9/1/2018
As more of our women with children are wanting to stay connected with aftercare of Titus 2 or seeking outpatient care, I find that we are doing more and more extended outpatient case management and counseling.
Residential care in an intensively structured Christian environment is not being sought when there are so many short term, 30 day “spa” programs around that accept Medicaid and multiple outpatient Medication Assisted Treatment programs.
God is still bringing women and families in crisis to Titus 2, but they are not wanting the structured residential approach to change. Our Board of Directors had recognized the early stage of this changing cultural dynamic over a year ago and expanded our mission to include community care and outpatient counseling.
We work with what we are given, as we cannot desire for others more than they want for themselves. It is sad, however, since many have lived in a self-interest “street” ethic and with a generational poverty mindset (spiritually, if not also financially, educationally, and psychologically). Helping them learn and live into the “hidden rules” of a middle class, well-resourced existence takes time, training, and modeling, as Rubye Payne’s work among families with school-age children has shown. Social workers will tell you that for a family with generational poverty and dysfunction it will take 2-3 years of close, accountable journeying with them to make a lasting difference in the lives of their children. Most of the women in long term substance abuse fit that description. The way to a value-based and virtue-based existence is through a disciplined, rules-based path among healthy, supportive community. But fewer and fewer women in substance abuse seem willing to take that straight and narrow path .
We will adapt our means and modes and serve where we can with what we can. Recently, we have assisted a school principal to provide 3 beds, linens, and food for a family with three children at risk of being moved to foster care. We are working with a mother of a preschooler to get a car and supporting her in starting employment. We have assisted several families with back-to-school supplies. We are assisting several women with job readiness and job searches. All of this while doing spiritual counseling or spiritual mentoring with several women.
We are exploring allocating some of our beds for older single women (45+) who are employed but cannot afford their own apartments. We may consider providing group housing for non-smoking, non-drug-using, full-time employed women with their own transportation for substantially less than an apartment, short or long term to efficiently utilize our residence in view of few women seeking long term residential recovery care.
Pray for us to be alert to God’s direction and fully deployed as Kingdom Builders! The marketplace and people’s preferences may change, but God Himself and people’s need for God doesn’t change.