|
April 2007
Counseling Impact Area |
| Your Gift in Action is a monthly update from the Sioux Empire United Way. The newsletter demonstrates how donor contributions work throughout the year. Each month focuses on a different community need/issue addressed by United Way and our volunteers. |
| |
Every dollar truly matters and makes a difference in a life. Here's how your contribution has been working...
- During the month of March, Children’s
Connection provided a total of 105 support groups to students in 6
elementary and 3 middle schools in Sioux Falls. These students all have a
parent or close family member in prison; and the support groups help them
cope with this experience. Additionally, Children’s Connection hosted
a “birthday party” for families of inmates on March 31 at All American
Gymnastics Academy. Many children in this population do not get to have a
birthday party. The party included playing on giant inflatable toys
and other gymnastic equipment such as the in-ground trampoline and foam pit.
We had birthday cake and ice cream; and the children received party favors.
- Consumer Credit Counseling provided 193
counseling sessions during March. The sessions assist families and
individuals with balancing their budgets, identifying expenses, and
developing savings plans.
|
|
Agencies & Programs
Family
Connection
Children's Connection
Family Service
Counseling
Family Life Education
Heuremann Clinic
Lutheran Social
Services
Consumer Credit Counseling
Sioux Falls Area Counseling
Sioux
Falls Psychological Services
Marriage/Family Therapy Clinic
Southeastern Behavioral Health
Counseling Services
Employment Connection
Psychiatric Services
Volunteers
of America, Dakotas
LifeMarks
For more information about counseling programs or to volunteer call the HELP!Line Center at 211 (or 605-339-4357) or visit http://www.helplinecenter.org/ |
Need for Childcare Programs
There are over 3 million working age adults with
mental illness in the United States. Of these 70-90% are unemployed.
Over half of all marriages are ending in divorce.
Children who grow up around activities related to
violent crimes, drugs, or theft are learning life lessons that influence what
they view as normal behavior.
One in five Americans experiences a mental
health issue in the course of a year. The
average consumer owes $11,669 in revolving and installment debt and has three
open credit cards. |
Impact Programs Make
85% of students in Children's
Connection have fewer than five disciplinary referrals for the year with an
average of 2.3 per student.
In 2006, Employment Connection
obtained 31 job placements for 28 people. 65% of the job placements lasted at
least 90 days and 48% lasted beyond 6 months.
With proper treatment nearly 80% of individuals with severe depression can make significant improvement in mood and life adjustment;
enabling these individuals to improve their quality of life, maintain their family relationships, and keep employment.
The financial counseling process
includes a complete analysis of the client's income and living expenses,
compilation of all outstanding debts, assessment and review of options and a
detailed plan to meet the client's financial goals. | |
|
What Matters...
Twelve children sit around a table giggling
as their teacher points to a cook book and explains a simple recipe.
“Silly question, but do you put the cheese in before or after you boil the
noodles?” asks Jeri, the instructor.
“Well, once I tried to just put the cheese on the noodles and eat them,” says,
Sam, a brown haired boy grinning from ear to ear. “But … it didn’t taste very
good. Ha, ha, ha … I guess that wasn’t the right order huh?”
The group breaks into laugher. It’s obvious he’s not the only one who’s made
this mistake.
It may not be obvious, but these are not just any children in any classroom.
Each of these children has a parent in prison and they are taking part in a
weekly Children’s Connections group through the Family Connections program.
“With some of the things these children go through on a daily basis it’s amazing
they even make it to school,” explains Mary DeJong Children’s Connection
Director. “This program gives them the chance to see they are not alone. There
are other children with parents in prison and that just because their parents
made a bad decision it doesn’t mean they have to do the same.”
Thanks to money from Sioux Empire United Way, more than 150 children are able to
take part in the Children’s Connection program helping these children maximize
their potential in spite of the difficult start they have had in life.
Because we know what matters.
And what matters to Sam … “It’s hard to have
a parent in jail. But this makes it seem not so bad. There are other kids in the
same place and now I have someone who believes in me.”
|
|
The Decision Makers
There are currently eight volunteers on the
Counseling Impact Team. These individuals provide stewardship to United Way contributors while planning, setting priorities, distributing funds and developing collaborative community solutions. This team specifically addresses
the need for programs that address challenges and stresses in people’s lives so
they can solve problems and strengthen their lives |
