Help Keep Families Together

Last Saturday, Step Ahead officially launched a new Keeping Families Together (KFT) cohort, which includes 12 families, comprising 18 adults and 30 children. The session marked the beginning of a new learning journey for families who are committed to strengthening relationships and creating safe, nurturing home environments for their children.

The first training session introduced the opening lesson of the KFT curriculum, “What Is a Family?”, which invites participants to reflect on the meaning and importance of family, the roles of different family members, and the essential role families play in a child’s emotional, social, and physical development. The session was supported by four community leaders and five church volunteers, who helped facilitate activities, support group discussions, and ensure that families felt welcomed and encouraged to participate.

To support meaningful engagement across ages, participants were divided into small groups for the lesson delivery: adults met in one room, older youth in another, and younger children in a separate group. While all groups explored the same core theme of family, the lessons for children and youth were adapted to be age-appropriate, using interactive and creative activities designed to help them understand what family means to them and how they belong within it.

Throughout the session, families shared personal reflections and experiences, creating a respectful and inclusive learning environment. The small-group format also allowed staff to begin understanding each family’s strengths, dynamics, and support needs.

The day concluded with a shared lunch, providing time for families, community leaders, volunteers, and staff to build relationships, strengthen trust, and begin forming a supportive community as the cohort moves forward together.