The Salvation Army & Education - Part II
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Editor's Note: This article was originally posted on The Salvation Army's New Frontier Chronicle website. To read the full article, please go HERE.
By Christin Davis
Baby Haven Program In Caldwell, Idaho
When Jessica Madrigal, 31, received a flyer for a program that helped with diapers, she signed up.
That was two years ago, when she was pregnant, and she has attended Baby Haven ever since.
Started by the Caldwell, Idaho, corps in 2006, Baby Haven is an incentive-based two-year educational program focusing on healthy families, starting at pregnancy. In exchange for class attendance, parents receive credit for supplies.
“It helped so much to not have to buy diapers,” Madrigal said. She attended classes ranging from nutrition, to baby sign language, emotions with kids, and medical resources, and got her sister involved in the program as well. “They took us in and treated us really well; everybody was so friendly and helpful. It was just comfortable,” she said.
In a recent eight-week series, the biweekly classes focused on healthy eating, and a nutritionist visited the families at home.
“I recently had to start dialysis, so learning about foods and grains really helped me out,” Madrigal said. “We also cooked in class; we made lasagna with spinach and learned what was good with fibers, and how to control portions and read labels.”
Next, classes will cover legal considerations, such as writing a will. Then, a new grant will fund the Strengthening Families Program.
“Education is what drives the economy now a days. Without education it’s hard to do anything,” said Lt. Kristy Church, Caldwell corps officer and program coordinator. “For us it’s not necessarily school education, but informational. House safety, for example. Reminding people that we need to have two exits in case of a fire. It’s learning to protect, raise and provide for your family.”
The program averaged six classes per month in the past year with 75 active participants.
“I’ve learned our clients are strong,” Church said. “They push through and they find ways to move on and take care of their family. It’s cool to see the growth in them during the two years.”