Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement Inc - Safe

Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc.

78 Betsy Ross Lane / Post Office Box 1122

Sylacauga, Alabama 35150

Phone 256-245-4343; Fax 256-245-3675

Purpose

The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc. is a community-based, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide meaningful opportunities for families, to contribute to the growth of our community, and to serve others and to promote community cohesion.

History and Philosophy of SAFE

Since July, 1988, members of our local school/community team had worked futilely to address growing social problems affecting young people and vulnerable youth in Sylacauga. In October, 1995, members of this team began to organize a community-based initiative to strengthen families in an effort to combat poverty, school failure, drugs, crime and violence. Selected members of the team went to the Mayor of Sylacauga to solicit his leadership to organize a community coalition of citizens and representatives of all sectors of the community to address the problems.

After some initial meetings, the task force came to the consensus that the needs of Sylacauga would be best met through a comprehensive network of social services designed to address the needs of the total family. Each of the forty-plus volunteer members were committed to comprehensive community planning to develop a strategic plan of action to better serve the families of Sylacauga and signed a written intent to serve. Members of the planning group represented clergy, government, business, industry, health and social services, schools, the courts, law enforcement, and private citizens.

The planning group, designated as SAFE (Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement) formed an executive steering committee, appointed a chairman, developed a mission statement, and began the process of incorporation.

The Alliance (SAFE) established three planning goals to implement the second stage of a strategic agenda: 1) to identify critical needs; 2) to investigate feasible solutions and funding sources; and 3) to develop a plan of action to address a need that would improve the quality of life for youth and families in Sylacauga. SAFE was committed to fostering the positive development of Sylacauga’s children, and was convinced by research that communities that exert a positive, profound influence on the lives of families in their domain, powerfully affect the outcome for children (Bernard, 1991).

 Mission Statement

All families have the right to thrive. Families can be adaptive, solve problems, have a sense of    identity, be self sufficient, and maintain a sense of hope for the future; these goals can be accomplished with necessary support and basic resource provision to foster resilient families. We will provide meaningful opportunities for families to contribute to the growth of our community, to serve others, and to promote community cohesion.

We support families because children from resilient families have the best opportunity to succeed. Our children are our most valuable resource. To invest in our children is to invest in the future. We will demonstrate community attitudes that will teach children to choose a healthy lifestyle.

 Vision Statement

The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide meaningful opportunities for families, to contribute to the growth of our community, to improve quality of life and to promote the safety and well being of children and families in Talladega County, Alabama.

Services

• Case Management
• Information and Referral
• Employability Skills Training
• Job Search
• Post employment services
• Employment Networking
• Emergency Services
• Parenting Education and Support Services
• Marriage and Relationship Skills Training
• Life Skills Training
• Family Literacy
• Early Care and Education
• Youth Empowerment Programs
• After School Programs
• Home Visitation
• Adult Educational Programs (e.g., G.E.D., language, etc…)
• Counseling (e.g., victims of crimes, etc...)
• Health and Wellness Programs

Key Words: families, SAFE, family resource center, ANFRC, Sylacauga, Talladega County, fatherhood, marriage, healthy relationships, BRIDGES, afterschool, garden