Women’s Shelter Offers Living Skills Class

By Kate Ward

Posted: November 22, 2009 at 2:03 a.m.

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ROGERS — The Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter, in partnership with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, will offer a course that teaches independent living skills to victims of domestic violence.

Angie Albright, executive director for the shelter, said the Smart Nutrition, Active People-Education course, teaches clients the basics of nutrition, shopping, cooking and budgeting. The eight-lesson course is offered in both English and Spanish; and will begin in the next couple of weeks.

“It teaches clients about the nutritional needs of both mothers and children,” she said. “It’s a very holistic way of looking at healthy living and active lifestyles. It helps victims of domestic violence establish their own independence.”

Located in Rogers, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter provides free emergency shelter, food, and clothing to victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. The organization features a free 24-hour crisis phone line, as well as court advocacy, bilingual services, children’s advocacy and programming, community education, support groups, counseling and a volunteer program.

“Oftentimes, it’s very intimidating and scary to go out on your own,” Albright said. “The SNAP-Ed program will provide clients with the life skills they need to help them feel confidence and take care of their children on their own.”

The course is being provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Connection, previously known as the Food Stamp Nutrition Connection, and is being paid for by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

State agencies that choose to conduct nutrition education through nutrition program are eligible to be reimbursed for up to one half of their SNAP-Ed costs by the Food and Nutrition Service.

Depending on the program’s success, Judith Selle, executive director for the Peace at Home Family Shelter in Fayetteville, said the course could be implemented locally.

“We’ve looked at that program and we’re exploring its possibilities,” she said. “One of the features of it, that I understand, is that if we participate, the mothers are obligated to attend classes. At this point, all our services are voluntary and clients are obligated to attend certain classes.”

At the end of the course, Albright said clients will receive free home cooking gadgets and a cook book.

The need for services in Northwest Arkansas that aid victims of domestic violence, she said, have nearly doubled in the last year.

In 2008, the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter housed 217 women and children. So far this year, the facility has housed 393 people.

“By the end of this year, we’ll certainly surpass the 400 mark,” Albright said. “We’ve tried to create awareness about what we do in the community, which might be part of the reason we’ve seen such a huge increase in the people we’re serving. Shelters all over the country, and in Northwest Arkansas, are full. That puts us in the middle of the trend. A lot of it is related to the economy.”

According to Albright, about 30 percent of all clients served by the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter come from Spanish-speaking backgrounds. Currently, all services provided by the shelter in English, must also be offered in Spanish.

“We’re trying to serve the immediate needs of victims, but we also want to add programs that address needs for healthy living, active lifestyles, literacy and consumer skills,” she said. “We consider ourselves a toolbox for helping women get to the next phase in their lives.”

Though the program will initially only be offered to shelter clients, Albright said she hopes to eventually expand services to past clients.

Selle said Peace at Home offers a similar course that teaches life skills, but said she’s interested to see how the SNAP-Ed program is received by clients at the Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter.

“I’m glad they’re doing it,” she said. “This program has been around schools and other institutions for a while, but it’s very new to shelters. I’d like to see what their response is to the program and learn more about it.”

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