The Ward Employment system at work Inadequateto Employment

The Ward Employment system at work: Inadequateto Employment “The Challenge the Individual” Lack of Education & Access to Resources Limited Career Goals Cycle of Poverty Hopelessness Struggle to Serve

Career Self-Reliance Cycle Plan and set goals Achieve goals Learn how to use resources effectively Use resources and opportunities

“A man out of work is of special moment to the Church because, deprived of his inheritance, he is on trial as Job was on trial--for his integrity…. Continued economic dependence break him…. He is threatened with spiritual ruin…. The Church cannot hope to save a man on Sunday if during the week it is a complacent witness to the crucifixion of his soul. ” Gordon B. Hinckley

Guiding Purpose Help individuals become career self-reliant through employment, education, & selfemployment

The. Not door of inspiration exaltation is open to Listen for the of the Holy even a crust of bread As we visit together, both everyone; butthe some must bewill Spirit. God loves needy and should be given without love the principles, and the nuts tutored and taught to a greater send the Spirit to help you. in your heart! and bolts, of welfare service degree if they are to reach their will be discussed. eternal potential.

Areas of Self Reliance Health Resource Management Social, emotional and spiritual strength Education Employment Home Storage

“Some areas have church employment centers but these are organized to compensate for lack of total Quorum and Ward commitment. This is because the Priesthood have not accepted and are not living or functioning the way the Lord would have us. ” Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone-1976

A United Effort is Essential: • “While the work of Church employment centers is significant, it is intended to serve primarily as a support to the priesthood quorums and Relief Societies in the Church”. Neil Newell, The Ensign/April 2000 p. 55

CHURCH MEMBERS ARE TO BECOME SELF-RELIANT

ARE WE COMMANDED TO HELP? ?

None should be forgotten: “None is [to be] forgotten, overlooked or neglected” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1995, p. 53) “Through the Church, the Lord has established a way to care for the poor and needy and help them regain their self-reliance” (Church Handbook of Instructions, book 2, p. 256)

. Like trees, the poor and the needy should be taught, and nurtured, and allowed to grow!

A CASE STUDY Helping Sister Clark’s family

A CASE STUDY The bishop’s initial help: The bishop meets with Sister Clark and cares for her short-term needs: • He gives her a food order • He helps her with her rent

The bishop has now cared for her SHORT-TERM needs. A question. . . Are we expected to help individuals overcome their LONG-TERM NEEDS as well?

The Cycle of Dependency Long term needs Low self esteem Weak job skills Inadequate education Poor family relations Inadequate housing Inactive in Church Long term needs are never met!

A CASE STUDY Overcoming dependency: "It is clear that plans which contemplate only relieving present distress are deficient. The Church has always sought to place its members in a way to help themselves, rather than adopting the method of so many charitable institutions of providing for only present needs. Our idea of charity, therefore, is to relieve present wants and then to put the poor in a way to help themselves so that in turn they may help others” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Gospel Doctrine, p. 236)

A CASE STUDY All of us have a job to do: "It is the responsibility of the bishops to give emergency help to see that neither the individual or his family suffers. The obligation of the priesthood quorum is to set in motion those forces and facilities which will equip the needy member to provide on a continuing basis for himself and his family" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov 1977, pp. 84‑ 86).

A CASE STUDY And because this is true. . . • The bishop asks Sister Clark’s permission to help with her long-term needs and the issues that prevent her from becoming self-reliant, • After receiving her permission, he refers her to the High Priest Group Leader, Brother Manley.

A CASE STUDY Developing a plan: The bishop then explains that the HPGL will assist her as she develops a Self-Reliance plan that will help her determine: • Current circumstances • Desired outcomes • Resources she will need • Resources available

A CASE STUDY Sister Clark meets with the HPGL: Her current circumstances: • • Divorced Low self-esteem because of spouse abuse High school education Working 2 minimum wage jobs No medical benefits Five daughters ages 6 to 15 Daughter has an impacted wisdom tooth and she cannot afford dental care

A CASE STUDY Her current circumstances--(continued): • Family doesn't communicate well • House in poor repair-- the roof leaks • Car doesn't work-- the starter needs replacing • Eldest daughter does not attend church • She worked out a budget and found she needs to make $15. 00 per hour to support family

