"Our mission is to help people reclaim the Better Self, to change the systems that create poverty."
The Better Way is a philosophy and concept programmed to provide a way for participants to recover their self-respect, worth, and dignity.  This creates the desire and motivation for participants to start a new journey; to live by their dreams to become and be the best that is within each of them.  This releases a tremendous drive within each participant to help himself/herself, and not be dependent on the benevolence of others.  It boils down to the simple philosophy of helping people help themselves, by providing a hand up instead of a hand out. Helping people help themselves gives the individual the motivation and power to rise above the ENTITLEMENT ATTITUDE. This makes it possible to develop a sense of pride in who they are, what they can do, and what they can become to meet any challenge life throws to them.
The philosophy and concepts are grounded in the famous statement by Goethe, “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is.  Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can, and should be.” There is within every individual a spark of greatness that can be ignited by treating people as they could be and should be.  People are welcomed with enthusiasm and without any sense of judgment on the condition of their lives.  People are never asked about their history and there is never an effort to fix them, or make them do what you want them to do, or do for them.  The total staff must be committed to this philosophy because people will receive help when offered, but it kills the internal motivation to do for oneself, live by his/her dreams, and it takes away the responsibility to be accountable for individual decisions and actions.
There are three program divisions for the Better Way philosophy and concept: (1.) A five day Job Readiness-Career Development Workshop,   (2.) An Employment Division with a Temporary Employment Component, and (3.) a Continuing Education Division for participants to get to the point where they can compete in the Public Institutions of Education.  It is crucial to have these resources available so participants can do for themselves.  The quickest and surest way to kill the idea of helping people help themselves is to assist them through the agency that is designed to help them help themselves.  The abundant resources in the community make it possible for participants to develop whatever individual possibilities they are willing to pursue by their own decision, volition, and action.
The philosophy and concept are founded on (1.)  The individual’s Faith Heritage, (2.) The Principles of the Twelve Step Programs, and (3.) The recovery of the Work Ethic.  These provide the foundation for faith, hope and a plan for living by the dream. The participants must understand who is responsible and accountable for their decisions and actions, and makes it clear that the individual must give his/her best to accomplish the task at hand.
Poverty and all the problems generated can be resolved by a “WE THE PEOPLE” challenge, and requires a new way to help people out of poverty.  Our time in history demands that we take up the challenge, or lose our country to hunger, homelessness, addiction, and violence.  We have proven and documented that there is a way that works. Our mission is to “Help People Reclaim the Better Self to Change the Systems that Create Poverty.”  
We have two choices; 1.Help people help themselves. 2.Build more prisons or socal systems to keep people on welfare.. The challenge is the WILL of the people to do something different.  The dream of helping people help themselves must never die.
People are not handpicked to attend the Better Way program. Anyone who wants, who is willing, and who will find a means to change is eligible for the Better Way. The program provides a process for people to discover their possibilities, to assess the need for change, and to choose the personal decisions about making changes in their lives. The Better Way is based on faith in God, the work ethic, and the principles of the Twelve Step Program.

Theo "Doc" Benson - Founder
Clendon (C.W.) Detrixhe - Managing Director