate purpose for their life; and
Establish personalized goals and needs that will work towards pursuing self-sufficiency.
On any given night, 200+ women and children in Evansville and our Tri-State area have nowhere to call home. You may be surprised to learn…
40% of our country’s homeless
population are women
33% of those women are under age 18
…And those numbers are growing.
The Center for Women and Children’s program overarching objectives are divided into the following phases:
Commitment Phase: The provisional phase will determine how committed you are to the program goal of self-sufficiency. (Intake and Orientation)
Progress and Evaluation Phase —Case managers will assess needs, will assist with developing personalized goals, and will evaluate progress toward self-sufficiency. (P.A.C.E.S.)
Transition and Self-Reliance Phase – the goal of the program is not for you to conform to rules and regulations, but rather to transform residents into a Child of God. (Graduate Program) This will be demonstrated by assessing the following
humbleness (Ability to stay modest and unpretentious);
honesty (absence of lying, manipulation and deception, facing reality about yourself );
teachable spirit (ability to grow and learn about yourself);
servanthood (caring for others above yourself); and
self-care (focused on becoming healthy in your physical, emotional, social, intellectual, financial, vocational, and spiritual being).
How this is accomplished:
P.A.C.E.S. Program
Beyond the daily provision of meals, shelter, and clothing, we feel the most important component to an individual’s success is our model of programming. P.A.C.E.S. – which stands for Purpose Accountability Christ Education and Service – is separated into three phases with two different tracks of programming.
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Once a resident completes orientation, they are assigned one of two programming tracks:
1) O.A.S.I.S. Overcoming Addictions, Spirituality Inspiring Success.
More than half of the residents who come through the CWC deal with some form of addiction (alcohol, narcotics, prescriptions, etc.). This program focuses on addiction recovery to help address the root causes of addiction and overcome destructive behaviors.
Upon completion, a graduate will have accomplished the following:
Achieve ongoing/continuous sobriety for 18 months
Become active in local recovery fellowships within/outside of the ERM
Acquire and maintain a sponsor and work the 12-steps of recovery process
Complete the following course series
Faith in Daily Living
Bible Basics
Women of God
Servant Leadership
Harm Reduction
Vulnerability and Emotional Growth
Toxic Relationship Recovery
Anger Management
Life-Care
Social Skills
Technology Skills
Independent Living Skills
Self-care
Atlas of the Heart
Therapy and Theology – Self-Healing
The Bondage Breaker
Church membership and serving/volunteering at church
Lead recovery meetings at the ERM and in community
Mentor new OASIS members and volunteer in the community
Building a healthy supporting family and friends
Develop a life plan with goals to include; employment and/or college, budgeting/saving $10,000 (plus $5000 for children), and obtaining future housing and/or transportation.
Completion of job-related internships
2) S.O.U.L. Spiritual Opportunities for Unburdened Living.
This program takes a holistic view of an individual and works to identify some of the less obvious barriers to success, and promote physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth to counteract these barriers.
Complete the following course series
Faith in Daily Living
Bible Basics
Women of God
Servant Leadership
Harm Reduction
Vulnerability and Emotional Growth
Toxic Relationship Recovery
Anger Management
Life-Care
Social Skills
Technology Skills
Independent Living Skills
Self-care
Atlas of the Heart
Therapy and Theology – Self-Healing
The Bondage Breaker
Connect with a local congregation and serving in a congregation
Building a healthy supporting family and friends
Develop a life plan with goals to include; employment and/or college, budgeting/saving $10,000 (plus $5000 for children), and obtain future housing and/or transportation
Completion of job-related Internships
Graduation Program
The Graduate Program is the final level of program offering support of P.A.C.E.S. program completers as they transition back to independent living. Participants of the Graduate Program can participate in the following tracks of the program, based on their goals, needs, and living situations.
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Job Readiness Courses
Completion of a community service Internship (7-14 weeks)
Intentional Parenting (This program leads to MOM – Ministry of Motherhood; where moms can partake of this support group to discuss and share parenting struggles and accomplishments.
Develop a life plan with goals to include; employment and/or college, budgeting/saving $10,000 (plus $5000 for children), and obtain transitional housing and/or transportation
Services:
Case Management
By choosing to participate in one of our long-term programs, a case manager will be assigned to an individual who can help guide any challenges one may face.
Case managers will assist with obtaining a birth certificate, personal identification, eligibility for SSDI, SSI, SNAP, medical and mental health resources, addiction recovery support, GED and college information, housing and savings/checking accounts. Case Managers will assist with all personal goals for transition through an Individualized Counseling Plan (ICP).
Children’s Learning Center
The Children’s Learning Center focuses on supporting children throughout all transitions of childhood. All activities (classroom and play) are designed to nurture the emotional, social, and intellectual growth of children. CWC will provide stimulating, hands-on learning opportunities for children. Babysitting is also available through the Children’s Learning Center.
Children’s Reading Library
The Children’s Reading Library provides children of all ages with the opportunity to grow and develop through reading. The Children’s Reading Library is organized by age range: early learners, middle childhood, and teenagers. Each area offers STEM activities, technology, spiritual and high quality books.
Technology Center
The Education Center provides college/career and workforce support and guidance. Through a variety of resources and services, this center provides women residents with a connection to employers, colleges, trade schools, and opportunities to intern within the CWC. The Education Center provides support through a variety of resources, including: electronic assessments and tools to support career preparation, resume and interviewing assistance, web-based employment boards, and career fairs. The Technology Center offers women the opportunity to explore, learn, and/or use computers. This center will offer classes in basic PC and email use, basic MS Word, Advanced MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel applications.
Fitness Center
Women and older children (under the supervision of mothers) can take advantage of the fitness center and exercise classes. The benefits of physical fitness are numerous which include improvement of memory and brain function, protect against chronic diseases, aids in weight loss, lowers blood pressure and overall heart health, and reduces anxiety and depression.
Teaching Kitchen
Women residents will have the opportunity to attend monthly cooking classes or watch videos of cooking classes. A family sized kitchen provides an opportunity to learn the basics in preparing healthy, low-budget meals. Various local restaurants will provide the training. Cameras and Smart TVs will be included to record all cooking lessons.
Beauty Salon
The Beauty Salon will afford CWC residents the opportunity to feel good with a new hairstyle/makeover.
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More women are living below the poverty line & have trouble finding safe, affordable housing for their families.
To numb their past trauma and current stresses – and because therapy is often out of reach – women are turning to drugs and alcohol to cope.
Many women who become homeless are struggling with undiagnosed or unaddressed mental health challenges.
Many short-term shelters in our area are already at capacity. This leaves increasing numbers of women struggling to find safe shelter… a hot meal… and support to get back on their feet.
HELP SHELTER
MORE WOMEN
AND CHILDREN
We’re calling on our whole community to join together and create a special space for women and children to recover from homelessness!
The 42,492-square-foot facility is a secure, beautiful, one-of-a-kind facility for up to 125 women and children recovering from homelessness, abuse, and other big challenge, in their lives.
Additionally, the space will also offer women:
Discipleship in our P.A.C.E.S (Purpose, Accountability, Christ-centered, Education, and Service) program
Life-skills classes
Job training opportunities
Women will have the care and support to address the roots of their homelessness. Through God’s love, they’ll learn healthy, new patterns of living.