A CASE STUDY Her desired outcomes: • She wants to work one job with better pay and benefits • She wants to become a registered nurse, so she needs some training • She wants her roof repaired • She needs her daughter’s tooth fixed • Her home needs repainting • Her car needs to be fixed • Family relationships need strengthening • Her eldest daughter needs to become active in the Church

A CASE STUDY The resources she needs: • Medical insurance • Job search training skills • A training site, and education to become a registered nurse • Family counseling • Support group for abused women (would probably be helpful) • Handyman to repair roof

A CASE STUDY The resources she needs--(continued): • • • Dentist to take care of impacted tooth A team to paint the house A mechanic to fix the car Some fast-offering assistance Home teacher and visiting teacher support • Support of young women's advisor and the primary teachers and leaders • Support of relief society sisters and presidency

Sister Clark now knows what she has and what she needs. . . IS THAT ENOUGH?

Like an athlete, Sister Clark needs training, and tutoring and following-along. . . Resources that she can’t provide for herself!

It takes a lot to help recipients resolve their LONG-TERM NEEDS WHERE CAN WE FIND THE RESOURCES?

In the

What is in the Lord’s storehouse? "The Lord's Storehouse receives, holds in trust, and dispenses consecrated offerings of the Saints. In form and operation, the storehouse is as simple or sophisticated as circumstances require. It may be a list of available services, money in an account, food in a pantry, or commodities in a building. A storehouse is established the moment faithful members give to the bishop of their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth. ” (Providing in the Lord’s Way, p. 11)

Each member is responsible Each member of the Church has welfare responsibilities. These are to become selfreliant and to care for the poor and needy, (Providing in the Lords Way, p. 5) 1. An individual provides for himself 2. The husband provides for wife 3. The parents provide for children 4. The extended family provides support

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Level THE BISHOP’S DUTY: The Bishop is responsible for helping ward members meet immediate needs.

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Level PRIESTHOOD AND RELIEF SOCIETY DUTIES: The priesthood quorums and the Relief Society are responsible for helping members resolve longterm needs.

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Level To fulfill this responsibility quorum and relief society leaders should become well acquainted with their members, and should: • Visit their homes regularly • Teach members to live providently, provide for themselves and their families, and care for others • Direct priesthood quorum and relief society members in teaching new skills to become self-reliant (Providing in the Lord's Way, p. 15)

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Level Home and visiting teachers assist the Melchizedek priesthood and Relief Society in fulfilling these duties. (Providing in the Lord's Way, p. 15)

And so we see that the work of The Lord’s Storehouse on the ward level is accomplished by the Ward Welfare Committee

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Welfare Committee As the presiding High Priest, the bishop makes the assignments. But it is the priesthood quorum and Relief Society leaders that coordinate efforts to help recipients provide for their long-term self-reliance needs.

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Welfare Committee The bishop, and other members of the ward welfare committee, can draw upon: • The consecrated offerings of all the Saints in the ward • A list of available ward services • Compassionate Service • Fast Offerings • The Stake Welfare Specialist(s)

The Lord’s Storehouse-Ward Welfare Committee Faithful members give to the bishop of their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth. Thus every ward member is part of the Lord's Storehouse and has a contribution to make.

A CASE STUDY Resources available to Sister Clark: Family resources: • Salary of $1, 100. 00 each month • Alimony of $300. 00 per month, • Extended family lives far away, but one brother, Jeff, is willing to contribute $100. 00 per month for six months

A CASE STUDY Resources available to Sister Clark: The Lord’s Storehouse--: • Home teachers/visiting teachers • Automobile mechanic (suggest Brother Dugwell, high priest) • Handyman (suggest Brother Walker, high priest) • Young women's advisor (to reactivate daughter) • Primary and Young Women (to work with other daughters) • Dentist (none available at ward level)

A CASE STUDY Resources available to Sister Clark: The Lord’s Storehouse--Stake Level: • A dentist • Backup from the stake welfare specialist(s) is available if needed

A CASE STUDY Resources available to Sister Clark: The Lord’s Storehouse--Region Level • Church Employment Resource Center (to locate available training and financial aid for tuition) • Insurance--CHIPS (free medical coverage for children of low income households) • Counseling (individual & family) • Dentist (if not available at stake level)

