Muslim Family Services

� Three staff members attended ICNA Relief 2-day Central Planning Meeting in New York

� Grants applied for: Community Foundation to support foster care outreach and education,

MFS is going to lounge a two-month fundraising campaign. Funds will be raised in the local Islamic centers. MFS will also introduce �Patron� and �Associate� certificate for donors and an appreciation certificate for volunteers.

There were 68 cases involving marriage counseling during the year 2001. We provided spousal conflict resolution to 31 couples. General counseling was provided for 25 families, parenting counseling was provided to 5 families. There were 3 pre-marital counseling session, and 4 marriages were performed in the office. We provided one doctor (psychiatrist) for a family to help with family issues.

Year 2001 provided Muslim Family Services with the opportunity to sponsor one, 5-week seminar at the Muslim Center in Detroit, Michigan, on marriage and the family.3 newsletter was produced and distributed. MFS responded to more than 500 e-mail (Internet) request for answers to questions. We provided telephone answers and counseling to more than four hundred telephone callers. About 4 Friday Khutbas on the family were presented and letters were sent to Imams in Detroit Metropolitan Masjids, requesting them to talk about the importance of family in their khutbas. MFS participated in the national conference of Islamic Social Services of North America and Canada (an ISNA sponsored service providers network). The conference was held in Troy, Michigan. Additionally, MFS developed a web page, onto which questions and answers were posted. The web address is www.reliefonline.org/MFS

Our efforts to work with the Family Court, resulted in the Court's family division referring one case to MFS in 2001. By the permission of Allah, we were able to positively help in resolving the problem. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship with the family and juvenile courts.

We received one referrals from the State social service agency, the Michigan Family Independence Agency (FIA) and we were able to Islamically help the family. We have also continued to work to build a relationship with FIA. With Allah's permission, our goal is to successfully become a FIA service provider by becoming an approved FIA provider. We were also able to receive a letter of support from the local FIA office for two of our funding applications.

With Allah's help, MFS was able to provide financial assistance to 51 families, assisting them with such things as food, utility and housing payments - all in an effort to help prevent those families from being hungry, homeless or in danger of losing their housing. Our total expenditure for this activity was $22,755. MFS' expenditure for food to assist needy families was $4,753.

Muslim Family Services has submitted two applications for funding of our counseling and financial support or emergency services for families activities. Our executive director also attended a workshop on how to apply for financial assistance (grants) to support MFS services and activities. We are conducting research for funding opportunities and will develop and implement a MFS fund development plan. MFS also held 6 fundraising events in Islamic centers during the report year.

MFS held staff 10 meetings and 2 advisory meetings during 2001. MFS staff participated in 1 meeting held by the Third Judicial Court, Family Division. There was one trip outside of Michigan to Toledo, Ohio; and two trips outside of Detroit to Lansing and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

We have undertaken a review of our intake process and have modified the forms we use to better reflect the client needs that present to MFS. MFS is using the forms at present, the forms will be re-evaluated to determine if they do meet our organizational needs and expectations.

Overall we believe our services to families and the community have been effective. MFS will work to improve its capacity to assist families, prevent divorces and improve the relationship between parents and children.

Our future goal is to generate funding to be able to bring on part-time social workers to assist with counseling. We are also seeking additional funding to support financial assistance for families, staff training and other organizational development activities. We intend to develop and implement a fund development plan for MFS.

We are also working on evaluating our intake process, including reviewing MFS forms, procedures and program processes. We will be looking at ways to incorporate more information in the newsletter such as case studies and informational articles by counselors.

We believe that with the help of Allah, we will continue in the next year to assist families through their difficulties by providing Islamic counseling and supportive services.

There were 31 cases involving marriage counseling during the year 2000. We provided spousal conflict resolution to 19 couples. General counseling was provided for three families, parenting counseling was provided to six families. There was one pre-marital counseling session. There were two fatwas inside the office. Our psychiatrist provided service to one family.

Year 2000 provided Muslim Family Services with the opportunity to sponsor two, five week seminars on marriage and the family. The seminars were held in two Muslim communities. One newsletter was produced and distributed. MFS responded to more than 500 Internet request for answers to questions. We provided telephone questions and answers to more than four hundred callers. Six Friday Khutbas on the family were presented.

