Cheering on Families

Vineyard Services provides resources for healthy moms, dads,

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

Vineyard Family Services (VFS) cares for the Shelby County community in so many ways, and its executive director is none other than our Just for Dads columnist, Ward Williams. He explains that the concept was birthed 17 years ago during a breakout session at a Regional Vineyard Pastors Conference in Naples, Florida. “The presenter argued that there are doors open to faith-based nonprofits that are not open to churches,” says Ward. “So VFS was started with the goal of taking ministry to people who might not ever visit a church. We have grown from a ministry in a church closet to a certified Alabama Family

Resource Center, with two locations that offer a variety of services aimed at serving the whole family.”

It’s mission: “Vineyard Family Services is a faith-based family resource center that feeds kids in need, promotes responsible fatherhood, and helps families in crisis.” Ward’s heart for families and seeing them succeed is a driving force behind all of the ministries VFS provides, which includes three major categories: Parenting, Feeding, and Mentoring, the latter being a specific need that appeals to Ward.

“I was raised in a father-absent home, and

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 experienced many struggles related to growing up in a single-parent home, especially 40 years ago,” he says. “Involved fathers make a positive difference in a family in almost every measurable category, from education, physical health, emotional stability, and safety to empathy and many other categories. However, father-absent homes do worse in many of these categories. The roles and expectations of fathers is continually evolving, and fathers need encouragement, support, and feedback. We believe a healthy home with an involved father is one of the best protective factors for keeping families safe.”

Parenting programs at VFS include separate father and mother groups that meet weekly, as well as co-parenting classes and services. VFS believes that helping families is directly tied to the health of our communities. F.I.T.

DAD meets on Tuesday evenings to focus on improving parenting, co-parenting, and blended family skills, as well as increase commitment, involvement, and responsibility as a dad. The program uses NFI’s 24/7 DAD, Inside Out Dad, and the 33 Series: Authentic Manhood Curriculum to teach men about the God-given design for fathers and help them understand the impact of factors such as traps, work life, and marriage. All materials are provided free of charge to participants.

“Our moms support group is also essential to provide connection with other moms, encouragement, and healing,” says Ward. Moms are educated at the Keep Your Love On (KYLO) support group that helps women strengthen communication, connection, and boundary skills. The teachings focus on personal healing, self-awareness, and improving parenting, co-parenting, and blended family

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FROM PAGE skills, also using NFI’s Understanding Dad curriculum, as well as Keep Your Love On material by Danny Silk. The mothers in this group receive both spiritual and practical guidance to help them move forward in a positive and productive way and allows them to see their value as mothers and women. “We also provide parenting plans and mediation in an effort to increase noncustodial parenting time and involvement,” Ward notes. Both parenting groups are offered to the public and also within correctional facilities.

When it comes to mentoring, VFS’s Wise Advisors program serves young adults by providing opportunities to develop essential life skills and establish connections with local organizations and positive community role models. Wise Advisors hosts a monthly event, ranging from mentor-mentee mixers to trainings and recruitment sessions. Benefits of supporting youth through mentorship include addiction prevention, mental health education, and overall positively impacting young people across Shelby County. VFS helps these youth develop life skills by holding classes at the Shelby County Regional Juvenile Detention Facility and The DAY Program. This support and encouragement helps to prepare them to move in a positive, healthy direction once they are out of detention.

Tangible needs like providing for those experiencing food insecurity are a huge part of the work of VFS, too. BackPack Buddies is the weekend feeding program offered in three public school systems within Shelby County. In addition, VFS, feeds many families through their Family Food and Hygiene Boxes. “Meeting a child’s basic needs shows them they are cared for by adults in their lives. Their overall academic, social, and mental well-being are directly tied to adequate nutrition and provision,” says Ward.

BackPack Buddies identifies public school students who are at-risk for under-nutrition and provides them with healthy, easy-toprepare meals and snacks. “This past school year, we fed close to 1,100 children every week,” says Ward. “All participants are on the free or reduced meal program and are often facing other adverse home situations, such as transitional housing issues, chronic illness, unemployment, incarceration, etc. Participants are assessed by school professionals and the service is provided confidentially.” Food and hygiene boxes are distributed to families yearround, along with school supplies Bombas socks, and other essentials. VFS is an official distribution site of Bundles of Hope, so they are able to give diapers and other baby and sanitary support to any one in need.

VFS depends upon community involvement—both from families and donations—to continue offering all of the programs and supplies they so generously provide. It’s important work, as they served more than 8,000 individuals in the past year. “We can only provide the high-quality care to our families with the help of the community partnering with us financially, donating in-kind, and prayer,” says Ward.