Choice & Chance
Who are we?
Our organization prioritizes empowerment through connection. We believe that every individual has something of value to build on. Choice & Chance wants to see you create the life that you want. We want to see you succeed, and we would like to be by your side on your journey there.
Working on regaining custody of children? We want to be there. Working on overcoming substance use? We want to be there. Working on improving life circumstances? We want to be there. Feeling alone with little or no family? We want to be there.
Choice & Chance not only recognizes that every family is different, we celebrate it! Whether you are a household of one or a household of ten, we want to see you flourish.
What do we do?
Parenting Sessions and Peer Support
We provide parenting seminars and one-on-one sessions through a Triple P accredited practitioner.
Varying seminar topics are available to pick from for a tailored experience. We offer a full 7-week course that covers every seminar topic addressing child ages 0-17 years old. Completing a seminar comes with a certificate.
One-on-one sessions delve deeper into your circumstances, and allow more conversation based on specific needs. These sessions also come with literature and tip sheets.
Who would benefit from these? The short answer is anyone who is a caregiver of a child or teen.
If you are required to take a parenting class for a case plan, this is a great fit. If you are expecting and want to find your own parenting style, this is a great place to start. If you are extended family caring for a child or are a foster parent, join us. If you are just curious, these classes are a fun way to explore different parenting techniques. All are welcome. This is a judge-free environment. Our instructor is a person with lived experience in substance use and mental health.
Peer Support Services are offered through North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialists. These professionals are individuals with lived-experience in substance use and/or mental health.
The unique role of a Peer Support allows flexibility to address a multitude of goals, barriers, or lack of resources.
Who would benefit from speaking with a Peer Support Specialist? You guessed it, almost anyone.
If you have experienced substance use disorders, a peer support provides a safe space to talk and create a plan of action. Being in recovery is NOT a requirement to have a peer support specialist. We welcome you at any stage of your recovery journey even if you are just trying to cope with current use and the circumstances associated with that.
If you are homeless or lacking financially, a peer support is a great resource to use in navigating resources available to you.
If you need support completing your case plan, we would love to be a part of this process.
If you struggle with mental health, come speak with a peer support. A peer support is not a counselor or a therapist, rather a person that knows your struggle from the inside out. Peer supports walk by your side and provide all the resources and encouragement possible to help you accomplish your goals.
Lastly, if you are a person that does not fit any of these criteria, a peer support may still be a good fit for you. Do you have a family member that experiences any of the above circumstances? A peer support is also there for you. Just curious about learning more or wanting to volunteer? Speak with a peer support at Choice & Chance.
Help Us Grow
Choice & Chance is a new non-profit in Wilkes County, NC. All of our services are free. We take referrals from other human services organizations and from our Department of Social Services. Our focus is on supporting families. A healthy community starts with a healthy family unit. If you are interested in contributing to one of our areas of focus, please use the links provided or contact us through email at gabriela.mcmanus@choicechance.org.
General Operations
Your donations to our general operations are very appreciated. This keeps our parenting classes and peer support services up and running. It allows for more outreach and growth.
Crisis Assistance
Our crisis assistance funds are crucial to the success of families who are experiencing hardship. This funding focuses on emergency situations. We use this to help with bills, child necessities, emergency housing, etc. This is our greatest need. Before growth can happen, we have to stabalize.
Housing Clean-Up
Local agencies have shared that about 2-3 families per month are in need of cleaning services. It costs us around $600-$1,200 to have a home restored to safe living conditions for the parents, elders, and children in our community. This is a major need that has not been directly addressed here in Wilkes County, until now.
Sponsor a Family in Wilkes
If you would like to make a direct impact to a member of our community, we have opportunites for 3 month/6 month/ 9 month sponsorship programs that impact a family directly. Sponsoring a family allows families who are on the brink of crisis to keep stability. Families who face sudden life changes like death, job loss, injury/illness, surprise pregnancy, or trauma. Sometimes, a one time crisis assistance just is not enough. Not every person in our community has supportive relationships, so this is a great opportunity for us to step up for our community members.