SERVICES
Our Objectives
- Help the broken, assist the at-risk, and prevent future crisis
- Bring light, hope, and transformation to emerging adults who are living on the margin in Cleveland and Bradley county
- Fight against poverty and its consequences
- Aid individuals and families with a faith-based transition out of crisis
- Meet immediate needs for food, shelter, and health care
- Address long-term needs for education, job training, and discipleship
- Equip for independence and success
- Intervene to prevent crime in the prime age group of emerging adults
"If your dream doesn't intimidate you, it's too small"
— Pastor Tommy Barnett, The Phoenix Dream Center
Expressing The Strategies
Curricula and Life Skills
Life Skills
This Strategy involves enabling participants to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life in the arenas of self-awareness, critical thinking, decision-making, effective communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal relationships.
Job Readiness
Critical for transitioning to community life will be training to prepare participants to seek, obtain, and sustain employment. Training in the areas of reliability, integrity, professionalism, adaptability, time management, conflict resolution, and work ethic will be aspects of this strategy.
Financial Literacy
Possession of these skill sets and knowledge will allow students to make informed and effective decisions with their financial resources. These will include creating a budget, tracking expenses, timely bill payments, managing debt, and saving.
Overcoming Addiction
Celebrate Recovery, founded by John and Cheryl Baker, is a Christ-centered, 12-step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, pain, or addiction of any kinds. This program combines Christian teaching with the honesty and support structure of 12-step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.
Mental Health
Encompassing emotional, psychological, and social well-being components, our mental health services will help influence cognition, perception, and behavior. The goal is to equip individuals for handling stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making in healthy ways.
Discipleship Training
The Dream Center of Ocoee Region wants to address the systemic roots and the underlying causes of life-controlling issues and addictions. Unless we do this through effective, ongoing discipleship, their struggles will continue throughout their lives. Core faith training will enable them to develop an intimate relationship with God, who is the ultimate source of their healing and life transformation.
Following are examples of curricula for this component:
- Curriculum for a New Paradigm by Tom Clarke addresses the deeper questions about the meaning of life and the afterlife, building a strong foundation for exploring personal faith.
- Victory Over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson explores and defines principles of maturity that lead to a life of freedom through Christ.
- The Great Commandment Principle by David Ferguson reveals the first-century truth for a twenty-first-century culture as Dr. John Vining, Director of the Center of Relational Health, describes this curriculum. "At the core of human pain are unmet intimacy needs." David Ferguson points the way to experiencing God's Word and how to make it relevant to the care needs of others. The Great Commandment Principle will likely be a life-perserver to many drowning in the emptiness of cultural chaos."
- Intimacy Therapy by John Kie Vining and David Fergison
Our Services
Housing
Dream Center is a men’s recovery residence that utilizes the social model. There is a house manager, a peer recovery specialist, and peer coaches. Residents have a role in the management of the house, and support each other in their recovery.
Short-term Goals:
Participant Housing
- Phase 1 – Recovery Residence where peers support peers.
- Phase 2 – Apartment-type independent living at DCOOR.
- Phase 3 – Independent living in the community.
Health and Wellness
Residents have access to medical care as needed. Mental health services will be provided as residents continue to live free of life-controlling addictions. Physical exercise will be part of each day. Personal fitness and participation in activities and sports will be ongoing.
Short-term Goals:
Nutrition
- Provide nutrition instruction on elements of a proper diet.
- Provide nutrition instruction to include planning, prepping, and preparing meals.
Health Care
- Access to Medical Care.
- Access to Mental Health Care.
- Personal fitness includes exercise, group activities, and sports.
Education
Residents who are public school age will attend one of the local high schools with an emphasis on vocational training. Residents who are of public-school age have the option of completing courses for their high school diploma, preparing for the High Set (GED), or going straight into community-based vocational training.
Long-term Goals:
- Completion of High School Diploma
- Completion of High Set (GED)
- Vocational Counseling
- Job Readiness
- Financial Literacy
Vocational Training
Vocational training initially focuses on job readiness and include vocational counseling, employment, preparation, job training, and job placement. To accomplish this, we are collaborating with Cleveland State Community College, American Job Corps, and City Fields. We are also working with local businesses for job training and placement. Students will work toward proficiency that will lead to employment in the community.
Long-term Goals:
- Community-based Vocational Training – City Fields
- Mig Welding
- Forklift Operating
- HVAC
- Cleveland State Community College Advanced Certifications
- Welding
- Mechanical & Electrical
- Allen Bradley 500, 5000, & Siemens S7 set-up & programming
- Local Business Partnerships
- Life Skills Education
Discipleship Training
Faith is central to our mission. We believe that all human beings have a void that can only be filled by God. Often people attempt to appease this emptiness with drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. Spiritual education and a faith experience will be fostered at DCOOR. Students will receive basic biblical instruction in the classroom, chapel services, and small group settings. DCOOR will present a balance of the knowledge of God through Scripture and opportunities to experience a close, personal relationship with God. We believe all of life is built on this foundation of faith and will encourage our young adults to begin building. We want our residents to understand that God loves them and has a beautiful plan for their lives. He can sustain them in their sobriety — not just keeping them alive but thriving.
Long-term Goals:
- Biblical education
- Experiential faith opportunities
- Scriptural and relational training for intimacy with a loving God
- Embracing God's plan for their lives
- Equipping Skills for sobriety
- Transformational life practices