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This blog provides the top 5 highlights or updates about Family Promise of Waukesha County for Friday, August 25, 2023.
The Friday Five is a weekly update that focuses on the 5 main things happening at Family Promise Waukesha County. We also look for ways to advocate and educate about family homelessness. It is our hope that it will help you stay informed and connected to the mission of Family Promise of Waukesha County.
Our mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness achieve sustainable independence
through a community-based response.
The stories you can read this week are:
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There were days I was frustrated, but Family Promise was always there for me, ready to listen, ready to help, and ready to be a great partner.” - Kim, former client
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
A number of Family Promise Waukesha staff and supporters attended the United Way Campaign kickoff. Here is the photo of the entire group of attendees and the announced fundraising goal. Then a close up of the Family Promise group. How many staff can you find? Stephanie Riesch Knapp spoke about Family Promise and our services.
Clockwise starting top left: Welcome to our new shelter supervisor Shawntell pictured with Kate and Maria; The Waukesha County Food Pantry provides food each week to the Community Shelter. They have over 30 volunteers everyday; WCTC dropped off supplies from our wish list.
As a volunteer, what makes your experience meaningful?
1. CHILDREN NEED AN URGENT RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS
Children experiencing homelessness do not shake it off easily
It seems obvious that children experiencing homelessness would have their developmental needs impacted, but it was not always the case. In this article published by SchoolHouse Connection, Carol Klocek, CEO of Center for Transforming Lives, writes about the ways that young children are impacted. She writes, “Young children are particularly vulnerable to trauma, and trauma exposure is detrimental to all aspects of child development. Children living in homelessness have a higher risk for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including forms of abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction that often go unrecognized and untreated (American Psychological Association). The more ACEs young children experience, the greater the likelihood of significant health conditions such as cancer, lifelong emotional difficulties, and adult homelessness.”
When family homelessness goes unaddressed the impact it has on children can last a lifetime. In fact it is likely to have a generational impact. This is why we strive to prevent homelessness and if a family is experiencing homelessness to make it a short time and only one time.
POLL OF THE WEEK
As a volunteer, what makes your experience meaningful?
It makes me feel good
If there is mutual mutual sharing
When I share something of myself and it resonates with them
If I am able to see the impact of my service experience
2. UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF
Family Promise highlighted during the United Way Campaign Kickoff
United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties kicked off their fall campaign this week and Family Promise of Waukesha County was highlighted for our Family Homelessness Prevention Program.
UWGMW is a major supporter of the Family Homelessness Prevention Program. Stephanie Riesch-Knapp, is a lifelong resident of Waukesha County who is invested in the community. As one of the co-chairs of the United Way Community Campaign she wanted to learn first hand about the work of Family Promise of Waukesha County. She came in one afternoon to meet with two of our clients Carrie and Kim. She wanted to learn about their life and the impact of our programs from those who have experienced them. During her United Way talk Stephanie stated, "While Family Promise guided and helped them both, their courage and strength were driving forces in securing their positive futures." She concluded her remarks with these words, "It was an amazing afternoon with some remarkable people that really made an impact on me."
"Some people have the perception that ending homelessness is about fixing individuals who have made poor choices that led them to being on the street. But really, ending homelessness is about fixing things at a system level. Things that give people the health, education, and financial stability resources they need so they don’t slip through the cracks." - Stephanie Riesch-Knapp
The Family Homelessness Prevention Program is making an impact with the support of a Safe and Stable Homes Grant from United Way. In 2022 we assisted 78 families with financial assistance. By the end of July we had provided financial support to 46 families including 56 adults and 86 children who are NOT homeless because of this support.
Thank you to United Way and all those who support family promise in preventing Family Homelessness.
These photos were from when Stephanie Riesch-Knapp visited Family Promise and spoke with Carrie and Kim.
3. SEEKING A FAMILY ADVOCATE
If you are interested in working with an organization that has a collaborative team, will appreciate you, will encourage you to take ownership for our mission, and whose sole agenda is focused on assisting families to achieve their goals while having some fun, then this role is for you.
Family Promise of Waukesha County, a growing non-profit, is seeking a mission-focused, compassionate, professional, collaborative and dedicated individual to serve as a Family Advocate/ Case Manager. The goal of this role is to support families experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
To apply for this role please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to Joe Nettesheim, joe@familypromisewaukeshawi.org.
4. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Seeking volunteers as drivers, to help with Habitat, and to work in our gardens
We have three upcoming projects that need volunteers. Two of them were events we rescheduled due to the heat.
VOLUNTEER DRIVING PROGRAM
It is common for families experiencing homelessness to not have a car or not have a reliable car. Therefore, we are looking for individuals who would provide transportation to clients. An informational meeting will be held Tuesday, August 29.
FAMILY PROMISE AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY WORK DAY
The Family Promise of Waukesha County work day with Habitat for Humanity has been rescheduled for August 31 from 8:30-3:30pm.
Learn more and register for the day using this link:
GARDEN DAY
Spruce up our Day Center grounds on Garden Day! This service afternoon has been rescheduled for September 5 at noon.
See details and register here:
5. MOVING FORWARD
Help Family Promise set a course to serve families
Over the past few years Family Promise of Waukesha County has seen a lot of change and growth. Almost all of the services offered by Family Promise of Waukesha County did not exist in its current form three and a half years ago. The areas that have seen the most change are our programs and funding. As we move forward we are seeking individuals who care about the future of our organization to serve on committees. We will be renewing both our Program Committee and a Fund Development Committee.
For the Program Committee, we are seeking individuals who have:
Passion for helping families experiencing homelessness
Experience in social work or other social services
Knowledge of service providers in Waukesha County
Have volunteered for Family Promise shelter programs
For the Fund Development Committee, we are seeking individuals who have:
Belief in the mission of Family Promise
Comfortable being an ambassador for the organization
Interest or skill in event planning
Knowledge of planned giving/estate planning
Willing to discuss funding opportunities with people in their network
Each committee would meet six times a year.
If interested please contact Joe Nettesheim, 262-968-2321 ext. 100 or email joe@familypromisewaukeshawi.org
GIFT CARDS AND COPY PAPER NEEDED
We are in need of grocery and gas gift cards. The most utilized gas cards are BP, Kwik Trip or Mobil. For groceries we prefer Pick N Save, Meijer, Aldi or Woodmans. Preferred denominations are: $10, $25 and $50.
We also are in need of copy paper. You can use our Amazon supply list to order and have it delivered directly to Family Promise.
Any donation can be dropped off at the Day Center 139 E North Street from 8:30-4pm. Please call before you come or if you need to drop off outside those times.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
August 29 Volunteer Driver Information Meeting - 6PM
August 31 Habitat for Humanity Work Day
Sept 4 Labor Day - Offices Closed
Sept 5 Garden Clean Up Day
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA. JUST CLICK THE ICONS BELOW.
Access our Threads account through Instagram
@family.promise.waukesha@threads.net
You can also join our Facebook volunteer group to learn about volunteer opportunities.