It is all about heart and process.
Viola’s House provides intake and assessment, case management, clinical services, education, and training to increase participants’ self-sufficiency and future success. The programs, staff, and volunteers provide comprehensive, wraparound services that support and guide unwed mothers in developing future behaviors and norms that build social capital and individual skills to succeed.
Viola’s House operates within the Southern sector of Dallas, where the population is growing. Each day, many young expectant mothers contact the program for assistance. At this time, Viola’s House has a waiting list of approximately a dozen young mothers who are awaiting assistance.
OUR OFFERINGS
Viola’s House utilizes the intake process to gather current demographic information and psychosocial assessments to assess for individual needs and determine an individualized service plan for each participant. Expectant mothers are assessed within 72 hours of engagement. There are a variety of services and programs available to participants to assist them in preparing for a healthy birth process and future success. Appropriate models are leveraged by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to assess childhood experiences and environmental factors that contribute to overall mental and physical health. The participants are reassessed as needed to determine additional needs and services throughout their stay.
The case management model supports participants in the residential and continuous care phase of programming. Participants are assigned a case manager to develop a comprehensive service plan which includes goal development, implementation, monitoring, follow-up and discharge planning. Case Managers may also refer participants to additional services throughout the community to build capacity within established communities. In addition, case managers assist participants in developing reintegration plans, such as applying for public assistance programs, accessing child care, transportation and housing in their desired communities.
Seeks to empower expectant mothers to address emotional issues related to early child birth and increase protective factors for future health. Individual counseling is provided by a Licensed Social Worker and addresses topics, such as depression, anxiety, anger management, self-esteem, peer/environment relationships, setting boundaries, co-dependency and other clinical issues.
The program utilizes the ‘Girls Circle’ curriculum developed by the One Circle Foundation and recently found to be the ‘first gender-responsive program in the country that demonstrates effectiveness in reducing delinquency for girls.’ The program utilizes a 10-week curriculum that addresses various topics, specifically in increasing resiliency and skills to increase protective factors. One Circle Foundation’s 2010 evaluation, revealed key health and education by showing significant increases in use of condoms, educational aspirations and educational expectations. In addition, these evaluations showed improved outcomes in self-sufficiency, self-harming behaviors, rates of alcohol use, attachment to school, body image and social support areas.
Viola’s House seeks to educate and empower participants to develop knowledge, skills and abilities to sustain themselves and their children for future generations. Many skills are needed to increase protective factors and resiliency as many of these are absent within the participant’s primary environments and correlates to their current plight.
Viola’s House provides residents with an outlet for exploration of fears and questions about pregnancy and parenting in a supportive and non-judgmental environment. Education and training are key components of the overall program. The training includes weekly classes and/or discussions on health issues during pregnancy and preparation for child birth. These classes include nutrition, feeding options and other family planning training.
Viola’s House equips expectant mothers to be self-sufficient and promote job/career retention. The job readiness program provides skill training in current industries, workforce development, such as communication and other interpersonal skills, life management, decision making and customer services skills. Participants attend assigned classes during the program and must actively participate in the local Workforce Solutions’ programs.
Viola’s House prepares participants to manage their finances with classes on budgeting, checking and savings, income attainment and the importance of credit on current and future success.
Viola’s House offers the opportunity for peer-to-peer and community interaction to enhance social skills. This also presents an opportunity for participants to practice their socialization skills within their home communities and increase their self-esteem.
Viola’s House supports the education of participants by providing transportation to their home or local school districts. In addition, online education services and general educational development (GED) programs offer participants a chance to complete high school graduation. Viola’s House also provides tutoring, college planning and financial aid support to further participants’ educational aims. Participants may also participate in the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) training programs that provides grants for customized job training.
