Related
Information:
•
Membership Opportunities
•
Mentoring Opportunities
The
BlessingWay Organization
BlessingWay
Family Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated
to whole family wellness through supporting and nurturing
all family members during critical periods in life—from
the miraculous birth process to the struggles of being a
teen. We are advocates and teachers for "natural parenting"
which celebrates the process of childhood and holds life
as sacred.
In serving infants, children and adolescents, we work to
strengthen the family system, providing parents with the
information and skills needed to become their children's
greatest advocates.
About
BlessingWay's Services
We focus
on those areas of life most critical in shaping family health,
with special emphasis on prevention and emotional wellness.
This begins with making healthy choices during the adolescent
years, in anticipation of eventual parenthood. For young
women it continues through to good prenatal care and a supportive
childbirth process.
Breastfeeding
offers protection against childhood illness, and provides
many long-term benefits for both mom and child. Evidence-based
research affirms that choosing to breastfeed is one of the
most beneficial family health decisions a mother can make.
Research
also affirms the value of having a doula
(providing labor support) during the birth process. By helping
a woman have a more natural and positive birth experience,
and through the mentoring process, a doula's influence continues
years beyond the actual birth. It has been suggested that
if all women had doulas at their births, with post-birth
assistance, child abuse and neglect would be reduced by
more than half.
BlessingWay's
youth and other family counseling
services are provided to help young people and their
families at all stages of development. They are offered
on a sliding fee and are completely confidential.
BWFS
Membership Oppportunities
As a
Member of BlessingWay, you can help support efforts to strengthen
families and foster childhood wellness in your area, through
participation in our community outreach and mentoring programs.
In addition, you will be mailed The Family Journal,
our quarterly publication.
The
Family Journal features articles on natural
childbirth, creative family activities, the benefits of
breastfeeding, and personal stories on parenting, birth,
growing up, and more! As a member, you will be invited to
contribute your own insights, suggestions, upcoming events,
and personal stories, so that this publication will truly
be a community effort!
Contact
us to become a member or mentor.
As a
Mentor, you can make a difference in your community! The
goal of BlessingWay is to reach out to those in highest
need, while training others to meet the growing demands
in a society that has every technological advantage, but
is losing its traditional wisdom. Please consider these
areas in which you believe you could be of assistance:
-
Breastfeeding Counseling hotline
-
Serving as a Doula (supporting women at their births)
-
Teaching classes on parenting
-
Providing community service opportunities to young people
-
Promoting and assisting with youth bike trips
-
Working within the schools to limit the use of psychotropic
drugs
-
Providing learning opportunities for home-schooled youth,
or youth expelled from school
-
Apprenticeships for young people
