Children's Matters: Love Louder

By Children Program Manager, Joshua Chittum

A mother and daughter participating in our Interim Housing Program recently attended the Love Louder conference at UMKC. Their attendance to the conference was made possible by a donor who covered the registration fee. Also, thank you to Love Louder organizers who gave us a discount. The following is a Q&A with Mom about their weekend experience.  

1. What is Love Louder? 

It is a two day conference for girls between 5-14 that encourages participants to love themselves and increase their self-worth.  

2. What was your favorite part? 

I enjoyed how the conference facilitators were so open and friendly to the parents and children. They gave so many helpful tips on loving ourselves. 

3. What did your daughter like about the conference? 

My daughter loved dancing and singing with the others girls and instructors. She learned to give love to herself every day. Since we attended, she has started jumping up and down in front of the mirror each day saying, "I love me!"  

4. Anything else you would like to mention? 

The mothers, aunts, and grandmothers got to go to groups for adults during the conference. It was refreshing to share information about our kids and their self-worth. My daughter and I are going to go again when it comes back next May.  

  

If you are aware of conferences, camps, and enrichment activities that will benefit children at Community LINC, please reach out to me!  - Joshua Chittum * jchittum@communitylinc.org

Learning How to Handle Conflict Pays Off

By Constance Taylor, Program Manager and Employment Job Coach

Community LINC’s goal is always to see our families back on their feet, secure in housing and gainfully employed. I was so impressed each time I saw Kim with her four children. She would have her twins in a stroller and the two older children walking alongside them. I wanted to jump in and help but for fear of complicating things I would just stand back and watch her make it happen. I finally realized she had her own system that worked.

Kim seemed so young to have so many children to care for alone. Because of her past evictions, her only option is a landlord willing to give her a chance to prove she will pay rent and maintain his property in good condition. She has been employed for two months now and makes a livable wage. She recently secured another part-time job working weekends. 

She has eliminated several warrants and reported to court several times concerning a domestic disturbance that existed before she came to Community LINC. She has not only expressed her desire to react to conflict differently but we have witnessed her ability to work through some challenging situations. She vows to work, manage her home and take care of her children. The progress she has already made while managing four children on her own shows her dedication. She is looking for this second chance for housing now and is ready to move forward. 

Art as a Tool for Healing

By Griselda Williams, Manager Mental Wellness Services

For many years, art has been used as a tool to promote healing with various groups of people. Art is used with persons with Alzheimer’s’ disease and other health issues. There are art programs in the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems. Art has been used in therapy with persons challenged with mental health diagnoses and persons with disabilities. Art is used in other regions of the United States, as well as the world by organizations positively impacting persons traumatized by earthquakes, war, floods, tornadoes and other traumatic events.

According to Gretchen Miller, Registered Board Certified Art Therapist, “Art expression is a powerful way to safely contain and create separation from the terrifying experience of trauma without the necessity of or reliance on verbal language to share ones story”. This creative tool “can become a visual voice that can help retrieve content from lower-functioning parts of the brain where traumatic experiences live without words and can transform into drawings on paper, molded into clay, painted onto a canvas and more”. Art experiences “safely gives voice to and makes a survivor’s experience of emotions, thoughts and memories visible when words are insufficient.”

I recently attended the Housing First Partners conference in Los Angeles, California, where persons who had experienced homelessness used art as a tool for healing. Homelessness is considered a traumatic event so it would stand to reason that art would benefit persons with this experience. Men and women that participated in the Skid Row Homeless Support Program in downtown Los Angeles made art items to sell and earn income at the Housing First Partners conference. People who lived homeless experiences were at the conference, share the use of art, poetry and music to tell their stories and some had published their work. These individuals shared their publications and work and how participating in art therapy helped them heal and increase their self-esteem and self-worth. Others shared how being able to make art helped them feel there was something they did well, something they had control over and something that was theirs alone that no one could take from them. One man shared that using poetry to express how he felt inside was a positive way of getting all of the negative and fearful feelings out in a harmless way versus in an angry or self-destructive way.

