Barriers that were faced were the fact that the state of Arizona did not have a model that was currently on the books. This involved numerous sessions of defining the goals and how to implement the program as well as funding. The two major issues were; individual apartments rather than community living, and the length of stay to be an average of 1 year. NCADD, the Arizona Department of Health Services and Value Options ultimately agreed upon these issues.
Through efforts from the community, staff and Board of Directors, Weldon House was renovated and completely furnished with the opening on December 28, 2003.
Weldon House is innovative in that the women with their child/children have their own fully furnished apartment that provides them with the setting in which to learn hands on how to manage a home, parent their child/children and develop a family. Counselors, Career Counselors, Peer Support, Case managers, Life Coach and a Parenting Specialist are provided on site to assist each woman with developing the skills necessary for them to become self-sufficient and independent.
Weldon House was developed to improve the chances for women with children who experience a multitude of barriers that make it difficult for them to leave abusive relationships, sustain recovery from drug addiction/alcoholism, obtain adequate housing and obtain employment that provides a livable wage. Due to the lack of life skills, minimal or no employable skills, history of abusive/controlling relationships and dependency on drugs/alcohol, these women also have low self-esteem and lack of confidence to improve the quality of their lives for themselves and their children. The Program works closely and individually with them to believe in themselves, access resources and referrals to deal with specific issues such as job training, education, day care, transportation, eye exams and glasses, clothing, medications, and psychiatric evaluations. During the woman's stay at Weldon House she also participates in NCADD's Out Patient Program which consists of group, individual and family counseling.
Over the course of 3 years, NCADD has leased 12 additional apartments that are located next to the original 6 units. 18 Families is the cap for the number of units that still allows for a community atmosphere that is healthy for the women and the children. A large project would result in losing the intimate interactions that are essential to providing a caring, supportive base from which the families may heal and grow.
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