The Ruth Services program exists to provide support and services to pregnant women. Services will guide and guard the woman and the child within her throughout the pregnancy and assist the new mother in the transition to independent living.
Program Description and Goals:LYDIA Home Association’s Ruth Services Program is a residential program designed to help motivated, low income single, unwed mothers. The main focus is for them to experience a life change through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In addition, we hope these women will overcome prior traumatic experiences and gain life skills so they can function independently and raise their children in a safe and nurturing environment.
Ruth Services addresses the needs of women and their children in four general areas. The first area is to provide a supportive and healthy community, in which these women can live and have their needs, met. These mothers will be asked to move into the LYDIA Home Association (LHA) building with other women who are working to develop the necessary life skills.
Secondly, while in the program, Ruth Services will provide women a number of services over a period of time in order to provide them support, stabilization, and independence. Women will participate in individual therapy, family therapy, parent training, support groups, and mentoring. The goal is to enhance parenting and independent living skills.
The third area of goal setting involves employment. Given that employment can enhance a woman’s self esteem and sense of accomplishment, clients are also encouraged to pursue the vocation of their choice with the goal of becoming financially independent. However, many women have had prior unsuccessful work experiences and require additional vocational support and direction. In these cases, clients are required to complete a formal vocational training program through a community program designed to enhance their employable skills.
Finally, due to limited social supports being a risk factor for child abuse, the fourth program area is the expansion of the clients informal support system. The goal is to help these women develop and expand their social skills and informal support network. This involves learning how to develop and sustain reciprocal friendships, connecting to the healthy aspects of their community, and reaching out for support in times of need or stress. If the client has a history of substance abuse, then rebuilding a support system is especially critical and needs to also include social support for their recovery process as well (AA or NA meetings, church recovery groups, etc).
Guidelines for acceptance can be found
here.