Proposing a Support Group for Rhode Island's Low-Income, Single-Parent Families

Poverty affects a good percentage of single-parent families in Rhode Island. According to the 2001 KidsCount Factbook, there are 23,370 children living in extreme poverty in the state of Rhode Island. For the impoverished, it is often very difficult to believe that there is a way out. Much of this population feels depressed and alone. A group can provide not only support, but also realistic ideas on how to obtain and begin making a plan on how they will overcome the many barriers affecting them.

This is a proposal for a psycho-educational support group focused on the single parent population of low-income families. The group will focus on a broad spectrum of diverse issues as it pertains to the voluntary members. We are hoping that they gain an understanding of barriers to their economic growth, and family issues. The rationale is to begin a support group designed to educate this population on self-empowerment. We feel that there is a need for such a group since the numbers are high for the low-income single parent population. Our basic assumption is that if they know they are not alone while facing barriers, they can gain an understanding on how to change their lives.

The groups are to meet weekly with the facilitator, whose qualifications as leader will be a deep familiarity with existing barriers to low-income families. The facilitator must be very knowledgeable about the resources existing. This person shall provide information to the single parent families and teach them avenues in which to achieve their goals. The use of a goal chart will be utilized, as we will set up weekly objectives.

The facilitator shall conduct a pre-screening process in which he will ask a predetermined set of questions similar to that of an assessment. Such screening questions shall include: the parent's last level of education, his academic ability at that time, past job history if any, how many children in the family including any other persons living with them, their current source of income and level. Also such questions as: if they have ever run out of food; what they do in the event; do they ever have problems with bills; state of health for all family members. The reason for the selection procedure is to get a clear picture of possible group topics to be discussed over the 16-week period that the group shall meet.

The group shall be composed of 20-25 members and will be closed. New members to the group will be admitted only if the group has not reached it is maximum 25, and only if the first two weeks has not yet passed. The group will meet at a local school, once a week for ninety minutes.

The group will meet in a circle structure. The techniques will be to educate the class during the first thirty minutes about a scheduled topic, to ask questions during the next thirty, and to offer advice for the final thirty minutes. There will be flexibility in the urgency of the topic. This is to be sure that no one is waiting until their "subject comes up", as there will be a schedule and/or syllabus distributed to the group members during the first meeting.

In addition, during the first meeting, there will be some ground rules set; such as reminding group members that they need to let someone finish talking, and to raise their hand when they want to add to the topic. The facilitator shall ask that if a members' topic is due to be discussed and he will be absent, to please call so that the facilitator may set aside required resources for the individual member. During this time, the facilitator will also discuss confidentiality on all we discuss in terms of private matters. During this first meeting, we will prepare the members by giving them a history and rationale as to why the group started.

We will also mention that risk taking is good; that we are here to share our knowledge because knowledge is power! We will ask the members to share their knowledge and act as a resource to each other, but to limit social contact primarily during the group's sixteen-week meetings, and continue personal contact with each other only after the meeting ceases to meet after the 16-week interval.

We will do an evaluation on initial goals with written answers to possible resources. We will place a check mark on the things we are actively working on, and we will conduct follow-ups on a weekly basis. We will set short and long-term, realistic goals and develop steps we can take a little at a time.

We expect the characteristic of the first week to be rather quiet, however, during the second week we will solicit verbal requests. We also anticipate that we will have members who possess a know-it-all attitude, display low self-esteem, and have disbelief in the fact that their ability to make positive changes can occur. We will try to help them realize that they can go after what they want!

Since our objective is to promote self-awareness, our tasks will consist of the following ways to keep tabs on our goals:

We will make a list of things members want to accomplish.

We will list the possible avenues to take.

We will follow up on at least three of the resource avenues.

We will find out whom to ask for future assistance.

The initial task(s) during group will be at first provided by the facilitator, with a weekly topic open to discussion. An assessment of goals the members would like to accomplish, a discussion of possible barriers that may arise as they begin, and how to overcome any of the obstacles that may hinder their achievement(s).

Recruitment procedures will be to post bulletins at various community social service agencies in Northern Rhode Island, doctor's offices, Head Start programs, welfare agencies, and local Departments of Labor and Training.

The first meetings will be held on Tuesday mornings from 9-10:30 am (this should give the parent enough time to get their children to school and to make the meeting.) Alternatively, if need be, we will meet Tuesday afternoons from 4-5:30. Daycare will be provided, as we hope to have a tutor to help the accompanying children with homework, while the parent's meet to discuss various issues concerning income, education, and childhood. We suspect that this would increase the likelihood of continual attendance during the sixteen- week time frame.

The following is a preliminary insight as to how the groups will be conducted, and what issues we believe would be of benefit to the low-income parent and their families:

Week 1: Meeting will be to introduce ourselves, tell each other what we would like to accomplish for the next sixteen weeks

Week 2: Meeting to discuss resources and agencies we collectively are already involved with and make a list of agencies we might utilize by sharing our experiences with those we have already collectively dealt with.

Week 3: Housing issues will be discussed and we shall share information on how to obtain assistance, legal advice, and rights

Week 4: Health issues will be discussed and we shall share information about any issues that may be affecting the members' families

Week 5: Abuse issues will be discussed such as domestic violence, child abuse issues and other. We will also discuss the power and control wheel and educate and/or support each other for change

Week 6: Childhood nutrition, its importance and its emotional and physical links to growth

Week 7: Educational opportunities available to the members, fields of interest and how to gain access to the recourses

Week 8: Babysitting and childcare opportunities and alternatives

Week 9: Poverty and money management, along with ways to alleviate some of our financial burdens

Week 10: Drug abuse issues as well as way to deal with substance abuse within the family unit, how it affects the members and their children, and what constitutes drug abuse

Week 11: Child health and safety, alternating household and childhood suggestions

Week 12: Medical discussions regarding access to insurance, providers, and learning resources

Week 13: Elderly and their role in the family as exists in terms of support and or hindrance to members' goals.

Week 14: Meeting to look at goals and accomplishments members have made so far

Week 15: Meeting will be to discuss how group worked for members and their issues

Week 16: Meeting for goodbyes/sign-ups, new member introductions

Members at this time that need to continue the group will be allowed to do so (the needs will be assessed by facilitator, based on urgency of guidance to resource referrals)

At the end of all 16 weeks, we would continue to be a follow-up referral link to agencies that the members can utilize on their own.