EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The House of Wisdom Restart Center is a Florida non-profit 501(c) 3 entity that was created to serve the needs of young single mothers and their children and to reverse the trend toward dysfunctional living, child neglect or abuse, and reliance upon government assistance. The Center offers intervention and respite by providing short-term suitable housing, child care and medical stabilization, while developing individualized plans to RESTART shattered lives and rebuild them as productive members of the community.
The Re-Start Center will develop collaborative working relationships with Children and Families, Vocational Rehabilitation, Family Central, Work Force Alliance, educational institutions, Adopt a Family, Family First, 211, Planned Parenthood, CAP), Goodwill, Parent Child Center/ community housing partnership and the Salvation Army, and any other organization that is willing to assist in the RESTART process.
Realizing that employment is a key to success, The RESTART program will network with employers to develop employment training specifically geared to the needs of young single mothers. This will insure that they are ready for work, and have the skills to match the needs of the world of work. An on-going mentoring program will provide supportive career counseling that help them obtain and maintain stable employment, and keep them on the road to financial success and independence.
The president and vice-president are committed to supporting local communities and their representatives and collaboratively support all social, civic, and religious activities which help improve the local quality of life.
The House of Wisdom Restart Center serves young single mothers and their children by identifying problems and developing innovative solutions using a highly structured seven step rehabilitation process or a roadmap to success.
Step 1 - Recruitment of suitable candidates/participants
Orientation – Persons interested in The House of Wisdom Restart Center are invited to attend an orientation session.
- Establish need for the applicant to take the first step to independence.
- Develop realistic expectations
- Explain eligibility criteria, process, and time frame.
Step 2 - Evaluation of needs - At a scheduled time, applicant is interviewed and a preliminary assessment is constructed to identify all medical, psychiatric, housing, child care, occupational goals, and vocational/academic training needs. Applicant acceptance/ eligibility will be determined within ___weeks.
Step 3 – If accepted, they receive a second interview where both parties collaboratively produce an Individualized Success Plan which identifies services to be rendered and outcomes to be achieved.
Step 4 - Identification of service providers – Operation Second Chance, health departments, county school system, Workforce Alliance, Children and Families, Vocational Rehabilitation, United Way, Goodwill Industries, Girlfriend Hospital, and any other organization working with this population.
Step 5 - Delivery of services -
Step 6 - Stabilization and service fade as needs decrease
Step 7 - Restart to independent living with follow-up as needed
Participants are considered successfully restarted when they achieve family stability and economic viability as evidenced by successful employment for at least 90 days. All participants will be relocated to other satisfactory housing. All legal or court ordered conditions must be met.
Supported Sponsorship
Each participant will be paired with a community or personal sponsor to provide peer counseling and support individual in group counseling sessions.
Supported Living and Supported Employment
All participants receive on-going counseling to ensure they remain on-track in program.
This process is known as their Transition Plan and requires as-needed services from supported living and supported employment coaches.
The transition plan will have three phases
- Intensive intervention until stability is achieved
- Fade process as support is gradually reduced
- Follow-Along services with periodic visits and counseling
