Zelie’s Home
Organization description:
Zelie’s Home is a caring community that empowers pregnant and parenting women to take positive and effective action on behalf of themselves and their children by providing physical, emotional, spiritual, and professional support. AmeriCorps members spend a year immersed in the lives of pregnant and parenting women experiencing homelessness and now housed in a loving, caring environment at Zelie’s Home. Using a trauma-informed care approach, AmeriCorps members are on the frontlines of the fight to overcome ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and break the relentless cycle of poverty. AmeriCorps members help transform lives through hope, love and dedication to servant leadership. Women may come to a Zelie’s Home at any point in their pregnancies and stay 9-12 months after the baby is born. The moms go through a two-part intake process before becoming a resident at Zelie’s Home. After moving out, they become Alumnae Moms and are able to continue receiving support services in a different capacity. Our moms often come from challenging and complicated situations. They may struggle with previous drug use, rape, abusive relationships, employment experience, limited education, strained relationships with family members, poor support networks, or mental illness. Zelie’s Home AmeriCorps use a trauma-informed care approach when serving the moms in the homes.
Duties:
Live in community with pregnant women, new moms, newborns, and other volunteers for one full year, with the option to recommit for another year. Responsible for administrative functioning of the homes, which includes assuming one of the following roles: Donations Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, Programs Coordinator, or House Operations Coordinator. Participate in community functions, including celebrations, house retreats, weekly house meetings, and weekly trainings or formations. Provide daytime and overnight house coverage by answering the phone, welcoming visitors, offering tours, receiving/processing donations, opening or locking up the property, responding to mom needs, and responding to the duty of the moment. Mentor 1-2 moms at a time by providing support and accountability in weekly meetings, while working in conjunction with a family coach at The Fiat House. Provide rides for moms and babies to and from Zelie’s Home events, classes, workshops, appointments, or job interviews as needed.
For more information visit: www.zelieshome.org/americorps