As part of our program group meetings at Community LINC, I often offer artful experiences with our program participants. Recently, I offered old keys, a painted canvas and other items for a collage. The collage title for each participant was to be called, “The Key To My……”   Each participant was asked to fill the blank canvas with pictures, words and symbols reflecting on the title. When the women’s group members finished their collages they shared hopes, dreams, goals, regrets and lessons learned through their collages. They were able to imagine a new life and depict this in their collages which in turn helped them to identify their goals and therefore steps needed to reach the goals.

We often use ‘art as a tool for healing’ experiences in our program groups often. Each time, I hear our residents say how helpful the experience was for increasing their awareness and insight, as well as how it helped them connect to their hopes and dreams. Pictures of some of the finished collages were posted on our Facebook because the group members felt proud of what they produced and they wanted to share them with others. 

Fresh Start

By Holly Gardner, Intake Specialist

I’m always amazed at the many community supports intertwined with the day-to-day business we do at Community LINC and how we strive to fill the voids the best we can while we serve our families.  This winter I was privileged to meet Michelle at Giving the Basics and coordinate services so we could have onsite, personal care items for our families.  This includes shampoo, body wash, feminine necessities and many other products. While speaking with Michelle it was hard to imagine living without these items. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she spoke of the void families often experienced while homeless and how her agency was determined to fill that void by partnering with social service agencies like ours.  Yes, families have access to food pantries and there are agencies that provide clothing but it could be hit and miss when it comes to providing basic self-care needs. This could be stressful and embarrassing for people to even ask for such items.

There is a lot of work to do in a rapid re-housing program. Employment is a priority and many of the day-to-day tasks our families have on their plate require meeting new people and trying to make the best impressions they can.  We call it building relationships, building bridges back to self-sufficiency – a very important aspect of our program.  Sometimes our families struggle with self- care as it has been off their priority list as they are busy trying to survive the day-to-day.  At Community LINC we encourage our families to put some focus back on self-care and encourage them to look and feel their best on their journey. What a beautiful way to offer dignity and respect in a very tangible way by connecting a person with “the basics” again.

On the Giving the Basics brochure a striking picture of a man’s profile sitting in a chair wearing soiled clothing, you can obviously tell he makes a living with his hands. The caption says, “I can’t get a job because I’m dirty.”  Beneath that reads, “Did you know food stamps don’t cover the basics, like shampoo or laundry soap? Please donate generously-everyone deserves a fresh start.”

To better assist our families we have an area set up in our donation basement, designated just for this so parents can look over the items and pick what they would like to have. The positivity I see and feel is sometimes overwhelming and I have to wonder if a person feels better stepping out their door to take care of business with a little less worry they may just land that next job, build new relationships, secure housing for their children.  We thank our partnering agencies for helping us provide the basics, including these very simple yet profoundly life affirming dignity items. And yes it takes all these small things to make a fresh start. 

For the Sake of the Twins

By Employment Job Coach Constance Taylor

 Several months had gone by and I could see the disappointment in Briana’s face each time she entered the computer lab. She had gone to interview after interview expecting a door to open and yet, still no job. I didn’t want her to lose hope and so I decided to send her to a training class with an internship attached. She was excited at the opportunity. Briana attended the orientation and learned that a company she had applied to work for was having a hiring fair in the same building in the next few days. She did some networking, scheduled an interview at the same job fair, and was hired a few days later. Although it was not the opportunity she was expecting to follow, Briana was thrilled about the quick turnaround.  

Briana is not unaccustomed to unexpected change.  She told me what it was like to have two children born at the same time. One boy and one girl. This meant she had to budget to buy two of everything. On top of that, one child was quite ill growing up, so Briana had seen some difficult days. Her mom passed away two short years ago from cancer and today her children’s dad is suffering from the same disease. She has had to fight to move forward for the sake of the twins on many occasions. 

It is always impressive when parents strive for the sake of their children. Kids really do make the world go around. Now that the twins are older, Briana looks for the best. She has started her new position and is searching for housing. Her life has become different for the sake of the twins.

