A Season of Thanksgiving
Various P.A.L. Residents
Posted: 11/12/2008
With Thanksgiving quickly approaching we thought we would ask the residents in the P.A.L. Program what they are thankful for. Here are some of their replies.
One answered with 11 things she is thankful for!
1. Everything my home offers for me and other girls in my situation
2. My job
3. The staff at my P.A.L. House
4. I'm not homeless like some people my age
5. I'm healthy
6. I can read, write and learn
7. My brother is safe at his home
8. My past is my past, it's not allowed to continue anymore
9. I'm forgiven by God, no matter what
10. Things for me aren't worse
11. High school is almost over (next year)!
Another replied...
*I am thankful for my skills for the arts, to understand and show my abilities.
*I am thankful for my family and the opportunity to be at PAL Mission
*I am thankful for the staff that care so much about me.
*I am thankful to have people who care about me and support me.
One took the time to tell us more about herself and her experiences...
My story
When I was younger, I was put into foster care; I have gone years without knowing a real home, learning how to cook or clean, and be independent. Nobody has been allowed to show me anything of real use, unless it came to balancing a mock checkbook.
Sadly, for kids in foster homes and group homes, this is reality. You are sheltered from almost any form of independence. The result is that the vast majority of us leave the system’s care between the ages of 18 and 21 with no idea how to take care of ourselves in our new freedom. With no job skills, hardly any cooking, cleaning, or meaningful social skills, we fail. Some of us die much too young because of their problems.
Across America, what is being done to combat it? I am one of these youth; I refuse to be another statistic when I am free. So who can anyone turn to for the help we so desperately need to make it after foster care?
When I was 15, I heard of a place for young women called P.A.L. Mission. At the time, I was going from group home to group home; my life had no sense of purpose because I was always moving. In June 2007, I had to move again because my group home had to close its doors, which was not a bad thing in itself, except for the move that came.
I was forced to move to a place in Akron, and I was heartbroken. Canton is my home. I spent the summer in Akron, trying to learn how to “grow up”—I needed something more than foster care, I was so tired of everything. Over my season there, I convinced my caseworker that I was ready for P.A.L. and at the end of the summer, I had an interview with Jill.
Because of my age, I was unsure if P.A.L. really could welcome me—I was extremely happy when I was offered a room though, a few days later.
I moved in on August 24, 2007 and it’s November 11, 2008 as I’m writing this. I’ve celebrated my 17th birthday recently—my second one at P.A.L.—and I’ve never been happier.
This is a great reminder about how important it is that we take time out to count our blessings. We may just be surprised by how many we come up with! Have you counted your blessing today?
PAL Mission has helped youth leaving foster care since 1999
Charita Goshay - CantonRep.com staff writer
Posted: 05/12/2009
In 1999, Elaine Wolak's nightmare was coming to an end. To her helpless horror, she witnessed the death of a younger sister in a dank basement in 1995, the result of squalor and abuse at the hands of their parents.
After living in 11 foster homes, Wolak found refuge in PAL Mission House, a faith-based program designed to help young adults make the transition from foster care to adulthood.
Now in its 10th year, PAL Mission House has provided life-skills training in personal finance, cooking and cleaning, hygiene and more.
"Before I moved in, I didn't know anything about taking care of myself," said Wolak, who was PAL Mission House's third resident. "Today, I'm a homeowner and a car owner, and I work three jobs."
Three years ago, Cleveland native Karen Jeffers still was trying to navigate through the anger of being in foster care from age 8. She and her four siblings landed in foster care as a result of her mother's mental illness.
"I was angry at a lot of people, especially my mom. I was angry at my foster mother," she recalled. "I was angry at everybody. I felt like my mom didn't try hard enough to keep us."
Today, at 21, Jeffers is an independent woman, thanks in part to PAL House, which has served more than 185 young adults.
INCREASED AWARENESS
Founder Jill Miller opened the first PAL Mission House for women on the grounds of St. Mary Catholic Church at 1602 Market Ave. S, where it remains. A second home is in New Philadelphia.
"When I think about "Lanie' and Karen, you almost can't put into words the pride we have in their accomplishments and all they've achieved," she said.
PAL Mission oversees five residential programs, including scattered-site housing for formerly homeless men and women 18 to 25.
As the number of homeless young adults and children in foster care grows, Miller said such programs help increase awareness.
"When I started putting together the plans for this program back in 1996, no one was talking about transitional programs or funding for them," she said "That's changed."
