Identify and understand personal values
Improve communication skills
Learn how to identify signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships
Resolve conflict
Learn to manage life’s challenges
Project FORWARD
Program Mission: Project FORWARD provides the tools to individuals across the Nassau County and Suffolk communities, to support and enhance healthy communication, enduring relationships, and positive parenting skills (for those with children). All relationships, personal and professional, are addressed supportively. Together, our work creates a brighter future for the individuals we serve.
Project FORWARD offers free relationship, communication, and parenting skill-building workshops to Nassau County and Suffolk County residents ages 18 and up. Participants also receive individualized coaching to help support their goals, along with optional financial and employment stability support/services.
Key community partners delivering Project FORWARD under the leadership of CN Guidance are:
- The Safe Center L.I. (family violence prevention specialists)
- Abilities, Inc., (nonprofit experts in economic stability and job development)
- Stony Brook University (local evaluation team)
- The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office (a public resource well connected to individuals facing challenges who will benefit from this program).
PROJECT FORWARD = Facing Obstacles in Relationships and Work with Action, Resources, Direction
Our Services
Love Notes 4.0
For Single or Coupled Adults 18 years and older
Coaching & Financial Employment Support
Available to all enrolled participants
Support for life goals
Better understanding of financial wellness
Job readiness / employment assistance
Love Notes 4.0
For Single or Coupled Adults 18 years and older
Created by The Dibble Institute and Written by Marline E. Pearson
Love Notes is a comprehensive healthy relationship education workshop that teaches people how to build healthy relationships, as well as how to prevent dating violence and avoid unprotected sex, communicate effectively, and manage conflict.
Key Topics Include:
Knowing Yourself – personality style, baggage, expectations, and mapping your future
Forming and Maintaining Healthy Relationships – knowledge, skills, and smart steps
Framework for Assessing Relationships – how to make decisions
Recognizing Unhealthy Relationships & Responding to Dangerous Ones – intimate partner violence, cyberbullying, sexual assault, and ways drugs and alcohol affect relationships.
Effective Communication & Conflict Management Skills – communication skills and styles, understanding your brain when you become upset, how to communicate your needs, and social media’s impact on communication
Intimacy, Sexual Values, Pacing Relationships, Consent, and Safe Sex – using a comprehensive sex education and harm reduction model
Success Sequencing – how the order of school/work, commitment, and children impacts your future
Impact of Technology – on romantic relationships, family relationships, sexting, and online pornography
Workshops are 16 hours, with a variety of session formats, including virtual sessions, to meet the needs of community locations, colleges, and religious organizations.
Coaching & Financial Employment Support
Available to all enrolled
Individual Coaching
All enrolled participants have the option to work with our IndividualCoach on personalized life goals. Each person will create their own goals and steps to achieve those goals with their Coach. Coach will provide biweekly meetings (in-person, phone, or virtual methods) to provide support, assistance, and connections to resources as needed.
Personalized goals can include:
- Time Management
- Coping skills
- Parenting Skills
- Mental Health Referral
- Medical doctor referral
- Socialization skills
- Healthy living skills
Financial / Employment Services
All enrolled participants have the option to view our Financial Wellness Webinar to learn effective ways to save, different types of debt, and methods for budgeting. Additionally, all enrolled participants have the option to work with our Economic Stability Specialists on personalized employment or educational goals. Each person will create their own financial / employment goals and steps to achieve those goals. The Economic Stability Specialists will provide meetin (in- person, phone, or virtual methods) to provide support, assistance, and connections to resources as needed.
Employment Services can include:
- Employment readiness assessments
- Employment self-advocacy skills
- Work readiness
- Job seeking skills
- Interview skills
- Budgeting
- Vocational programs
- Educational planning
Funding for this project was provided by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, GRANT: 90ZB0012-01-00. Any opinions and findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. These services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability, or religion.
We provide transportation and child care assistance if needed.
Gift cards are available for participation.
Contact
Kristie Schwarz, MA, Program Director
Workshops and individual support are located in Plainview, and other select sites (ask for details).
Tel: 516-728-2435
Fax: 516-336-6829
Text: “HAPPIER” to 888-370-1115
Email:
amendez@centralnassau.org
Program Information:
projectforward@centralnassau.org