Center For Families

(Formerly the Women's Alternative Center)

PathWaysPA, formerly the Women's Association for Women's Alternatives, has had a long and successful history of helping mothers and their children stay together as families and become self-sufficient. One of the unique ways that we have achieved this is through the PathWays Center for Families (formerly the Women's Alternative Center). The Center is the only group residence of its kind in the Greater Philadelphia area that serves women and their children from Philadelphia, Delaware and Chester counties. The program differs from others in that women and children live and heal together in one peaceful setting.

The families who come to the Center have endured a lifetime of hurt and instability. Most have experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, poor self-esteem, unaddressed medical issues and lifelong poverty.

In addition to having poor parenting skills, many of these mothers lack literacy and employment skills. As a result of living in unstable environments, they have few role models of how a family can function in a healthy, supportive way. With their own family histories of neglect and abuse, they find themselves on their own, alone, with no support and no one to turn to.

The newly renovated Center for Families, located in Delaware County Pennsylvania, serves up to 16 families at any given time. Center for Families staff promotes education; teaches parenting and life skills; fosters self-esteem and moves women towards attainment of their life goals and ultimate family wellbeing and economic self-sufficiency.

The Center helps families reach their goals by providing:

• ABE/GED Classes
• Case Management
• Individual and Group Counseling/Referral
• Job Placement
• Life and Parenting Skill Training
• Mentoring

Families participate in the program for an average of twelve to eighteen months until they are ready to move on to self-sufficiency and supportive housing is available. The Pathways Center for Families serves approxi- mately 25 women and 65 children each year.

• 91% demonstrate improved life skills
• 90% of the mothers work or attend training programs
• 85% are attending counseling to address interpersonal issues
• 83% demonstrate improved parenting skills
• 80% demonstrate increased self-esteem
• 100% of the school-aged children are enrolled in appropriate educational settings
• 100% of the children have improved attendance
• 97% of children achieve developmental milestones
• 95% of the children demonstrate academic improvement

The PathWaysPA Center for Families partners with ChesPenn for healthcare services, The Center Foundation for mentoring services for the mothers, Catholic Social Services for employment and life skill training for the mothers, and Darlington Fine Arts Center for creative programming for the children. Student interns from West Chester University, Delaware County Community College, Eastern University, Swarthmore College, Bryn Mawr University and other local colleges and universities supplement our paid staff while engaging in "hands on" learning.

To learn more about the PathWays Center for Families please call the Program Manager at (610) 459-9177. Click here to download a flyer.