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Drug use, alcoholism, domestic violence, and juvenile crime are just a few of the broad generalities and negative stereotypes associated with low-income families and communities. Dealing with such problems, then, is often seen as the only solution to a disadvantaged community's ills, and little attention is paid to alternative methods of intervention.
Standard social work practices, like their psychological counterparts, tend to rely on a philosophical approach that involves removing individuals and families from the obvious negative influence of gangs, drugs, and violence. Yet, providing individuals counseling and support services without consideration for the overall health and well-being of the communities in which they live is tantamount to treating half the problem.
In addition to providing individual, group, and family counseling, the Center for Family Life (CFL) provides a broad range of comprehensive, integrated services necessary to nurture and sustain people on an individual basis. But most importantly, the CFL also provides a supportive environment where children, teens, and adults learn to be capable, confident, and contributing members of their community. This sort of dual focus on family support and community development is at the core of the Center's mission.
The CFL believes that an individual must be understood not only within the context of his/her relationship with family and friends, but also in relation to his/her connection to community values. If a great amount of social distance exists between an individual or a family and the community, that individual or family is more likely to experience a sense of estrangement toward the values of that community. Thus, the Center employs a wide variety of programs to help nurture the community's sense of inclusion and responsibility, including individual, group, and family counseling; neighborhood foster family care; after school-based activities; summer day camps; youth leadership training; community arts; adult employment; and literacy enhancement. In turn, those who gain knowledge and support from the Center's outreach services interact with and educate others in the community.
In spite of a grim crime rate, domestic violence, and gang activity, the people of Sunset Park have reason to be optimistic about their community's future. Between 1993 and 2000, reductions in seven major felony categories were significant. The community focus has also broadened from not only the reduction of drugs and violence, but also to include improving reading scores and providing the job skills necessary for today's market. For example, today about 60% of community members 16 years and older are members of the labor force. Of these, 90% are employed in retail, administrative support, service sector workers, or as laborers. Across the board, the population receiving public assistance has steadily declined since 1994.
The CFL itself has sought to keep teenagers off the streets, employing parent participation in conjunction with its school-based programs to show a notable increase in teen involvement since 1999. Participation from the 21+ age demographic has improved as well, increasing from 1,544 in 1999 to 2,805 in 2001. Likewise, after-school programs appear to be an integral component in the work toward improving New York State and city standardized test scores. Even though the percentage of students in some schools remains below average, the percentage change between 1999 and 2000 rose 9.1%. Adult employment outcomes are faring better as well, with 60% of 315 individuals finding employment, including statistical increases in average earned wages.
Word of mouth has probably been CFL's best advertiser. As individuals and families continue to experience personal success with the organization's range of community-based services and activities, more and more community members are starting to see CFL as a safe haven and instigator of positive change. The philosophical approach by the staff at Center for Family continues its efforts to heal individual families and family members, while also continuing to aid in the building of the Sunset Park community. Moreover, their program has gained national recognition as one of the few that is working toward social progress specifically within the context of one's relationship to community.
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