Families United is pleased to announce an upcoming family support workshop called

Girl Talk!

This effort is driven by the voices of single mothers/primary caregivers, and in response to recent unemployment reports, this (7) week support group will begin on January 13, 2011.

 

TOPICS

Can We Talk?

Goal Setting

Parenting Skills

Leadership Skills

Self-Sufficiency

Critical Thinking

Problem Solving

Resources

Mentoring


Within New London, a majority of women currently heading their household as a single mother/caregiver are unemployed or underemployed (employed only part-time when one needs full-time employment or not making full use of their skills). This poses considerable risks families. In October 2010, the national unemployment rate was set at 10.2%. Connecticut’s unemployment rate was slightly lower at 9.1%- while within Southeastern, Connecticut (Norwich-RI), the unemployment rate exceeded both the national and state average at 12.8%! Unemployment/Underemployment affects the entire family! A parent/caregiver’s increased level of stress, economic uncertainty, and susceptibility to mental health issues and substance abuse contribute to deterioration in family relationships which pose risks within life domains such as housing, pro-social relationships, a child’s school performance, wellness, and young adult transitions toward self-sufficiency and

post- secondary education.

 

Consequently, a vicious cycle begins where these risk factors affect an individual’s ability to enter/re-enter employment. To compound matters, as a single mother/caregiver, the resources of unemployment benefits or TANF hold inflexible guidelines that can be difficult to navigate when raising a family. ‘How much these potential impediments to work put women and children in jeopardy depends on what service programs, training programs, and employers do in response and whether they are addressed prior to the termination of the families from public assistance’ (The Institute for Research on Poverty, 1999).

 

Families United’s mission is to facilitate and promote unity and the healthy growth and development of individuals, families, and communities through empowerment, advocacy, and services. We recognize the importance of offering resources and programs that demonstrate cultural responsiveness, relevance, and a commitment to strengthening families. Girl Talk!  recognizes a family’s need for economic and financial stability in a way that is person-centered and offers lasting connections.

 

Unemployed/Underemployed single women who are mother/primary caregivers of children have been stigmatized as ‘underprivileged’, ‘difficult to employ’, and ‘disadvantaged’. These labels add to the difficulties mothers/caregivers face when confronted with economic instability. This can cause feelings of isolation that impact family involvement at many levels.

 

To strengthen families and support mothers/primary caregivers, Girl Talk! will begin on January 13th, 2011 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the FACT Resource Center located on 154 Hempstead Street in New London. Sessions will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 noon on Thursdays in (7) week cycles.

 

Girl Talk! will engage each mother/primary caregiver with resources and support on an individualized level to facilitate self-sufficiency, family leadership, and their own family-driven and personal/career development. Girl Talk! is a (7) week workshop where participants will discuss strategies for conflict resolution, face the emotional facets of barriers to their own personal empowerment, confidence, addressing the internalizing behaviors and behavioral challenges of their child/youth, employability skills, and methods to increase

pro-social informal supports that will provide the opportunity to reduce personal and family risk factors.  Each participant will be offered the Family Empowerment Scale assessment, a certificate of completion, and mentoring.

 

Participants will receive (2) hours of one on one support with the Family Leader facilitator the group, in partnership with mentoring from our Family Peer Mentors who will act as their partner as mothers/caregivers develop their individual plans. Upon conclusion of the support network, the opportunity for a successful graduate to engage in Peer Mentor training to support the sustainability of the group as a future co-facilitator is offered. Each participant that desires ongoing support with their Peer Mentor can remain engaged with Families United until such time when they have connected to their own community networks, resources, and have met their goals in such a way that the family has been positively impacted.    

 

To hear the voices of families, children, and youth discussing the impact the loss of employment has had upon their lives, please visit any of these (2) links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlKHvaOmrQQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XFeo3fOiLs&feature=related

 

If you are interested in referring a mother/primary caregiver to Girl Talk! please contact us prior to 1/10/11. Space is limited and groups are closed-session in that once the group begins, new participants cannot enter until the next cycle. Additionally, Girl Talk! is not merely a personal empowerment workshop, it is employability related and therefore an attendance policy is in place. To register: email@familiesunited.org or call (860) 443-0044.