Our Mother's House

Program receives grant for mental health counseling

 

Venice—Our Mother’s House of Catholic Charities received a grant from the Lakewood Ranch Community Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation to be used for mental health counseling services. Program Director Joyce Scott (right) recently attended the award reception where she accepted the grant from community fund board member Diane Brune (left).

 

The $3,500 award will provide the mothers that reside at Our Mother’s House with individual and group counseling with an emphasis on dealing with the stress and anxiety that often is part of being a single parent. The mothers will receive a 12-week counseling series from mental health specialist Dr. Myra McPherson.

 

“This program will help the mothers break the cycles of bad habits, abuse and dysfunction they have experienced in their lives,” said Our Mother’s House Program Director Joyce Scott. “The success of the mothers depends on them not passing on those bad patterns of behavior to their children and instead creating a healthy and happy family relationship.”

 

Scott said staff at Our Mother’s House also can alert McPherson when a problem arises with a mother and/or her child. “We then quickly develop a plan to address the problem,” Scott said.

 

Our Mother’s House is committed to helping homeless mothers and their children attain self-sufficiency. The residential/transitional program offers a safe and secure environment where the mothers are offered apartment style living and engage in education, vocational training and personal growth. A free on-site child care center is available to the mothers while they are at school or working. Mothers also receive comprehensive individualized case management, and training in financial literacy, budgeting, and parenting skills.

 

The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund is a fund of the Manatee Community Foundation and strives to enhance the quality of life in the community by promoting philanthropy, responding to community needs and granting funds. This year the fund gave out a total of 19 grants totaling $64,000.

 

For more information about Our Mother’s House of Catholic Charities, please call 941-485-6264.