Our Family Partnerships Program is designed to help families identify and develop their personal strengths in order to take an empowered and knowledgeable approach to navigating the often frightening and frustrating experience of homelessness.
Parents living in shelters must “parent in public” while dealing with issues related to finding work, securing housing, and interacting with several different social service agencies and providers. They do so with limited time and transportation options – and few financial resources – against a backdrop of exceptional stress. Our highly trained staff understands the issues our families face; they help parents set achievable goals and build their self-confidence.
On a practical level, our Family Coaching Specialists (formerly referenced as Family Advocates or FAs) serve as valuable intermediaries between the parents and the complex collection of service providers supporting their families. Where appropriate, we coordinate services with outside agencies, assist in obtaining vouchers and submitting funding applications, and help families comply with various program requirements, so that their children remain eligible for our early education services.
Using Mobility Mentoring™ our Family Coaching Specialists work with each family to help them develop goals and a plan to achieve those goals. They also assist them in accessing resources, including education, job training, and other services.
Once a family is permanently housed, we collaborate with parents to support their long-term success so that the cycle of homelessness can be permanently broken. We also support their search for and transition to kindergarten programs across Boston.
Horizons partners with organizations including EMPath, Homes for Families, and Project Hope to connect parents with much-needed services, including job training, housing support, and more.
