Assistance for single moms in Albuquerque

[karmathecat]

One group she might want to contact is Goodwill of NM, they have several programs that could help.
Pray all you want, but this woman needs to be the one that takes action in getting her life back on track and getting herself to the point where she can support herself and her children.
If this life-changing event was so traumatic, she probably could use some mental health support and there are some places where she can get free counseling from a licensed social worker or other mental health professional.
Please take this for what it is worth, but if your sister can get a diagnosis of mental illness ( PTSD? ) then quite a few programs will open up for her.

[leavingGA]

Karmathecat, I agree with you. I thought that was what I suggested.

I just hope the sister is able to get help and sometimes it as simple as knowing someone cares to begin to take action. Once family refuses to help, there are fewer places to actually help. "Agencies" don't care, they have too many clients. Social workers are overwhelmed as it is and quality of care differs from one worker to another. It's obvious that the school system failed to help this girl so she probably beleive so one cares at all. That's how the problems (and lack of motivation) starts. If he is unable to remain persistent for any amount of time, she isn't going to get far with any of the suggestions given. Sometimes women with kids are basically punished for trying to make their lives better with negative reinforcement instead of positives.

I volunteered for the sake of helping only. I don't believe in converting anyone to anything in exchange for helping them and never have. I am a psychology student so can't take counseling clients yet except as pastoral clients. So sorry you misunderstood me. I just know for certain that once some people have been kicked around, it's harder to keep getting up.

Good luck with your sister, filihook.

[BlueRose]

As far as the educational issue, its important to realize that she may not be ready for GED classes yet. I currently volunteer as a literacy tutor in Valencia county. She may need individual tutoring to get her to the point that she is able to be successful in a GED class, and this could take months. If her schooling stopped at about 7th grade she is lacking in basic literacy and probably math too. Her confidence is probably very low with the accumulated failures (night school etc) so far. CNM should offer resources to the literacy council, though I am not sure. CNM does indeed have tutors but these are usually for students of CNM and are further along in their education. UNM of Valencia has a learning lab and in it is the Literacy council. The literacy council works with student just like these- those who are not ready to take a GED but want to eventually!!!! Have her contact the literacy council in Albuquerque to arrange for a tutor. Its a free service and most of the people if not all who tutor are very patient and have students just like her. She may also have some type of learning disability that makes learning hard. A good tutor should be able to spot this and direct her to the appropriate resources. There are also alternatives like going to Beauty school. She should be able to qualify for grants and loans to get her through. Yes, she should get a GED and be literate for the sake of quality of life ( like being able to read to her children and help with homework later) but it is no crime to learn a trade and not go on to college, many are just not cut out for it. From what I know Bellas Artes ( Aveda in Albuquerque) does not require a GED to go to their beauty school though I am not absolutely sure. Many of these hairdressers make good $$$$$ money, and it takes about a year.

Dont give up on her, and dont let her give up on herself. This is the exact point that many of this age and stage let thier lives deteriorate into drugs and alcohol. Encourgage her to get into some literacy tutoring, theraputic support services for young Moms. Its out there. If she lived in Valencia county I would offer to tutor her myself, especially given that I was once a young, poor, uneducated single Mom myself. I turned it around tremendously, but it took time. I understand what she is going through. There is help and hope but one has to be persistent about finding it and sticking with it.

Good luck to her and lots of love........

[BlueRose]

Unfortunately I just checked NM Aveda school of Bellas Artes and they do require either a HS diploma or GED. I got my haircut there last month and the very young girl who did my hair told me she did not have a diploma???? I would say to check with the school directly. Unless she lied to me but I dont see why she would. They also ask for two letters of character reference. These could be gotten by a teacher or tutor for that matter.

Even if this the case, GED required, if your sister studied hard, she could get through the GED within a reasonable amount of time and go onto some type of trade school. Even with a GED, one would still need some kind of skill or trade to support a family. Look at Dental assisting, Pima medical etc.... Welfare benefits should last for about 5 years, so she could get through these programs in time. Also look at housing lists like HUD, and other resources.

[nmnita]

I agree with BlueRose, she will probably need some additional education before she even attempts her GED.

We can all give advice, but in the end it is up to her to pull herself up by the bootstraps and make a life for her kids and herself.

Nita

[citrusapple24]

I agree age is not an issue. She definitely needs to continue to attend some prep classes. The free tutoring sounds like it might help some, anything can help.

I also think counseling would do her some good... Bless her soul.

Education is everything these days and without it- you can hardly get anywhere..