Morgan County Family Center featured in Fort Morgan Times
Family center provides support services
Part of series on United Way partner agencies
The Morgan County Family Center, a nonprofit organization serving Morgan County families for 15 years, provides a variety of family support services.
The majority of this time has been as a United Way of Morgan County member agency.
One of the programs currently funded through United Way is the Nurturing Fatherhood class. This class allows fathers to explore the roots of fathering, self-nurturing, the power to nurture, overcoming barriers to nurturing and a variety of other engaging topics.
Recently a group of fathers completed a Nurturing Fatherhood class where they learned more about themselves and their parenting styles.
One father shared that the class had "helped me get in touch with my feelings and to be not only a better father but a better person."
When discussing how to get more fathers engaged in this program one father stated, "The only people that are going to empower men are men."
Another United Way funded program offered through the Family Center is the Mentor Volunteer Program.
Recruiting volunteers to mentor other adults started as the original focus for this program. This fall, the focus shifted to training high school youth to mentor younger children. The Mustang Buddies program began recently with a training to help the soon to be mentors understand what it means to be a mentor and just as important what a mentor is not.
They learned how to develop a relationship with the mentees as well as how to utilize a strength based model when working with the mentee. Monthly group activities are being planned for both mentor and mentee to participate as well as the mentor meeting with their mentee on an individual basis.
In addition to the programs currently funded through United Way, the Family Center offers referrals to licensed childcare providers, parent education, family and health advocacy, a car safety seat program, energy assistance funding, volunteer income tax assistance, and the Getting Ahead in a Just Getttin` by World class.
During this past year three Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World classes have been held.
Class participants investigate the theory and process of change and the role of community agencies and organizations as they explored poverty in their community.
They become investigators and spend time learning about the unique issues individuals face when a person lives in poverty such as living in the "tyranny of the moment" and about hidden rules of society.
Investigators learn how to connect to community resources and are empowered to change their lives through developing a plan and become active members of the community to affect their own change.
A recent graduate of the Getting Ahead class shared that she now "felt like she knew what she wanted and how to get there." She has enrolled in GED classes and is moving forward with her plan. She has shared that she learned that there would be times that may be tough but that she could get through it.
During the last 15 years the center has seen increases in the number of people served, serving more than 500 individuals during the last year through the various programs offered at the Center.
These services are free to anyone who needs them with the help of local donations, various grants and funding received through United Way of Morgan County as well as through its annual Chocolate Lover`s Affair.
To learn more about the programs offered at the Family Center call 867-9606 or visit morganfamilycenter.org.
The Family Center is a United Way of Morgan County member agency, Qualistar Colorado partner agency and a member of the Family Resource Center Association.
.