Jeffers said she was living in a group home when her case worker recommended PAL Mission House. She lived there for three months before getting her own apartment, which she shares with a younger sister. Wolak lived at PAL Mission House for a year and works there part-time as a night manager.
Jeffer has forgiven her mother, saying "We talk on the phone. Forgive and forget."
Wolak, 28, said she's also forgiven her parents, both of whom were sent to prison in 1997, but she has no contact with them.
"It's not in my hands anymore," she said. Regarding her younger sister's death, Wolak admits, "I'm still dealing with it."
A BETTER LIFE
Both women say that children in foster care often are stereotyped.
"We're just like any other kids," Wolak said, recalling one foster home in which she was not served the same food as the family's children and was forbidden to eat dinner with them.
"People think we're not gonna make it," Jeffers said. "That we're going to be homeless, or in jail, or uneducated."
Jeffers, who is expecting her first son in July, said she and his father have high hopes for his future.
"I just want him to have a good life," she said simply. "A better life than I had."
Jeffers, who lost her job when Value City department store closed last year, said she plans to attend the Stark State College of Technology. She advises others emerging from foster care to take advantage of available resources.
"It was hard for me," she admits. "But if you want a better life, you just have to work hard. Keep your head up high and always have goals, and work toward them."
Wolak, who shares a home with three of her seven siblings, said if it wasn't for PAL Mission House, "I'd be out on the street."
"It's easier for me because I lived here," she said.
"PAL is a good opportunity," Jeffers said. "It teaches you a lot of independence and financial skills. It keeps you level-headed. ... I had a lot of trust issues in the beginning. It's hard even now for me to trust people. I think I've come a long way."
For information, contact Miller at (330) 453-9199.
Used with permission from The Canton Repository and www.cantonrep.com
P.A.L. Mission
Written by a Tuscarawas Program resident
Posted: 08/05/2008
PAL Mission is the place you wanna be
if you get taken from your family.
It's only as bad as you make it out to be.
We share our problems and our feelings.
PAL Mission is the place to be,
cause they treat you like family.
They show tender loving care.
PAL Mission is the place to be.
Soon you'll see what I mean.
PAL Mission is your home away from home.
They treat you like one of their own.
It's great, I love it there.
It's my home sweet home,
PAL Mission, thanks for your love and care.
I love you all and this is true.
The greatest gift is living there with you.
Stories
 | ||||
| ||||
P.A.L. Mission • PO Box 14 • New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663 • 330.232.9959 • Email Us
Exceptional Service + Exceptional People = PAL Mission
By Jodi Hughey
For foster care adolescents who are reaching young adulthood, the world can seem like a scary place. They face a variety of obstacles as they travel the path to independent living with tasks like securing a job, budgeting money, and keeping healthy. PAL Mission not only offers housing and life-skills training to adolescents leaving the foster care system, they offer support and encouragement and help release the potential within each resident to become independent adults. Jamie Thomas, Tuscarawas Site Manager, explains that PAL Mission provides “the extra step” for adolescents to become enriched adults.
PAL (Preparation for Adult Living) Mission is a non-profit organization
licensed by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. A variety
of opportunities are officered for the residents, such as independent
living classes and hands-on job training at the Bearly Worn Children’s
Clothing Store in New Philadelphia. There are also may volunteer
opportunities.
According to Thomas, volunteers are very important to the function
of the organization. There are two separate boards available for
involvement: the Development Board, which oversees fundraising
events, and the Women’s Auxiliary Board that works with the
residents on special events planning. Volunteers are also needed
for Mentoring at the Bearly Worn Store.
Recently, students at Kent State Tuscarawas Campus, under the guidance of Dr. Alice Crume, Prof. Ed Newman, and Dr. Dean Porr, received the chance to become service-learners and utilized their knowledge of interpersonal communication, business management, marketing, and finances. Thomas was enthusiastic about the service-learners and felt it was a positive experience for the students as well as the residents.
Nominated by Dr. Crume, who was impressed with their flexibility and innovative thinking, PAL Mission was presented with the Exceptional Service-Learning Community Partner Award during the Third Annual Service-learning Celebration. Having worked with three different faculty members and several different classes last year, PAL truly showed how a local organization can help our students and itself through service-learning partnerships.
* Used with the permission of author Jodi Hughey, taken from the KSU~Tusc Service Learning Program Newsletter. Vol.1, Issue 1, Fall 2009
"Jamie Thomas, explains that
PAL Mission provides "the extra step"
for adolescents
to become
enriched adults.
