Family Connections
WHAT WE DO
Setbacks can happen to anyone, and people turn to the People's Resource Center (PRC) to help them get through bad times. Some of the families who rely on PRC have extreme situations and require extra, ongoing help to remain afloat. Family Connections is a way that generous families in the community can provide direct, confidential support to struggling families.
Each month, special families with unusual situations receive extra financial assistance to get them through the month. This money comes from donors, who are anonymously matched with a family and donate a set amount each month. Each case is unique, with some families moving out of the program quickly, and other families, with more chronic problems, staying longer in the program.
Our social workers assess each potential Family Connections participant, and help the families to develop achievable goals that will move them to a successful outcome. They are matched with a donor family, and progress is monitored through monthly group and individual meetings with each participant.
The Emergency Support Fund, through generous donors, helps families who experience a one-time financial emergency. These crises include things like co-pays for medicines, gasoline, and other necessities that are not covered by other programs.
HOW WE DO IT
The Family Connections program works because of PRC donor families. This financial help makes it possible for the clients to purchase prescriptions, auto fuel, household items, groceries and clothing for their families. In most cases, multiple donors are supporting the same family. Most families receive between $100 and $300 in monthly gift cards depending on family size. Some donors choose to donate to the Emergency Support Fund, to help families through short-term crises. Information about participants and donor families is confidential.
IMPACT
In the past year, 50 families overcame difficult situations in their lives and got back on their feet with the help of generous donors through Family Connections.
YOU CAN HELP
For as little as $25 per month, you can confidentially support a family in crisis on a monthly basis. Contact Tonya Latson at (630)682-5402 or via
Contact Us.
VICTORS OF CIRCUMSTANCE
What does someone do who has a debilitating illness, can’t work, and is awaiting determination for Social Security Disability? Or if someone’s spouse died, and she finds her family in a dire financial situation? Here’s an example of someone who benefited from Family Connections: Karen P. is a 37 year old married mother of four small children. Her husband is permanently disabled and receives Social Security Disability Insurance income. Mrs. P. was diagnosed with a severely debilitating auto immune disease in late 2003. Mrs. P’s goal while in the Family Connections program was to obtain her certification as a “Sign Language Interpreter”. This type of work is a good fit with her disability. She has been attending classes at a community college for the last two years. Mrs. P. will graduate in May, 2008. The Family Connection gift cards have helped her to make financial ends meet as she has pursued her education. Karen is looking forward to beginning her new career and no longer needing the assistance of the program.