Preparing For Your Hosting Week

1. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Goals For This Presentation: • Introduction to Family Promise Nationally/Verdugos • Nuts & Bolts of the Hosting Week • Details of Volunteer Positions

2. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Family Promise - National • Started in 1985 • Currently Has 207Affiliates in 44 States • Each Affiliate is Its Own 501(c)(3) • Directly Served 13,178 Individuals, • Including 7,560 Children, in 2014

3. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Family Promise - California • 7 Affiliates Currently in Operation • Sacramento, Modesto, San Mateo, Burbank, • Santa Clarita and San Gabriel Valley, • Torrance & Orange County.

4. Introduction to Family Promise • Family Promise – Orange County • Opened our Doors in July 2010 • Currently Has an 15 Member Board of Directors • 6 Staff Members, 400+ Volunteers • 13 Host & 14 Supporting Congregations • First Year – 2016 • 29 Families • 96% Success Rate in Securing Housing • 62 Day Average Stay

5. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Family Promise – Our Families and Philosophy • Work Specifically with Families – • “Rapid Re-Housing” Model – Focus on Finding Affordable/Sustainable Housing First, • and Providing Ongoing Support • and Services In-Home • The Length of Our Congregational Program is 90 Days.

6. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • The Conregational Program Has 3 Basic Components • Family Resource Center (aka Day Center) • Case-Management • Host & Support Congregations

7. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Day Center – Hub of the Program • Where Participant Families Spend Their Days When Not at School/Work • Offices for Director, Case-Manager, etc. • Work Room for Job Searches, Training, etc. • Family Room • Showers & Laundry Facilities • Families Receive Services & Counseling

8. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Case Management & Services • Entering Families Must Qualify • Free of Substance and Alcohol Abuse • Free of Significant Mental Illness • We Do Criminal Background Checks • Families Entering the Program Receive • Job Counseling • Budgeting and Life Skills Training • Parenting Classes • Tutoring for Children • `1uinb

9. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Case Management & Services • While in the Program: • Families are Required to Save 80% of Income • Keep or Gain Employment • Apply for Needed Services • Families May Be: • Single or Dual Parent Households • We Accept Families of Any Size (Up to 14)

10. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Host Congregations • Provide Space for 1 – 4 Families in the Evenings • (5:30 pm – 6:45 am) • Warm Meal in the Evening, and • a Basic Breakfast and Sack Lunch • HOSPITALITY – A Safe Space for the Families

11. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Transportation • Family Promise Provides a 12 Person Van • Transports Families to and from the Congregation • Transports Bedding and Other Supplies • Potentially Drops Off Children at School • Family Promise Also Provides: • Bus Passes to Families

12. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Typical Host Week • Sunday (Afternoon): • Van Arrives in the Afternoon with Bedding and Families’ Personal Belongings • Volunteers Set Up Rooms for the Families, and Prepare the Common Area • Sunday (Evening): • 5:30Guests Arrive – Volunteers Greet the Families and • Make Them Feel at Home

13. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Every Evening: • 5:30 pm – Families Arrive and Settle In • 6:30 pm – Dinner is Served Family Style: Guests and Volunteers Share the Meal Together • After Dinner, Volunteers Fellowship with the Families • Hosts Converse with Families and/or Engage in Planned Activities. • Families are Responsible for Their Children, and Help with Cleanup, etc.

14. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Every Evening: • 10:00 pm – Lights Out (Children Go to Bed at Appropriate Earlier Bedtimes) • 2 Volunteers Spend the Night at the Congregation • Mornings: • 6:00 am – Wake-Up Call & Breakfast is Served • 6:30 am – Van Arrives to Pick Up Families • Families go to the Day Center to Shower, • Then to work/school.

15. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Being a Good Host • It’s Nice to Hear Your Name – So know theirs! We recommend nametags. • Avoid Labels – “Guests” NOT “The Homeless” • Personal Questions Are Tough to Answer • Be a Good Listener • Everyone Needs A Little Privacy • Introverts – Had a rough day, eat in their tent. • Extrovert – Can’t get them to shut up.

16. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Being a Good Host (Continued) • Sometimes We Need Time Alone • We All Have Bad Days • Let Parents Parent • BUT Parents Also Need a Break Sometimes • Everyone Needs Respect & Dignity

17. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines • Staffing Numbers – A Balance • Minimum of Two • Maximum of Four (with flexibility) • Never Be Alone with a Family Member • “Eye Contact Rule” – For everyone’s safety.

18. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines • Recreational Activities • Key Words: “Structured & Optional” • Options – Visit a Playground, Play a Sport, Watch a Video (child friendly please), Board Games, Puzzles, Story Time, Arts and Crafts. • Remember – Some people need to relax.

19. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines (continued) • Meal Preparation • Avoid Spicy Dishes • Coordinate Meal Schedule Beforehand • Have Backups for Kids • Breakfasts & Lunch – Easy & Simple • Cook Healthy - Help Prevent the • “Family Promise Fifteen” • Weekend Meals – Have a little fun…

20. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines (continued) • Housekeeping • Guests & Volunteers Share Responsibility • Guests SHOULD Offer to Help • Chore Activities Include • After Dinner Cleanup • Picking Up Toys etc. • Checking the Bathrooms For Items • Cleaning the Host Rooms on Saturday/Sunday

21. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines (continued) • Gifts • PLEASE – No Welcoming Gifts • Birthday’s & Holidays Are OK • They Shouldn't Be Asking • However – Families DO Need Items & Support Upon Graduation (talk to staff). • Personal Information • No Addresses or Personal Numbers • Volunteer Phone Available w/ Numbers.

22. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines (continued) • Medications & Emergencies • Families with Needs – Lockbox from FP • Major Illness (Chicken Pox etc.) Withdrawn Until Recovered • Injury – If Major • 1) Call 911 or Police • 2) THEN Me/Coordinator • Emergency Phone Available – Plus Needed Numbers

23. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Volunteer Guidelines (continued) • Faith & Spiritual Nurturing DO’s & DON’Ts • DON’T Require Prayer or Participation • DON’T Engage in Heavy-Handed Proselytization • DO Offer Participation in Congregation Activities • DO Share Your Love

24. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Guest Guidelines • No Drugs, No Alcohol • No Weapons • Smoking in Designated Areas Only • Don’t Leave Children Unattended • No Yelling/Spanking Children • Help with Cleaning/Chores

25. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Guest Guidelines (Continued) • If They Miss the Van – They will Contact FP • Network & Hosts NOT Responsible for Lost/Stolen Items • NO Visitors Are Allowed Without Permission • Clients are NOT Allowed to Leave the Host Site

26. Preparing For Your Hosting Week • Staff Information – • Albert Hernandez • Executive Director • 818-599-4090 (cell) • executivedirector@familypromiseverdugos.org • Carrie Prado • Case Manager818-847-1547 • casemanagement@familypromiseverdugos.org