Family Advocacy Movement (FAM) is a ministry at Refuge focused on bringing Gospel change and transformation for families in South Austin. FAM focuses on bringing greater spiritual, financial, relational, and emotional wholeness. Through a three-month commitment to a combination of friendship, coaching, and counseling, our goal is come alongside you, helping you pave the path forward to generational change and a brighter future.
Learn more about FAM and how you can apply below.
A Holistic Way Forward
FAM is a holistic approach to helping you take steps forward in financially, relationally, and emotionally. FAM seeks to create a support structure around you and your family that empowers you toward progress. We like to think of ourselves as navigators, walking alongside you and your family.
Currently, FAM implements a three-prong approach to community-focused support we call FCC: Friendship, Coaching, Counseling. We believe community is the key to long-term health. In other words, everyone needs other people to help us navigate growth in our lives. As a result, our three-prong approach (each of which is an individual person your family will interact with) prioritizes relationships and human connection.
Friendship
We believe progress begins with friendship. In friendship, we find a growing investment in another’s well being. Our Family Friends are meant to provide your family with someone who is invested in you. Family Friends are focused on meeting you and your family where you are with care and support.
Coaching
We believe financial literacy is a tool that paves the way for generational change. However, not every person is given access to this tool. In FAM, we want to change that. Our financial coaches aim to equip your family with tools that help you better understand your financial position, where you want to be financially, and how to get you there.
Counseling
We can’t get where we want to be if we’re stuck where we are. We believe there’s no place this is truer than in the area of mental and emotional health. Often, though, services focused on this area of life are under-utilize by busy families, unfamiliar with where to even start. We want to change that! For every three months you participate FAM, we will subsidize counseling costs for up to three counseling sessions for you and your family.* This can family counseling, marriage counseling, or personal counseling.
Common Questions
How Long is FAM?
Currently, FAM is a three-month commitment to Friendship, Coaching, and Counseling. However, we don’t believe growth and progress have an end date. As a result, you are invited to utilize as many three-month cycles as you would like. Participation renewals are sent out 45 days into your three-month cycle and are due no later than 30 days prior to the end of your current FAM cycle. If submissions are beyond 30 days, you’ll be required to submit an email request for reconsideration.
Who is Eligible?
Currently, we are only accepting families located in the South Austin zip codes of 78744, 78742 78745, and 78748 or on a referral basis through Refuge Community Church. Regarding family units, we believe families comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether married with children, a single-parent household, a multi-generation caregiver, or anything in between, we want to see you take steps forward in the areas of financial, relational, and emotional wholeness.
How to Apply for FAM?
To begin your family’s journey in FAM, please fill out our Family Application Form. You can also click the link below to fill out an embedded version of the application.
While we currently have limited availability, we are always accepting applicants to be on our waitlist.
* Counseling Costs: Counseling subsidies are limited to our network of Counseling Providers. If you already have a counselor you are seeing or would like to see, you may submit a request during your application process. Request approval is at the discretion of FAM leadership and Refuge Community Church.
* Funds: All donations made to our FAM fund are reserved for exclusive use in FAM. Any finances donated to this fund are limited to the operational costs of FAM , including but not limited to material items and subsidy costs.