Residents
Q. Why are your residents at Dale House?
A. Most of our residents are 17 years old and have been placed at the Dale House by the Division of Youth Corrections or various Departments of Human Services. This means they have been either in jail or foster care. As they reach the age of emancipation (18), they are close to being released from custody or paroled into the community. Most have no families to support the transition from custody to independence. Our mission is to teach these older adolescents the skills necessary for independent living.
Q. What kind of problems do they have? How did they get involved in “the system”?
A. Many of our residents are victims of physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Generally, their families are dysfunctional, and many residents have lost track of at least one parent. Some have been abandoned; others have joined gangs.
Staff Training
Academic Training
Q. What are the classes offered through Fuller Seminary?
A. We offer four classes: two focus on counseling skills and two focus on theology.. The counseling classes are held on Tuesday mornings from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and run during the fall and spring. The theology classes are given as intensives, one in January and one in June. Staff are required to take the counseling classes and one theology class. The second theology class is optional.
Q. Can the Fuller classes be transferred to other universities for credit?
A. Generally the counseling classes are transferable to other graduate programs throughout the country. However, most secular universities do not accept theology classes for credit. Other seminaries may not accept the theology classes.
Q. What if I don’t have an undergraduate degree?
A. Students without an undergraduate degree take the classes as an audit. Students with an undergraduate degree who do not want credit for the classes may also audit.
Q. What if I already have a master’s degree?
A. Our training program might not be appropriate for you. If you are still interested in being trained to work with troubled adolescents, we may be able to offer you other Fuller classes which fit into the Dale House schedule.
Q. Do you ever have any short-term internships available?
A. Because all of our staff live in our facilities, we can offer limited internships. We are occasionally able to work out a January inter-term internship and summer internships. These are usually given to people who need undergraduate, field placement credit. Our licensed MSW is able to provide supervision. Before calling for more information, check to see what your college/university requires.
Practical Training
Q. What are the responsibilities of training staff?
A. Primarily, we believe healing happens in families and in loving, nurturing relationships. We believe that true healing occurs through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our program is set up so that staff and residents have the opportunity to spend time together to build relationships. Training staff are assigned two residents who are their specific responsibility. However, staff are expected to interact with all residents on a non-exclusive basis.
Q. What type of supervision of staff do you have?A. While on duty, training staff are supervised by a Team Leader, the Residential Training Coordinator, the Clinical Director, and the Project Director. Each of these supervisors focuses on different areas of daily living and treatment. Twice a week the entire staff meets to discuss the progress of each resident and coordinate treatment plans. One of the permanent staff is available at all times.
Work Schedule
Q. With whom would I be working?
A. Our training staff work on teams with three other training staff and a supervisor called a Team Leader. We have two teams who alternate on-duty responsibilities.
Q. What are the hours staff work?
A. Teams work shifts of two days each and alternate 3-day weekend coverage. When on duty, the day begins at 2:30 p.m. and ends the next morning around 7:30 a.m. when the Daytime Supervisor comes on duty. On-duty staff sleep in the facilities with the residents. Off-duty times are not entirely free. Training staff are required to attend devotions, staff meeting and other meetings/appointments even when not on duty.
Living Arrangements
Q. Where would I live?
A. All of our training staff live in our facilities in apartments provided for staff. Male training staff live in a house across the street from the Dale House. Female training staff live on the second floor of our office building, which is ½ block from the Dale House. We do have a separate apartment in the office building for married training staff.
Q. Why do staff live “on the block”?
A. Part of our program emphasis is living simply in a Christian community setting. In addition, we are trying to create a “family” setting for our residents, and the close proximity of staff enhances our opportunities to build close, nurturing, supportive relationships with our residents.
Salaries
Q. What would my salary be?
A. All of our training staff receive a net check of around $650 (depending on exemptions, etc.) The Dale House provides room and board, health benefits, liability insurance, and pays the tuition for Fuller Seminary classes.
Q. Where does the money come from?
A. Each training staff is responsible for raising their own support, which amounts to around $10,000/year. Staff write friends, family, and churches requesting support. Since the Dale House is a non-profit organization, contributions are tax exempt. We are always willing to help staff in the fund-raising process. Call for more details.
Q. I have never raised money before and, so, this requirement is unappealing to me. What do I do?
A. A former president of Young Life once said, “Raising money is the crabgrass in the lawn of life,” and we all grin and agree with him. However, we have discovered over the years that receiving money from people who believe in what we are doing is a tremendous encouragement and support. Those same people are usually praying for our work and provide blessings through their prayers. We will do all we can to help you in this process and will even write your initial request letter and follow-up letters after that.
Q. What if I cannot raise all the money?
A. The Dale House will supplement your salary so that you receive a full paycheck each month. Our requirement is that a good attempt is made to raise support and that any donors are regularly contacted and kept abreast of what’s going on. Don’t let this requirement hold you back if you really want to work with troubled youth.
Q. I have student loans. Can you provide a deferment?
A. Check with your loan officer. The qualifying categories on many loans have been changed and do not fit what we are doing. However, we do qualify in some cases; i.e., if your loan has a Peace Corps type category.
Young Life Connection
Q. What is the connection between the Dale House and Young Life?
A. For many years, the Dale House was a special project within Young Life. However, in 2000 the Dale House became its own 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We continue to have a loose affiliation with Young Life and purchase some accounting and benefits services from them.
Application Process
Q. How do I apply?
A. Call Kim and request that an application packet be mailed. Once we receive the application and at least two of the references, we will circulate the application among several of our permanent staff. If your qualifications seem appropriate, we will contact you and invite you to come for a three-to-four day visit.
Q. Is it possible to do a phone interview?
A. No. This visit is extremely important. Residential work can be very intense, and we want all applicants to have a chance to be here, meet our residents and staff, and “try us on." The process is really a mutual interview – we get to know you and you get to know us.
Q. If I am invited for a visit, where would I stay while in Colorado Springs?
A. You will be responsible for getting yourself here, and we will house and feed you.
Additional Information
Q. I have a few more questions. How do I contact you to ask?
A. Our phone number is 719-471-0642. We’d rather talk one-one-one than e-mail back and forth, so please call and we’ll address your questions in a more personal way. Ask for Kim or Jane.
|
