Healthy You has had a year of growth and many exciting changes. Here are but a few of the many things happening within our organization:
Genesis II, a transitional home for women, has been open for 6 months and has already provided a home for 9 women. These are women returning to the community from incarceration and are starting life over. They are given a home, clothing, food, assistance finding employment, and assistance attaining educational goals. When possible, they are reunited with family. Through other community organizations they are able to receive services for addiction, counseling for domestic violence or abuse, and mental health services. Genesis II has been possible because of the generous support of the community to include many of the churches and individuals contributing furniture, clothing, and everyday necessities. Women living in the house recognize the support they are receiving from members of the community.
Case managers throughout the state are providing services to approximately 40 women, mostly formerly incarcerated, per month. Among the women in this group, most are mothers, many seeking reconciliation with their children. At least 36 women have received assistance with service that include housing, clothing, food, legal issues, child custody modifications, and transportation.
Many of the women we serve in our case management services receive medical and dental services, to include assistance with dentures and glasses. This has made a major difference in their ability to get decent employment. It has an amazing effect on overall success with, not only employment but, with family relationships.
Healthy You teaches relationship skills classes throughout the state working with prisons, community corrections, drug rehabilitation programs and other community venues. Many of these participants become case management clients and receive additional services. These classes are available to men and women.
Women returning to their home community face many obstacles. Healthy You has trained 20 women mentors to help navigate the way. Some of the women are trying to complete GEDs, some are trying to find employment, and many are looking for someone to lend a friendly ear when they need to talk. These mentors make a big difference to the women trying to put their lives back together.
Almost 900 high school students have received relationship skills training through high schools in the area in the current school year. This program has proven to be highly effective. Students learn the importance of good communication skills, what destructive behaviors look like and how to avoid them, how to manage conflict peacefully and respectfully, and also how to identify domestic violence and how to report it. We’ve learned that for many of our students, domestic violence is an everyday occurrence with many of them believing it to be normal. Most also believe it to be the fault of the victim. Teaching them what a healthy relationship should look like is a life-changer for many of these students. Many report ending bad relationships and many report having a better relationship with their parents.
Healthy You continues to look for ways to improve the quality of lives for the children in the state. We recognize that quality of family life is a major factor in determining a child’s well-being. We are always interested in working with individuals and organizations with like-minded goals.
