When life gives you lemons…”
We’ve all heard this adage, and 2020 gave us all plenty of chances to make lemonade! During the Covid shutdown, Fortress leaders saw an opportunity and used those long, quiet days to review and reimagine Fortress programs in light of the changing needs of our community and clients. Several changes came out of that season for Fortress, but perhaps none have been as impactful as our redesigned parent engagement program, L.E.A.D.
Prior to 2020, Fortress had a working parent engagement program, but a fresh start was needed. A crystallizing moment came when a Fortress mom expressed frustration at having to take the same classes over and over to log her required hours. With parents desiring greater depth and variety, Fortress Preteen Program Specialist, Chris Martin, LMSW said “we knew we had to offer more advanced classes that built upon basic concepts our parents had already learned.” Martin’s research had also shown the value of parents learning the same skills being taught to their kids at Fortress. As a social worker, he knew self-regulation and coping skills would help parents reinforce those skills at home, and also strengthen the mental and emotional health of the parents themselves.
A New Model
“It was almost like a revelation,” Chris said, as elements of L.E.A.D. came in a flood of inspiration. After months of fleshing out the model, the final product was a program based upon four consistently reinforced active principles.
Learn - Parents would be offered a variety of meaningful classes that compliment and build on each other.
Engage - Parents would be encouraged to not only connect with their own kids and Fortress, but to engage in positive ways with the broader community.
Achieve - Parents would be equipped and challenged to dream big, setting and achieving concrete goals.
Disciple - Parents would be prepared to take what they learn and teach it to others–their kids, other Fortress parents, and their neighbors in our community.
While all Fortress programs are offered at no cost, parents must log at least 12 hours per year of attendance at classes or other approved events both inside and outside of Fortress. All L.E.A.D. activities are designed to fulfill one of the four pillars of the program: Knowledge of Child Development, Parent-Child Engagement, Personal Empowerment, and Community Involvement. Even with ongoing pandemic issues, our relaunch year (2021-22) saw 80% of parents achieving or exceeding these required engagement goals. The L.E.A.D. model goes beyond a minimum requirement, however, allowing parents to “level up” and earn perks and privileges within the Fortress program.
Beyond the parent programming aspect, another “lemonade” opportunity came out of the COVID shutdown. During the spring and summer of 2020, Fortress leadership began delivering meals to ensure that kids weren’t missing vital nutritional needs while schools were closed.
At the same time, another Fort Worth nonprofit, Blue Zones Healthy Communities, invited Fortress to partner in a new initiative to provide fresh produce to neighborhoods with families facing food insecurity. Fortress was thrilled to add fruits and vegetables to their regular deliveries, and from those humble beginnings, what is now a permanent, on-site pantry featuring fresh produce, groceries, diapers, and clothing was born.
A New Leader
Family Resource Coordinator, Kim Truss
In early 2023, Fortress was pleased to introduce Kim Truss as its Family Resource Coordinator in a role that works hand-in-hand with the Parent Program Coordinator. With a B.A. in Psychology and rich background in community service, Kim is a perfect fit for this key role. She quickly fell in love with the mission and people of Fortress and was excited by the opportunity to serve the needs of Fortress parents. As a mom, Kim knows that kids’ needs come first, but “it’s the parents who make it all go ‘round, and they need support. I want to be that person to help out.” In addition to managing collaborations that fill our pantry, connecting families with resources that Fortress can’t provide, and making referrals for families needing specialized services, Kim works closely with the Parent Program Coordinator to ensure that a variety of classes are offered to Fortress parents.
Fortress offers over 120 hours of parent engagement opportunities every year. Two of these classes are “It’s Just a Phase” (focusing on making the most of every moment, how to address heavy topics at different life stages and helping kids thrive as they grow) and “Connect & Correct” (teaches parents about trauma, positive parenting, and healthy child engagement). Childcare and a meal are provided at each class and family event.
Healthy families also have fun together, and Fortress hosts large annual events like Back 2 School Bash, Trunk or Treat and family parties for Christmas, Easter, and Valentines. “Fortress Night Live!” offers fun theme nights for kids and parents with special activities like cooking or reading together. Kim says she loves it when parents share what they’ve learned in classes and hearing them ask when she will teach again, but what warms her heart most is when kids come back the day after a party or event talking about how much fun they had with their parents the night before.
What’s Next for L.E.A.D.?
As they continue to level up (complete with a graduation ceremony!), our vision is to allow parents to co-teach and eventually take the reins on certain classes for parents new to Fortress. When a parent’s children age out of Fortress, we hope to see those parents continue to remain engaged and growing, serving as mentors and instructors.
Martin’s hope is that L.E.A.D. “will encourage parents not only to be good leaders in their immediate household, but for their extended family, their neighborhood, their community, and here at Fortress.” With his trademark sense of humor, he observed that what began during the Covid lockdown now has the potential to “infect” an entire community!
A Message for Fortress Supporters
All Fortress programs are offered free of charge, and our ability to serve our community depends upon the generosity of donors. With 71% of our families living at or below the federal poverty level and 94% of our families considered “low income,” our services are a lifeline for parents working hard to make a better life for themselves and their kids.
Thank you for supporting Fortress as we work to equip families to build bridges from poverty to promise. If you have questions about Fortress parent programs or would like to know how you can help, contact Fortress Family Resource Coordinator Kim Truss at kim@fortressfw.org.
