FAMILY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
By Jane Lorton

REAL Services was designated as the Community Action Agency for Northern Indiana by Governor Robert Orr in 1985.  REAL Services worked with then Notre Dame professor Dr. Rod Ganey to conduct a study to help steer the implementation of this new effort, and as a result, the Family Development Program was born The funds made available were intended to be used to impact the causes of poverty, not the symptoms; this program emphasizes a move away from a passive role as caretaker of the poor and toward an active role in helping equip people to achieve independence of the welfare system. The following story is just one of many that sheds light on the positive and powerful success of the Family Development Program at REAL Services, Inc.

Yesenia is a young woman featured in the latest issue of REAL Connections Magazine, Fall 2015.  At the time the story was written she was a Family Development client.  She was working part-time, attending college classes, and mother of 2 children.  As she shared her story: “I experienced a life-changing event, so I moved to South Bend to be near my parents.” However, she soon found herself with few resources so when she sought help through the Energy Assistance Program at REAL Services, she discovered the Family Development Program.  Because she wanted to be able to support her children she knew she needed a better education.  As a part of this program, educational opportunities were offered; she was able to learn more job skills, she learned about finance and budgeting, reading and understanding credit reports, nutrition, parenting skills, time management, and career guidance to name a few.  Yesenia was very motivated and worked tirelessly in each area required.  Family Development is a holistic program and with the help of case managers, the clients and families are able to keep moving forward.  Goal setting and regular meetings are vital in this progression.  Yesenia, with the help of her case manager, opened an Individual Development Account.  She deposited funds in this account on a regular basis and she enrolled in Bethel College.  That was then.....

And now…

Photo by Peter Ringenberg for Bethel College

Yesenia was featured in Bethel College's Magazine, June 2016 as she walked in Bethel College's adult and graduate studies commencement ceremony.  After she completes a summer internship she will receive her Bachelor's Degree.  Of significance, Yesenia has no college debt since she faithfully deposited funds in her Individual Development Account.  (An Individual Development Account is a special savings account matched by federal and state dollars.  The goal of the IDA program is to help low-income individuals and families build wealth as a path out of poverty.  In order to open and IDA account the participant must have a job, earn income and their income must be less than 200% of Federal poverty guidelines.  Participants are required to attend financial education classes.  The monies saved in the IDA must be used to buy a home or rehabilitate the home they already own, pursue a higher education for themselves or a dependent, or open a small business.)

Yesenia credits REAL Services and its Family Development Program along with the support of her family for successfully reaching this milestone in her life.  Other participants reaching milestones since 2015 include: 15 participants became financially self-sufficient; 7 participants used IDA funds to pay for an education; 3 purchased homes in our community, and one participant started a new business with IDA funds: all because they discovered and were fully engaged in the Family Development Program at REAL Services.

According to the Coordinator of the Family Development Program, LaTasha Bosse, the Family Development Program helps to stabilize families; families and individuals become empowered to get off government programs.  “The entire community is improved because our participants leave this program needing less and less public assistance and in some cases they no longer rely on government subsidies at all.  The program invests in people in poverty and teaches them how to improve their life skills which in turn provides more economic stability for the community. More people are able to give back, shop, save.  Children learn from their parents and Family Development teaches adults to build upon their strengths, this empowering model can be used at home to change the family dynamics toward ending generational poverty.”

For more information, call 574-284-2060 in St. Joseph County or 574-875-0606 ext. 2414 in Elkhart County.