Healthy Lifestyle Groups Matter

By Griselda Williams, Mental Wellness Services Manager

Recently, I was asked by a coworker if I felt the Healthy Lifestyles groups should continue. The Tuesday/Thursday evening groups have been held for many years and we wondered if the current process was useful.   I replied, “Yes” we need to continue the groups. When asked what the contribution was, I remarked that education, support, connection to community resources and relationship building are the greatest benefits.

The group meetings are a good time to share information with our Interim Housing residents. We have invited numerous people from different agencies to visit our group meetings. For example:

•  Harvester’s staff share nutrition information and sign residents up for food stamps/the SNAP program.
• University of Missouri-Extension staff also provide nutrition classes for adults and teens. The instructor is a single mother and when she speaks to our single mother residents, they listen.
• Habitat for Humanity staff share how our residents can become homeowners someday.
• Staff from the Kansas City Care Clinic educate residents on the importance of finding a medical home at their clinic, even if they don’t have health insurance.
• The KC Care Staff also educate residents on the new Affordable Care Act insurance program and the consequence of not having insurance when they file 2017 taxes. The staff also help residents enroll in the ACA since most adults have no insurance when they enter our program.
• One guest educated our women’s group participants on breast cancer awareness and testing. This was timely as one of our residents tested positive for stage 3 breast cancer and was able to engage with this support as she began treatment.
• Peers from the RESPECT Institute through the Missouri Department of Mental Health with experience in mental health issues, substance abuse, homelessness and other challenges visit on a regular basis. They share personal stories about how engaging in needed mental health services and supports helped turn their lives around. They also encourage residents to engage in needed supports for their challenges. Given that the peers have gone through the same things our residents have or are currently going through, our residents listen to their advice.

We have numerous other guests from various agencies and organizations, all of whom volunteer their time to speak to our adult groups. These relationships can continue for our residents after they move on to permanent housing within the community.

While we have many community guests, we also try to address issues in-house, with a focus on topics that meet our resident’s needs. We discuss numerous topics, among them:

 Setting boundaries and developing and maintaining healthy relationships

• Solution-finding and goal setting tools
• Coping tools for stress management and managing depression and anxiety
• Parent As Role Models, Helping One’s Child After a Trauma (homelessness is considered a traumatic event for children) and other parenting topics

 Sometimes we watch movies for inspiration. Recently, when we watched a movie, the women decided to bring items for a pot luck. Some baked cupcakes, some brought punch and others made dip for chips and soup. The ladies watched the movie and discussed it while they celebrated positive relationships with one another and the “village” like environment we often see with residents at Community LINC.

When the residents come together for program group meetings they often share resources, give support and build positive relationships with other residents. Just this week, one woman shared that her place of employment is hiring for part-time weekend staff. Another resident shared a childcare resource with a woman who just moved into our program. There are some adult residents who remain friends once they move to permanent housing. One woman shared, “we are all in this together” and she has given a great deal of support to the other single mothers.

I could go on and on about the benefits of keeping the Healthy Lifestyles groups because I see so many positives that come out of these meetings. So, if anyone were to ask me if we need to continue the meetings, all I have to say is, “You bet, because Healthy Lifestyle Groups matter!” 

There’s No Place Like Home

By Laura Haskell, Community LINC Volunteer

Community LINC provides that stability that so many homeless families crave. 

“Close your eyes, tap your heels together three times and think to yourself, there’s no place like home!”

How simple life would be if we could all click our heels together and magically appear in our homes. Unfortunately, not everyone in Kansas City has a place of their own to call home.

On February 17^th, you have the chance to give families in Kansas City the building blocks to make a place of their own home. We are launching the Homes Matter campaign for the first time at Community LINC. During this single day you can help us reach our goal of raising $25,000. A gift can provide bedding, kitchen and bath fundamentals for the families we serve. Together we can make a difference in the community and start hundreds of homeless on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Spread the word about our Homes Matter campaign by sharing our story and inviting your friends and family to participate!  Help give KC families the basics: bit.ly/1KctGo7 #HomesMatter