Getting Started
Each family considering our program meets with a staff member to see if it’s the right fit for their needs. In this first meeting, families get to know our coach, learn about the program, and decide if they feel comfortable joining our community. After the initial interview, families complete paperwork and self-assessments with our team, then work through our curriculum to create personalized goals and plans for success.
If you're interested in joining our next Cohort, use the link below to contact us!
Monday Night Dinners
Each Monday at 5:30 PM, we gather for a family-style meal. At 6:15, adults join classes designed to support their personal growth, while children enjoy a fun, engaging time in our childcare program. We conclude by 7:45, leaving with new insights to apply throughout the week.
Program Phases
Phase One
Phase One is where all Leading Families start their journey. This phase supports brave families facing challenges like poverty, toxic stress, or custody issues. Over 25 weeks, families engage in the evidence-based curriculum, Getting Ahead in a Just Getting By World. Guided by trained facilitators and coaches, this intensive program helps families create customized plans to overcome obstacles. Upon completion, families celebrate their achievements in a graduation ceremony.
Phase Two
In the second 25 weeks, Leading Families advance their journey by putting their Phase 1 plans into action. Each week, families join classes focused on specific needs they’ve chosen from 11 resource areas, covering topics such as job skills, mental health, relationship building, parenting, financial management, and more. Led by local experts, these classes offer practical support to help families thrive.
Phase Three
In the final 25 weeks of our program, Leaders take part in Match Night, where they are paired with a Learning Friend. These volunteers provide support and encouragement as Leaders work on their action plans. Once matched, Leaders and Learning Friends meet monthly for dinner and compassionate accountability, tackling challenges and accessing community resources as needed. This partnership fosters genuine connections, building lasting relationships that extend beyond the program.
Graduation & Match Night
Graduation
Upon completing Phase One, each adult who finishes our Getting Ahead class receives a $200 gift. We gather to celebrate their achievements, inviting all stakeholders to hear the inspiring success stories of Leading Families. These individuals are moving beyond poverty and custody concerns, stepping into a transformed life where every family member can thrive.
Match Night
Phase Three begins by thoughtfully pairing each Leading Family with one or two Learning Friends.
FAQs
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What is Poverty?
At Radical Life, we understand poverty as more than a financial challenge. Inspired by Ruby Payne’s research and the Getting Ahead curriculum, we define poverty as a lack of essential resources. Families assess their strengths and gaps across 11 resource areas that collectively build a stable home environment, highlighting the complex nature of poverty. These 11 resource areas include:
1. Financial 2. Emotional 3. Mental (cognitive) 4. Spiritual 5. Physical 6. Language 7. Social Capital (support systems) 8. Integrity & Trust 9. Relationships & Role Models 10. Knowledge of Hidden Rules 11. Motivation & Persistence
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How is this Different than Other Local Agencies?
Our team and board are deeply proud of Lyon County’s generous spirit, reflected in the wealth of resources available to those in need. However, our research reveals a common pattern: assistance often comes only after crises have intensified. At Radical Life, we’re working to shift this approach by providing proactive support and resources to families before crises arise. Partnering with local agencies, we focus on early intervention to stabilize families and prevent avoidable trauma and stress.
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How Many Kids in Lyon County are in Foster Care?
In Lyon County, the number of children placed in DCF custody often surpasses the number of available foster homes. In August 2020, there were only 31 licensed foster homes for over 150 children in need. While removing children from unsafe environments is sometimes necessary, we believe the system should prioritize keeping children safe within their own homes whenever possible. Many children enter foster care due to issues rooted in poverty that could be addressed within the family. At Radical Life, our mission is to reduce these placements by addressing the core causes of family separation.
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What are ACE Scores?
At Radical Life, our staff and volunteers are trained in evidence-based methods to support individuals with high ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) scores. ACE scores measure childhood trauma from birth to age 18, helping predict possible challenges in mental, emotional, relational, and physical health in adulthood. While addressing trauma is challenging, understanding ACE scores offers valuable insight into behavior and opens the path toward healing and resilience.
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What is Toxic Stress?
Toxic Stress is the prolonged activation of the stress response system, disrupting brain development and increasing the risk of stress-related diseases and cognitive impairment into adulthood. It arises from strong, frequent, or prolonged adversity in childhood, including abuse, neglect, caregiver substance abuse, exposure to violence, and economic hardship without adequate support.
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I Want to Help, But I Am Not Sure How?
At Radical Life, we welcome involvement at every level! Whether you join as a Leading Family, become a Learning Friend, volunteer regularly or occasionally, or support us financially, your time and talents are invaluable. Help us serve meals, engage with children, fundraise for families, or make monthly donations. Every contribution makes a difference in our mission to address foster care, juvenile justice, and poverty. How will you make an impact?