What is a Homemaking School?
Home with a Heart is a unique program designed to equip single mothers to effectively manage their homes. The contents are real, derived from Elaine Bond’s own experience as a single mother, based on her training as a teacher, and success in mentoring women.
The Home with a Heart program imparts specific life-skills to women, step-by-step, by teaching them to organize every area of responsibility, such as routines, closets, cleaning, laundry, paperwork, meals, personal care, employment and more.
Originally taught from a pregnancy center unpublished, and then from Elaine Bond's home as a government project, the program has evolved into Homemaking Schools through the encouragement of The Salvation Army. A Brochure is available on PDF.
Who can participate in a Homemaking School?
Single mothers of all ages or other women who desire to be equipped to manage their homes more effectively may participate in the program. We have had teen moms in the program, single or married moms 20 to 40 years of age, as well as women nearing their retirement years join a school.
Some women have never learned the skills taught; others want to become better organized with the easy routines that are the basis of the program and some are simply stuck so the step-by-step goals help them move forward.
Whatever, the age of participant, the dropout rate is very low as women have fun and friendship while gaining control of their homes. It is very rewarding for both the teacher and the participants.
How does instruction for participants take place?
Women receive very practical instruction in a warm classroom setting for 2½ to 3 hours each week for 12 weeks.
For the remainder of the week, they carry out in-home application of each lesson. The teacher or other volunteers provide mentoring throughout the 12 weeks by phone or in-home visit, depending on the organizational structure and needs of the participants.
Each participant enjoys learning from her own Home with a Heart Set. The teacher uses the same set of handbooks but each lesson is laid out for her in an easy-to-follow lesson plan in the Teacher Training Manual.
Why does each mother need her own set of handbooks?
Home with a Heart was written for the mother specifically, not the teacher. Each chapter starts with a heart-to-heart story that engages the mother in the benefits of the topic. The handbooks are full of artwork and charts to enhance the teaching.
The handbooks not only walk the mom through the 12-weeks of learning the new routines, but also becomes a valuable on-going resource in her home.
The handbooks have many helpful hints and valuable tips that are not all needed at one time. Moms go back to the cooking and financial handbooks on a regular basis and the rest of the handbooks again and again over the years as applicable or as a refresher.
What happens when the participant graduates?
Upon completion of the program, the teacher encourages the participant to network within her community for ongoing resources specifically designed to meet the participant's next step. Those resources may well be within your own organization or in the community for friendship, educational or employment opportunities. Participants are always welcome to contact the school for further encouragement.
Is accreditation available for successful completion?
The participant's involvement in the Home with a Heart program may give her up to two credits towards high school graduation. High School principals and Adult
Learning Centers are recognizing the merit and outcomes of the program. The teacher and the principal's
discretion determine decisions on certification. Information is provided with the Teacher Training.
Is Home with a Heart a good fit for my organization?
Home with a Heart has been successfully run in the following kinds of organizations – and expanding.
• The Salvation Army
• Baptist Church
• Assembly of God / PAOC Church
• Non-denomination Church
• Youth for Christ Center
• Pregnancy Care Center
• Home for Pregnant Women
• Home for Addiction Recovery
• Correctional Institution
• Inner City Ministry
• Home Groups
How are Homemaking Schools funded?
Each organization is responsible to fund their Homemaking School. However, the training provides funding proposals for those needing financial assistance. Programs have been funded by:
1. The Salvation Army
2. Church partnerships
3. Government
4. High schools
5. Community grants
6. Foundations
7. Rotary clubs
8. Local businesses
9. Food banks
10. Correctional Institutions
11. Individuals in the community
12. Family members
13. Fundraisers such as dinners, garage sales
Is it easy to facilitate a Homemaking School?
Yes. Considerable preparation has gone into the planning of resources and teacher training to make the program easy to implement.
Where does training take place?
Teacher training takes place on a regular basis in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada at the lovely Crossroads Centre in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Please see Teacher Training for more details.
How does our organization set up a Homemaking School?
An organization interested in facilitating a homemaking school is required to do three things:
- Register for Teacher Training. Please contact us if this is not an option.
- Order an Organization Training Set. (Note: Organizations may purchase the Teacher Training Set for training and then order the number of Home with a Heart Sets needed for participants or an Organization Training Set closer to the date the school commences)
- Agree to the following Conditions:
- Uphold the mission of Home with a Heart of equipping single mothers with effective and lasting solutions.
- Purchase a Home with a Heart Set for each participant in the program, unless granted prior written consent by Home with a Heart. If you are serving a clientele that cannot read English at grade 4 levels, please contact us to discuss alternatives.
- Designate a Teacher who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, carries a heart for single mothers and their children, enjoys her role as a homemaker and is a woman of integrity.
- Arrange for the designated Teacher to be trained by Home with a Heart training materials or Teacher Training Conference.
- Use the Home with a Heart logo for advertising.
- To follow International copyright laws that prohibit duplication of all Home with a Heart materials, except where permission is granted in the Teacher’s Training Manual for specific charts and forms.
How does this agreement come into effect?
This agreement comes into effect when you purchase a Teacher Training Set or Organization Training Set from Home with a Heart.
We hope to help your church or ministry set up a Homemaking School to reach out to single mothers in your area.
Home with a Heart