Saturday, February 7, 1998

Family Pathinders solicits help from local churches

By LORETTA FULTON / Abilene Reporter-News

Churches are in the business of service and compassion, so it's no surprise that most of the names on Mercy Torres' mailing list were local congregations.

In January Torres mailed out 333 letters to groups in Abilene explaining the Family Pathfinders program and asking for assistance.

"Most of them were to churches of all denominations," said Torres, who is the local coordinator for the program that provides volunteers to work with families on public assistance who are making the transition to the workforce.

With Elmwood West Lions Club signing up to provide a team for the program, Abilene became the 91st city in Texas to be home to the Pathfinder program since it began in 1995.

Last Tuesday, Lucy Todd, statewide director for the program, was in Abilene to train volunteers on the Lions Club team, headed by Nell Stucker, president of the club.

Stucker is hoping other service organizations and churches will follow the lead of Elmwood West Lions Club.

"We've not pinned any churches down yet -- I wish we had," Stucker said, but added that some had expressed interest.

Pastoral Care and Counseling Center realizes the need for its assistance and is working on obtaining a grant in order to provide free services to Pathfinder families.

Melanie Copeland, director of support services at the center, said she has been concerned about the clients since welfare to work legislation began taking shape.

"I recognized immediately there was a gap in services," she said.

Children who are used to Mom being home all day are going to go through emotional stresses when their mother is suddenly gone to work all day. The mother, too, may feel guilty, said Copeland, who years ago was a single mom to an 18-month-old daughter.

"I speak firsthand. There is an awful lot of guilt," Copeland said.

If successful in obtaining a grant, Pastoral Care and Counseling Center will use it to allow three therapists to devote free time to Pathfinder families.

The purpose of the Family Pathfinders program, initiated by Comptroller John Sharp, is to provide assistance in a number of ways to families who are joining the workforce, possibly for the first time.

Teams of three to eight members will receive training to assist in such areas as transportation, child care, nutrition and finances, on-the-job problems, and self-esteem.

The teams will be paired with a family by the Family Pathfinders staff. Over time, the team leader will check regularly on the family's well-being and will submit monthly reports to Family Pathfinders on the family's successes and problems.

Stucker, leader of the Elmwood West Lions team, said she is especially looking forward to helping in the area of self-esteem. As a hairdresser, Stucker knows the importance of good grooming in making a good impression and is able to help.

"We want to help them get their self-esteem and education to where they can be out in the workforce and no longer on welfare," she said.

Torres, the local coordinator, said teams make a one-year commitment to the family. She emphasized that the goal of Family Pathfinders is to assist people in moving off welfare, not becoming a substitute for it.

"Hopefully, we will be able to help the people, but we don't want to be another crutch," she said.

For information on forming a team, call Torres at 690-2273.