This course helps to orient you to the interactive elements in the TCU platform that can help aid in your learning. It's free and quick!

Families are falling apart, fathers are increasingly absent from the home, the elderly are out of contact with their children and grandchildren and communities are out of contact with each other. How can our charity work to solve these problems, not increase them?

Are you lonely? If you said yes, ironically, you are not alone. American's today are twice as likely to say they are lonely compared to Americans just 10 years ago and those who are in poverty are 27% more likely than the average American to feel lonely regularly. What do we do when someone is truly alone? The second step of effective charity is "Bonding." When individuals have no existing relationships, then it is time for compassionate volunteers to become in essence "new family members." Why did early American charity put such an emphasis on bonding? How did we get off track with this principle? How can we get started again? Find answers to these questions and many more in this True Charity University lesson, Mark #2: Bonding!

Effective charity requires volunteers who are willing to invest in others. In this course, we explore the rationale behind making relationship-building a central aspect of what you do, going beyond the checklist of things to do and finding opportunities to make meaningful connections with those you serve. And, because we know that any relationship can be messy, three veteran volunteers provide insight and tips on how to begin connecting, establishing healthy boundaries, and avoiding common potential pitfalls.

This course is a wonderful resource for anyone working in poverty alleviation – regardless of their faith or occupation – who wants to effectively serve clients with mental illness. The course examines the poor's experience with disproportionate levels of mental health problems, how to identify the intervention needed, and when to refer to a professional resource.

TCI Executive Director James Whitford provides a foundational framework for poverty alleviation. Ensure your compassion leads to results.

In this follow-up to The Road to Justice TCI's James Whitford details the three "pillars" that help ensure your charity is helping rather than hurting those you serve.

Not all poverty is the same, so why would our response to individual poverty be the same? Each person needs unique care, which can be an overwhelming thought. How can we know the needs of each person and meet them where they are? Learn how to simply and easily categorize your care without increasing your staff with this third mark of effective charity, Categorization.

Do you struggle with knowing when and how to help? Do you sometimes wonder if your help might actually be hurting those in need? An important element of charity work is being able to discern what help a person truly needs. We cannot do this alone, we must work together as a community to share information that will aid discernment. In this course you will both learn the importance of discernment in your giving and explore the 21st Century tools that make it possible!