H O W A FAMILY CENTER

ABOUT THE HOWA FAMILY CENTER

The HOWA Family Center---serving the communities of Hackensack, Onigum, Walker & Akeley since 1996. Our mission is to enrich lives through mentoring for children, families and communities. Our vision is that all families will have the resources they need to thrive! Following is a brief description of all the programs we offer. Visit our website for more information.

Northern Cass Kinship Partners:

Kinship Partners is a community based mentoring program. Adult volunteers are thoroughly screened and matched with a Kinship youth. Partners meet weekly for an activity of their choice. Large group activities are also planned for all partners and youth on the Kinship waiting list. Mentees are boys and girls between ages 5 to 15 and are typically from single-parent family homes. Many youth in the Kinship program are being raised by a grandparent or other relative.

Cross-Age Mentoring Program:

CAMP is an opportunity for students in grades 9 through 12 to become mentors and friends to students in grades 4 through 8. Mentors and mentees get together each week to form friendships and participate in after-school activities. Field trips, arts and crafts, service learning projects, recreation and games are just a few of the activities available.

Navigation:

After school activities are offered for youth in need of social skills practice as well as students on the autism spectrum and students with special needs. Program staff lead students to explore the outdoor environment and our community through fieldtrips and special programs with Jack Pine Stables, Chippewa National Forest, 4-H, Deep Portage Reserve and more. Fieldtrips and small-group activities are planned for each day.

Neighbors in Need:

The family center provides families with supportive services including: Crisis assistance such as donation collections of furniture and household items for families in transition or who have lost their homes to fires. Winter Wear Share, Emergency food support, Distribution of Kid’s Snack Packs for WHA students who need additional food resources on week-ends, Backpacks & school supplies for students in need, Holiday Help for Christmas gifts, Resource and referral through collaboration with local agencies

The Clothing Depot:

Used clothing donations of all sizes are welcome at the Clothing Depot. Our volunteers sort and organize the clothes, which are available for a very small fee for families in our communities. The Clothing Depot is co-located with the Walker Area Food Shelf and is open during food shelf hours, typically the first 4 Tuesdays of each month.