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| PHILOSOPHY |
| The development of My Father's House was a journey of seeing things fresh. Rather than go observe other shelter or housing programs, we decided to think fresh about our philosophy and programming. Over a period of a couple of years, research and contemplation led to some ideas about how best to help people. It was recognized that while there are many programs meant to address issues of the underserved, there are still many underserved in America. If we were to do the same things that had been tried expecting different results . . . well, we would be disappointed. What follows are some of the main tenants that we have discerned to be important to us in our approach. |
| FAITH-BASED? NOT REALLY, WE'RE FAITH-INFLUENCED |
| There are many Christian faith-based organizations doing a lot
of great work. Early in our development we considered this possibility
as an organizational philosophy. As we looked into what it means
to be faith-based, we saw a characteristic that concerned us. Very
often faith-based organizations providing services to the needy
also require them to participate in some of their religious programming.
At the very least, consumers were required to comply with Christian
values in order to obtain services. Examples include family-based
homeless shelter programs that would not allow a man to move in
with his girlfriend and their child or children. Rather than take this "faith-based" approach, we chose one that we call "faith-influenced." It means that everything we do is a result of our Christian faith, but there is no requirement for consumers to participate in any religious programming. My Father's House Community Services partners with a church called My Father's House Church. Consumers are invited to attend any of the church's programming but it is never required. |
| ACCEPTANCE |
| A premise that guides the evaluation process for approval into our programs is tolerance. Actually, tolerance isn't a strong enough word. Really, we try to practice acceptance. This may sound simple but it is not. Acceptance means that we accept and begin with people as we find them--that we care about them just as they are. Acceptance means that we serve people even if they don't seem to appreciate it or actually lash out against us. Acceptance means that we constantly try to have the clients' best interests at heart. Acceptance is the purest form of love and often the hardest thing to do. |
| Harm Reduction |
| Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies that reduce negative
consequences of the actions of the underserved. Harm reduction strategies
meet people "where they're at," addressing major issues of harm
to themselves or society first.Because harm reduction demands that
interventions and policies designed to serve clients reflect specific
individual and community needs, there is no universal definition
of or formula for implementing harm reduction. However, the following
principles are central to harm reduction practice. Harm reduction . . . · Accepts, for better and for worse, that sometimes clients' behavior and actions will be counterproductive and harmful to themselves and others, and chooses to work to minimize these effects rather than simply ignore or condemn them. · Understands dysfunctional behavior as a complex, multi-faceted phenomenon that encompasses a continuum of behaviors from obvious to subtle, and acknowledges that some ways of behaving are clearly safer than others. · Establishes quality of individual and community life and well-being--not necessarily cessation of all bad behaviors--as the criteria for successful interventions and policies. · Calls for the non-judgmental, non-coercive provision of services and resources to people who struggle and the communities in which they live in order to assist them in reducing harm. · Ensures that consumers of services and those with a history of being a consumer have a real voice in the creation of programs and policies designed to serve them. · Affirms consumers themselves as the primary agents of reducing the harms of their behavior, and seeks to empower them to share information and support each other in strategies which meet their needs. · Recognizes that the realities of poverty, class, racism, social isolation, past trauma, sex-based discrimination and other social inequalities affect both people's vulnerability to and capacity for effectively dealing with behavior-related harm. · Does not attempt to minimize or ignore the real and tragic harm and danger associated with self-destructive behaviors. While we would not consider ourselves extreme in our harm reduction methods, we do subscribe to the basic tenants of the philosophy. Click here for a definition of harm reduction from Wikipedia. Click here for the entire article. Actually there is somewhat a middle ground between traditional philosophies of care and harm reduction. It's called "Gradualism." Gradualism advocates are of the opinion that harm reduction programs are sometimes rooted in pessimism about the ability of people to improve their standing and to improve their behavior; that true harm reduction sets a low expectation to which clients will live down to. They tend to be more concerned that programs should urge clients toward abstinence when windows of opportunity open. Harm Reduction and Gradualism are both philosophies that value people, even struggling people, and allow them input into how they can best be assisted. They are based on the value of acceptance which is not merely tolerance but is true love for those who struggle. |
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| Copyright © 2007 My Father's House Community Services | Created by Michael Nash |