Beth is the first to admit she had serious anger to resolve.

"I used to think I was perfect, that everything [bad] that happened was everyone else’s fault but mine," said the young mom and client of Genesis II for Families, a United Way partner agency.

Genesis II is a human service agency that serves low-income families throughout the metro area. Genesis services include: parenting assessments, supervised visitation, behavioral health, an in-home parenting program, children’s services (like onsite daycare), a teen parenting program, mentoring program and much more. Often, as it was for Beth, attending Genesis’ programs is court-ordered.

Four years sober and managing her anger issues, Beth just graduated from her parenting program. "Genesis has taught me so much," she said, like setting respectful boundaries and ending relationships on a positive, versus volatile, note. She realizes now that the decisions she makes aren’t just about what’s best for her: "I didn’t used to make decisions for both me and my kids."

Beth sees a career for herself helping other women in troubled situations learn better parenting and self-care skills. "It’s hard work to really look at yourself. No one said it was easy."

United Way’s Agenda for Lasting Change focuses on 10 measurable goals in our three focus areas: Meeting Basic Needs, Supporting Health and Independence and Nurturing Children and Families. One goal is reducing family violence by increasing access to services 20 percent by 2012.

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