- Agape Clinic at Grace United Methodist Church
- Practical Parent Education
- Austin Street Centre
- Denton City County Day School
Agency: Agape Clinic at Grace United Methodist Church
Area served: Healthcare to a predominantly Hispanic community in East Dallas
Grant: DWF has awarded a total $21,000 in grants to the Agape clinic in 2005 and 2006.
Program: The Dallas Women’s Foundation funded a program to train and hire lay health promoters, promatoras, who educated patients regarding ongoing health risks like poor diet, poor hygiene, obesity, family violence, substance abuse, diabetes, and hypertension.
Results: Patients now have access to the healthcare and information they need through a trusted member of their own community, in the language they understand. Mothers and thus families are more educated about caring for their children and themselves. And, the promatoras, who provide this education, now have economic means to support themselves, and new-found self esteem. One promatora was able to escape her abusive marriage as a result of the program.
Social Change*: Preventative care improves the health of individuals and reduces their reliance on expensive emergency intervention. A healthier, more educated community can focus on improving their lives and the lives of their children.
Agency: Practical Parent Education
Area served: Economic Self Sufficiency and Education in Collin County
Grant: DWF invested $8,000 in the Fall of 2005
Program: This agency provides support for parents as they work to raise responsible and emotionally healthy children in today’s society. The Adult Basic Education program, funded by the Dallas Women’s Foundation, seeks to break the cycle of family illiteracy in Hispanic households. The agency purchased 12 computers and other technology to provide on-line ESOL instruction using the grant money.
Results: Illiterate Spanish-speaking immigrants do not have the skills to provide the physical, emotional, or intellectual needs of their children. Not being able to read or write in Spanish is a barrier for these families in finding jobs, accessing services, and learning English. The additional technology purchased through the Dallas Women’s Foundation grant enabled the agency to increase the number of women served and move many of the 28 women on the waiting list into the program. Upon completion of the program, 50% of participants enrolled in GED preparation classes. 84% passed the first testing set.
Social Change*: Illiteracy dooms families to a substandard life with little economic opportunities. Children are at risk for social ills such as drug use, delinquency, teen pregnancy and school drop out. Educating the whole family breaks these cycles.
Agency: Austin Street Centre
Area served: Economic sustainability program in Dallas
Grant: DWF invested $15,000 in 2003
Program: The Women’s Work Therapy Program helps women take control of their lives. Monies provided by DWF helped six homeless women realize their full potential through training and counseling, job placement and help finding a home.
Results: These women have a place to live and way to support themselves and their children.
Social Change*: Homelessness is a chronic problem in our country and in our community. Teaching women how to provide for themselves, budget, find jobs and childcare helps one family break the cycle of homelessness – one family at a time.
Agency: Denton City County Day School
Area served: Education/childcare in the Denton area
Grant: DWF awarded a $6,887.50 CREW grant in the Spring of 2004.
Program: The Dallas Women’s Foundation allowed Denton City County Day School to provide 12 scholarships to single mothers—affecting the lives of 25 people. These mothers wanted to further their education and work to support their families. Childcare costs could have been a major stumbling block in their lives.
Results: Childcare scholarships allow single mothers an opportunity to get back on their feet financially without having to compromise the quality of care for their children. It allowed mothers to pursue educational goals: four of the mothers were in college or training programs to advance their earning capacity. It gave one mother the extra income she needed save money so she could move out of a homeless shelter. It allowed another to get on her feet after a divorce.
Social Change*: More and more single mothers are just barely making ends meet. The program a Denton City County Day School allows women to improve their circumstances and the opportunities and those of their children. These scholarships ensure that mothers do not have to choose between working or studying and quality childcare. Having more educational opportunities—for both the mother and the child—create lifelong economic opportunities for these families.
*The Dallas Women’s Foundation seeks to create social change by funding programs that help individuals create significant change in their lives.