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DSS says faith-based aid groups help fill in gaps BY CAITLIN BOWLING ple, typically a couple of hundred dollars a STAFF WRITER month at most. s government aid shrinks and church DSS officials said that is not the case, howgroups step up to fill the void, the thin ever. It could have been a misunderstanding. and sometimes fuzzy line between church Those getting Work First aid indeed must and state has gotten even more complicated. show an effort on their end to improve their lot County social workers in particular have a — whether it’s looking for work, taking classes delicate dance to do — to steer those in need or going through a program like Lifeworks. toward help, even if that help is being offered But it doesn’t have to be Lifeworks. Similar by a religious group, without appearing to con- life and job skills training are offered at done a particular religion. Haywood Community College or the Division “There are a lot of needs that our programs of Workforce Solutions (formerly known as the simply do not supply,” said Ira Dove, director Employment Security Commission.) of the Haywood County Department of Social Donna Lupton, a social work program Services. “The nonprofits that we have part- administrator at Haywood DSS, said they usunered with have provided a great safety net for ally provide clients with all these options. But our community.” sometimes the other options don’t fit with As a family waits for food stamps to come someone’s schedule or transportation. through, a DSS will often refer them to food “It’s on a case-by-case basis, and a lot of pantries and soup kitchens — many of them things come into play,” Lupton said. “If somerun by churches — where they can get help in one was recommended to go to Lifeworks, it the meantime. When people can’t afford might be that that’s what was open during the heating oil, yet don’t meet the poverty cut-off hours that they were available.” for state and federal DSS social workers help, a DSS once again regularly recommend “We do work with faith- Lifeworks to Work First points them toward church groups. clients, said Samantha based community proReferrals like these, Ledford, head of grams, and they have including those that are Lifeworks. faith-based, are routine. But, “It is their choice been very good partEspecially since most whether they want to who seek Medicaid, food come or not,” Ledford ners over the years.” stamps or other assissaid. — Ira Dove, Haywood County tance from a DSS often Lifeworks teaches DSS director need more than just that them how to get and one thing — they could keep a job, communicause job training, counseling or clothing. tion and listening skills, how to create a budget Haywood DSS keeps a list of outside — skills aimed at breaking generational povergroups, both secular and non-secular, that pick ty and becoming a self-sufficient member of up the slack with supplemental services. society. But it can have its pitfalls. Along the way, Ledford incorporates bibliHaven Keener of Clyde recently complained cal context and teachings, which to her is part after county DSS workers referred her to and parcel to helping people get their life Lifeworks, a Christian-centered life skills and together and on the right track. employment training program run by seven “We want to open up the door and say ‘There Baptist churches in the county. Keener said she is a whole world out there,’” Ledford said. felt pressured to attend the 28-week program, Because it is a private organization, which includes strong messages of faith, when Lifeworks has the right to incorporate Christian she applied for assistance at DSS. teachings into its classes, and some who join the “They are forcing girls to go to this,” said program may welcome the religious themes. Keener, who was applying for Work First, DSS had received a complaint of its own financial assistance for low-income jobless peo- after Keener came away with the impression
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GREEN LIVING
Smoky Mountain News
January 16-22, 2013
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Samantha Ledford (center) runs Lifeworks with Christian Women’s and Men’s Job Corps, which offers job and life skills classes with Christian themes in Haywood County and often gets clients referred to them by DSS. Pictured with her are Theresa Roberts (left) and Cheryl McCullough (right) who both graduated from the 28-week program and now volunteer there. Caitlin Bowling photo Lifeworks was a pre-requisite to qualify for assistance. The case highlights the precarious line social workers must walk when explaining the options. “We do work with faith-based community programs, and they have been very good partners over the years,” Dove said. But, DSS also works with secular groups such as Mountain Projects and the Division of Workforce Solutions, Dove said, meaning people seeking aid are not without options.
STEEPED IN FAITH While DSS and government agencies can’t push religious themes in conjunction with aid, faith-based groups can. Many, however, don’t. While the Bible talks about spreading God’s word, it also emphasizes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and comforting the afflicted — no matter who they might be. Haywood Christian Ministry, a nonprofit that offers heat, rent, electric, food, clothing and medication assistance, has a strict ‘services first’ policy. Only after the person is helped will volunteers at the nonprofit ask ‘Would you like me to pray with you?’ “We help anybody who walks through the door,” said Rusty Wallace, assistant director of
Haywood Christian Ministry. “The prayer has to come by mutual consent after the service is offered.” That doesn’t mean, however, that it shies away from its faith-based roots. Area chaplains take turns sitting in the waiting room of Haywood Christian Ministry in case someone wants to talk. But, they don’t force religion on those they are helping — or make them feel they must pray to get assistance from Haywood Christian Ministry, Wallace said. The same is true for the Waynesville chapter of the Salvation Army. “We try not to push (prayer) on anybody, but we are here if they need us,” said Maria Perez, who works at the local Salvation Army. “Not everybody is comfortable with that. They can come to us for help even if they don’t want us to pray for them.” Although Christian teachings are part of the deal when going through Lifeworks job and life skills training, additional Bible study is optional. The women in the program are assigned a personal mentor who will hold a Bible study with her if she chooses. “That is something that we want them to do, but that is their choice. We don’t push anything on anybody,” Ledford said. “We are here to walk there beside them.”
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