Extension educator teaches families how to deal with clutter

What happens when a family is so overwhelmed by clutter in the home that common tasks become challenging?

When the situation affects a child, the state Department of Children and Families (DCF) is often called in to the situation.

Two years ago, extension educator Mary Ellen Welch received a call from a DCF social worker, asking whether she could offer assistance.

This effort developed into a program called "House Smart: Solutions for Managing Clutter," to assist families with chronic disorganization.

In some instances, one or both parents may be suffering from a psychological illness, such as depression.

Or the problem arises when the family suffers multiple challenges, like unemployment, health, legal, or transportation issues.

For some families, the clutter is multigenerational in origin.

The families Welch serves are not those where a home is just untidy.

"These are homes where literally accessing one side of the room from the other requires skill," she says.

As the problem worsens, the parent may feel like the house is out of control, and the children are left searching for a designated place to eat, complete their homework, keep their belongings, or even relax.

Once on board, Welch meets with the social worker, the family members, and sometimes related community agencies. At least one parent must be a willing participant and sign a form giving her permission to work with the family.

This becomes part of the DCF treatment plan.

"I want to help parents create a safe environment where children can thrive," Welch says. "What I do first is meet with the parents and listen. I obtain historical information about the disorganization and ask them what bothers them most and what they would most like to change."

From the start, Welch encourages the parent to practice making decisions about their home, since this will be critical to their success.

Children must also learn to organize their belongings, since parents have not modeled this behavior.

Typically, families have been approached by many well-meaning social workers, friends, neighbors, and relatives determined to rid the home of clutter.

Some people express concern that their possessions will be disposed of without their consent.

This is usually the case when people have developed strong emotional attachments to their belongings.

Welch takes a different approach.

"People cannot change their entire lifestyle overnight," she says.