Family Life Learning Centers can improve the lives of TEENS, church members and others in the community by providing onsite access to computers and training resources. The computerized learning center provides families with access to the education and skills necessary for the 21st century. The educational and job training programs are designed to enrich lives. The Family Life Centers within the churches become a magnet, “a knowledge center” in the community attracting and pulling families together. The training resources lead to job opportunities and higher self-esteem.
One of the principle goals of the center will be to reach as many families as possible. Outlining approaches to engage parents and children in focusing on more education and training. Providing incentives that help achieve the support and interaction from both parents and children. The incentives can be in the form of scholarships, services, free software or additional computer access when the family has agreed to join the effort of reaching out to TEENS. The center also encourages family participation in the activities of the hosting church and supporting drug-free and violence-free schools.
Family Life Learning Centers may also enhance the self-sufficiency, employability and economic self-reliance of low-income families and the elderly living in HUD insured and assisted communities.
Tutoring: Family Life Learning Centers help residents of assisted and insured housing communities by providing tutoring in reading, language, math and other courses.
Telecommuting: Telecommuting for parents of young children, or those who are physically unable to travel. Be aware that the project cannot make telecommuting happen. It has to be inherent in the job the resident has, e.g., data entry or micro-enterprise.
Micro-enterprises: Micro-enterprises, developed through business incubators, startup programs, and other partnerships, could involve teenagers, young adults, and senior citizens. Such micro-enterprises may take numerous forms and find business opportunities in both public and private sectors.
Parents Day Out Services: Babysitting services might be structured, or perhaps a preschool and pre-teen component designed as a learning/play tool for young children while their parents are in class or running errands. Residents may also set up a cooperative Day care center with fees to cover materials and supplies. (Before undertaking such an effort, local regulations covering day care centers must be met.)
Multimedia Services: Multimedia software has a documented beneficial influence in improving the learning experience of both children and adults in activities such as: preparing for the GED, improving math skills, computer literacy, or providing employment readiness training.
Job training: There is a need for all types of job training. For success, business, educational, and voluntary association partnerships are critical for successful jobs training.
Life skills development: There may be interactive group training in life-coping skills classes and competency-based training. Such topics include: Employment - job applications, employment contracts and forms, resumes, job motivation, job search, how to interview, what employers want; Banking and Budgeting - requirements, use and maintenance of checking accounts, spending decisions, purchasing and the payment of bills, personal budgeting; Credit and Loans - credit and credit cards, security, payback, types of loans, and interest.
Internet: Through the Internet and electronic mail, families can reach out to their neighborhood, libraries, social service providers and the world. Church fellowships and associations could better serve families who are requesting assistance. Through the centers working partnerships with other properties and services, families could interact on issues such as parenting, yard sales, neighborhood security and neighborhood beautification projects.
On-line discussions become possible for any topic of general interest. On-line access to distance learning, job hunting, telecommuting, and libraries, jobs can become a realistic component, and students can easily find appropriate research material for homework.
Mentoring: On-line mentoring programs could also be established for the youth, which would provide communicational skill development while building a friendship with an older member of the church or a potential employer.
Distance/On-site Learning: Based on the TEENS, church members, and or resident development plans and surveys, the FLLC Executive Director and the Educational Online Service Coordinator can work with local corporations, the public schools, vocational training schools and colleges and universities to ensure that appropriate courses are available, either through diskettes, teachers, aides, or distance learning programs.
Senior Citizens: Seniors are the fastest growing group of Internet users. Ideas for elderly users could focus on ending isolation (contact with families, grandchildren, and friends in other cities), use of libraries, social service agencies, partnerships with families-in-training, Senior Net and other web sites attuned to elderly needs and interests.
The above examples represent a fraction of the possibilities for Family Life Learning Centers. The center benefits can be very specific for the TEENS or comprehensive for the entire congregation or community in which it ministers.