We sent a letter to the Chief Judge of Detroit's 36st District Court, Judge Marylin Atkins, expressing MFS' wish to work with the court on Muslim Family issues before the court. The court invited us to make a presentation, which we did. The presentation resulted in the Court introducing our services to both Family and Juvenile courts. We expect to be working through both courts in an effort to assist Muslim families in the judicial system.

We did not receive any referrals from the Michigan Family Independence Agency - the State's social services department. MFS will work to build this relationship.

With Allah's help, MFS was able to provide financial assistance to 48 families, assisting them with such things as utility and housing payments - helping to prevent those families from being homeless or in danger of losing their housing. Our total expenditure for this activity was $20,401.

Muslim Family Services will work to develop a strategy for attaining financial independence.

MFS attended one meeting held by the Third Judicial Court, Family Division formed by Judge Helene Brown. MFS is an official member of this organization. There were two trips outside of Detroit during this report period.

Overall we believe our services have been effective and our service to families and the community. MFS will work to improve its capacity to assist families, prevent divorces and improve the relationship between parents and children. We believe that with the help of Allah, we will continue in the next year to assist families through their difficulties by providing Islamic counseling and supportive services.

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Social Worker (SW) Develops program content, organizes, and leads activities planned to enhance social development of individual members and accomplishment of group goals: Interviews individual members to assess social and emotional capabilities and plans group composition in relation to personal and social compatibility of members.

Selects program appropriate to particular group goals, level of development, needs, capacities, and interests of group members. SW Involves members in planning and assumes responsibility for activities.

SW helps members through group experience to develop attitudes and social skills for improved family relations and community responsibility. SW refers members, when indicated, to community resources and other organizations.

SW employed in agencies, such as community center, settlement house, youth serving organization, institution for children or aged, hospital, or penal institution. Usually SW required having skills acquired through degree program at school of social work.

Muslim Family Services

Social Worker Job Ad

Muslim Family Services is a small counseling service located in Detroit, near Hamtramck and Highland Park Michigan. MFS has been in existence in Detroit since 1998.

Currently, we are looking for a Social Worker to assist with our counseling and case management services, as well as some administrative functions. Client population is diverse and we are looking for someone who can work with people in all income levels, races, cultural and religious groups. Some previous experience is preferred, though not required. We will train. The person will work closely with our executive director and other members of the counseling and administrative team.

Specific duties will include counseling, case management and client follow-up. Administrative functions may include some grant writing, contract monitoring and reporting.

We are looking for someone who is willing to be a part of a team of a growing organization, who has initiative and is willing to help provide the best level of counseling and case management on behalf of our clients.

Hours and salary to be discussed at interview.

Job Description

Counseling: The social worker (SW) will serve as a member of the Counseling team under the direction of the Executive Director. Consult with Executive Director on all counseling matters.

Case Management: SW is responsible to keep case records complete and current, including service plans. Follow up for completion or modification of activity recorded in service plan. Follow up with clients regarding activity in case plans or client concerns or issues. This position will also be responsible to perform case closure activities, reviewing with Counseling Team all case closure activity.

Organizational: SW will record all data in case files per contract and organizational requirements. Some participation in organizational planning and other similar task as assigned. May provide supervision to social work interns.

Grants Writing: SW will assist with the tracking of grants written on behalf of the organization.

Education: BSW graduate from an accredited social work program; or graduate student in a MSW an accredited social work program. Area of concentration should be in child, family and adolescent counseling and family systems.

Qualifications: Strong writing and record keeping skills required. SW must have ability to work as a team member with strong follow through skills and ability to work with diverse population and groups.

Hours: Part-time, 20-30 hours per week, with potential for full time in the future.

Salary: To be negotiated. This is a contract position and does not provide fringe benefits.

Muslim Family Services does not discriminate in its hiring policies and practices or in its services and program against any person due to religion, sex, race or national origin. MFS adheres to all State, Local and Federal anti-discriminatory laws and regulations