Life Skills Institute
Why we do it
The goal of the Life Skills Institute is to provide life-changing education that guides MIFA Housing Opportunities clients toward self-improvement and independence
What we do
The Life Skills Institute (LSI) offers education and activities for personal and professional development and self-esteem building, teaching its clients to live successfully and productively. MIFA Housing Opportunities residents enter the program at any time during a fiscal year and can remain in residence for up to one year, during which time they must compete personalized life skills curricula.
LSI evaluates each client in terms of education, work readiness, literacy, family psycho-social well-being, finances, nutrition and health, and parenting skills. The program focuses on improvement in the areas of money management, gaining and keeping successful employment, preparing for home ownership, effective parenting, and healthy lifestyle choices.
See the video
here.
What we've done
LSI goes beyond providing shelter – it creates a stable family environment for children and teaches clients lessons that will help them succeed for the rest of their lives.
What can you do to help?
You can volunteer to teach Life Skills classes on any subject to any age group, serve as a mentor for a family, or donate furniture and other household essentials for families entering the program. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact Tonya Crowder at (901) 525-7766 or tcrowder@mifa.org.
Our partners
LSI receives volunteer and financial support from a variety of sources. First Tennessee Bank employees volunteer their services as money management instructors. Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church provides volunteers to assist in parenting education. Individuals like Chef Amy Pickle (chef) and Alona Davis Denton (sexual awareness instructor) offer their expertise for LSI classes. Volunteers from Hilton Corporation paint and refurbish LSI meeting and childcare rooms. Emotional Fitness Centers provide mental health assessments, referrals and support services. Other collaborations are with the Exchange Club Family Center (domestic violence instruction and counseling, parenting education); Memphis Literacy Council and Mid-South Reads (reading); the University of Tennessee Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities (early childhood development); NAPO (time management services); SCORE (business start-up); First Books (books) and Hnedak Bobo Group (children's art classes).