The first chapter of Family Promise was opened in 1986 in New Jersey to assist families who were homeless to shift into a self sufficient way of life. Today there are over two hundred independent affiliates nationwide.
The affiliate that Covenant participates with is East Bell County, which was founded in 2004, about the same time that Covenant started participating in this ministry. Family Promise of East Bell County is an interfaith, non-profit organization that helps homeless and low income families achieve sustainable independence through a community supported effort and to provide follow up care to help the families continue self sufficiency.
Our local affiliate has only two employees who select the families participating in the program and organize the training programs that help educate the families to maintain independence. Some of the programs taught are job skills, budgeting, nutrition, parenting, and access to needed services. Before a family is accepted into the program they must go through background checks and drug testing. In order to qualify each family must also have at least one parent who is able and willing to work and at least one child under eighteen.
Families spend the day at the Family Promise Center located at E. Avenue A where a kitchen, training rooms, a lounge and transportation are provided. Most importantly, the family is provided with an address and phone number where prospective employers can contact them. The transportation is provided by a donated white van with no logo on it so that children being dropped off at school will not be stigmatized. The van also transports the families from the Family Promise Center to the churches for their overnight stays.
Area churches, including Covenant, provide accommodations and dinners for the families, a week at a time. Each Sunday, the family is moved to the next scheduled church. Covenant does not currently provide overnight accommodations, but we do assist our partner church, Immanuel Lutheran, with meals provided and with hosts (Covenant Lutheran members) who spend the night at Immanuel with the families. We do this four times a year so, when a notice to bring dinner ingredients is posted on the bulletin board, this means our hosting night is fast approaching. The menu is carefully thought out to provide an age and dietary appropriate meal for each family.
Family Promise works with a limited number of families at a time, but their success rate is very high. The training provided, the follow up care given when families move out on their own, and the support shown by Temple area churches are just a few of the reasons for the phenomenal success rate.
If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact the church office or contact Family Promise directly at (254) 773-9980 or via email at director@familypromisebellcounty.com.
Our local affiliate has only two employees who select the families participating in the program and organize the training programs that help educate the families to maintain independence. Some of the programs taught are job skills, budgeting, nutrition, parenting, and access to needed services. Before a family is accepted into the program they must go through background checks and drug testing. In order to qualify each family must also have at least one parent who is able and willing to work and at least one child under eighteen.
Families spend the day at the Family Promise Center located at E. Avenue A where a kitchen, training rooms, a lounge and transportation are provided. Most importantly, the family is provided with an address and phone number where prospective employers can contact them. The transportation is provided by a donated white van with no logo on it so that children being dropped off at school will not be stigmatized. The van also transports the families from the Family Promise Center to the churches for their overnight stays.
Area churches, including Covenant, provide accommodations and dinners for the families, a week at a time. Each Sunday, the family is moved to the next scheduled church. Covenant does not currently provide overnight accommodations, but we do assist our partner church, Immanuel Lutheran, with meals provided and with hosts (Covenant Lutheran members) who spend the night at Immanuel with the families. We do this four times a year so, when a notice to bring dinner ingredients is posted on the bulletin board, this means our hosting night is fast approaching. The menu is carefully thought out to provide an age and dietary appropriate meal for each family.
Family Promise works with a limited number of families at a time, but their success rate is very high. The training provided, the follow up care given when families move out on their own, and the support shown by Temple area churches are just a few of the reasons for the phenomenal success rate.
If you are interested in helping with this ministry, please contact the church office or contact Family Promise directly at (254) 773-9980 or via email at director@familypromisebellcounty.com.