COUNCILS “When the entire program of the Church comes together in council--miracles can and do happen. ” H. Russell Ballard, Counseling with our Councils, 4, 13

Participants in the Ward Welfare Committee Bishopric High Priest Group Leader Elders Quorum President Ward Mission Leader Young Mens President Relief Society President Ward Employment Specialist Ward Executive Secretary Ward Clerk Other auxiliary leaders

Case study--minimum wage job The HPGL takes Sister Clark’s selfreliance plan to the ward welfare committee. Her immediate needs will be attended to by the bishop in the ward welfare meeting (action and time line): The bishop will offer counseling for a period of three months. The bishop will offer food, and fast offering assistance while the family will use it’s resources to pay other expenses.

Case study--minimum wage job Work that the recipient may be asked to perform in return for assistance: She and her children may be asked to: Feed the full-time missionaries once each week Spend time with each child one-on-one weekly Read to her children for 20 minutes each night Donate hours in some other way

Case study--minimum wage job Assignments to meet Long-term needs, (and a time line), are then given: High Priest Group: Repair car within 3 days (Brother Dugwell) Repair home within one month (Brother Walker) Home teacher/visiting teacher couple will provide support weekly (Brother & Sister Williams) Brother Manley, HPGL, will contact at least weekly, daily if needed

Case study--minimum wage job Elders quorum: Paint Sister Clark’s home within one month. (President Tanner will organize and coordinate the project).

Case study--minimum wage job Relief Society: Visiting teachers asked to provide support weekly (Williams and Fuller) Three sisters who have gone through divorce and may have children of a similar age will be introduced to Sister Clark within one week.

Case study--minimum wage job Young Women: Young womens presidency will strive to reactivate the eldest daughter (immediate and ongoing) Class presidencies will be assigned to friendship girls within one week (Young Womens President).

Case study--minimum wage job Primary: The primary presidency will pay special attention to Sister Clark’s active daughters (immediate and ongoing).

Case study--minimum wage job High Priest Group Leader: Interact with leaders on the ward welfare committee to be sure that their assignments are completed, Meet with Sister Clark often. . . daily if necessary Self-reliance plans will be updated, revised, (as needed), and presented to the ward welfare committee so they may help her share the burden until she becomes self-reliant.

Case study--minimum wage job Stake Welfare Specialist(s): Provide help and support to the HPGL Help find a dentist within the stake

Case study--minimum wage job Career Self-Reliance Plan for Sister Clark: Her goal: Become a Registered Nurse (RN) Step #1: She is referred to a Certified Nursing Aid (CNA) Training site. (She will be paid between $6. 50 and $7. 00 per hour during an 11 week training period. The training site will pay all training and certification costs. )

Case study--minimum wage job Career Self-Reliance Plan for Sister Clark: Her goal: Become a Registered Nurse (RN) Step #2: Certified Nursing Aid (CNA) training is completed. (She will now receive $8. 00 per hour with benefits. )

Case study--minimum wage job Career Self-Reliance Plan for Sister Clark: Her goal: Become a Registered Nurse (RN) Step #3: Sister Clark begins a 2 year course to become a Licensed Practical Nurse at the same training site. (This takes about 2 years to complete, and the training site has paid for all costs of training and licensing. )

Case study--minimum wage job Career Self-Reliance Plan for Sister Clark: Her goal: Become a Registered Nurse (RN) Step #4: After successful completion of her LPN license, the salary will be about $17. 00 per hour.

Case study--minimum wage job Career Self-Reliance Plan for Sister Clark: Her goal: Become a Registered Nurse (RN) Step #5: Benefits at this level include an educational reimbursement program which enables Sister Clark to continue taking classes towards her Registered Nurse (RN) program.

How to get started: The Bishop Step #1: The Bishop may train ward leadership or ask the Stake Welfare Specialist(s) and/or the High Counselor over Welfare to provide the training. (LDS Employment Resource personnel available upon request)

How to get started: The Bishop Step #2: At end of the ward leadership training session, the ward leadership may counsel together to decide on a Self. Reliance Plan for the ward.

Becoming a Zion Society “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. ” Moses 7: 18

Learn how to use councils and your testimony will be that no problem is too great for the Lord’s Storehouse! “It is like opening the floodgates of heaven”. H. Russell Ballard, Counseling with our Councils, 4, 13