Navajo United Methodist Center is a non-profit agency in Farmington, New Mexico providing direct services and transitional living shelter for women and their children who are survivors of domestic violence and/or homeless throughout the Four Corners area and the Navajo Nation. Ninety percent (90%) of the women and children we serve are Navajo. All are low-income. Since we opened our doors in December, 1996, we have served over 176 women and 207 children. In the past year we administered over 80 group counseling and over 200 individual counseling hours.

        The New Beginnings Program of Navajo United Methodist Center combines transitional housing with intensive case management support. The program is designed to provide a safe environment and facilitate the developement of skills, which will enable women to improve the quality of lives for themselves and their children. New Beginnings allows women to reside in our shelter for up to one year while they work on skills to make self-sufficient, independent living possible. Each woman entering the program is assisted in developing a plan for self-sufficiency, and is expected to move through the various stages of her plan in four parts. Goals may involve basic or advanced education, job skills training, domestic violence or other counseling support, drug and alcohol recovery/support groups, life skills training, parenting and other supportive services. When the woman is near to completing her goals, she is assisted in securing independent housing and transportation as well as any other needs to live on her own.
        Our program seeks not only to provide food, shelter and support services to women and their children, but also to prepare them to become self-sufficient by working on issues of self-esteem, education and job preparation. This project provides additional support in the way of expanding possibilities, to create new, zestful and positive outloooks for the future. The long-term nature of our program (up to one year) provides the time required to make life changes that will permanently improve their living situations, so they may never be without the resources to alleviate their hunger.