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Allegany County
Associated Charities – Health + Housing = Community Wellness
With assistance from Associated Charities, emergency medications are provided to treat illnesses and to provide the client the ability to manage chronic conditions in a timely fashion at no expense to them. Associated Charities offers the client the ability to improve their quality of life, regain health and wellness. This reduces stress and anxiety suffered by not being able to afford medications or co-pays. Continuous access to medications leads to improved health and the ability to fully participate in community through work, volunteering, and fulfilling family obligations. Other types of emergency assistance maintain the family's ability to remain in safe affordable housing by ensuring utility and rental payments are made. The family does not have to choose between the household expense or food.
Allegany Youth Enrichment Program Services (AYEPS) - Youth Center
Offers a safe, secure and structured environment where the youth can go to participate with persons their own age. Through this they learn team building, leadership and self-esteem.
The program focuses on middle and high school children who may be traveling down the wrong path, are homeless, have been bullied, have low self-esteem, are in need of someone to believe in them or just want to become involved in something productive. Children reported making better decisions after participation in the program.
Family Crisis Resource Center - Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange
The focus of supervised visitation and safe exchange is to provide safety and reduce the likelihood of violence while providing an opportunity for a non-custodial parent to see their children.
Horizon Goodwill - Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunities
The program helps move people out of poverty by offering a hands on approach for the individual and family needs. With case management and housing navigation, the wrap around services help to establish resources and connections to job training, employment and housing.
Individuals, through the job readiness training program have successfully completed the programs and were able to obtain employment with Horizon Goodwill, complete 90 temporary labor training hours or have been able to utilize the skills obtained to find employment and housing in the community.
Pressley Ridge – The Homebuilders Program
Allegany County Department of Social Services refers families at risk who receive intensive, in home crisis intervention, mental health and substance use counseling, life-skills, education for families who have children at imminent risk of placement in foster care, residential facilities, psychiatric hospitals and/or group homes. The goal of the program is prevent unnecessary out-of home placement of children through intensive, on site intervention, and to teach families new problem-solving skills to prevent further crises.
The Salvation Army – The Red Shield Club
The Salvation Army partners with the Boys & Girls Club of America to bring the Red Shield Club to their service area. While the program is available to all families, they have targeted low to moderate income families for membership to the Club. Education and health are priorities of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and as a partner agency, the Salvation Army focuses on that as well, with the goal to help Club members receive the education and tools that they need to move out of poverty.
Union Rescue Mission – The Homeless Meal Program
The Homeless Meal Program combats food scarcity by providing meals to those in need. Meals are provided, on schedule, three times daily, and made available to any and all in need, without fail, The goal of the program is to efficiently feed as many persons in need as possible.
Western Maryland Food Bank (WMFB) – Feeding the Hungry
WMFB is able to help alleviate hunger and financial stress on individuals and families locally. Their hope is to continue to impact clients by improving their quality of life. Having the needed amount of food in their households will help children learn and adults to more productive members of society. WMFB strives to lessen the financial stress placed on those in need by the continued increases of food prices.
YMCA Gilchrist Family Center – Relatives As Parents Program
The Relatives As Parents Program’s target population are families who have lost members due to the opiod crisis in our community, who are raising other family member’s children, promeintly grandparents, but can also be aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings.
The program assists families in: 1) Linkages to financial resources available to them to assist with parenting again 2) Linkages to other programs: senior job service, child care and education programs. 3) Linkages to housing, mental health services and social services 4) Home visit support, group presentations and support groups.
Garrett County
Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc. – Meals On Wheels Program
The Meals On Wheels Program promotes the Garrett County Community Action Committee strategy of creating an environment where vulnerable Garrett County residents have shelter, food, access to health care and support on life skills, thereby increasing the number of families and individuals who are economically self-sufficient and able to live independently.
The target population of Meals On Wheels are seniors, age 60+, who are homebound and unable to shop for or prepare food for themselves. This program provides vital support to seniors wishing to remain independently living in their own homes. Many recipients have limited income and high medical and medication expenses.
Garrett County Community Action - The Partners After School Program
The Partners After School Program implements a two generational strategy to benefit the parent/caregiver and the student. The activities center around stress management, lifestyle choices and nutrition. Parent child activities include: “Your Positive Self” – to integrate a focus on a positive future; “Mindfulness” – 15 minutes of mindfulness practice which helps to settle the students’ minds as they transition from school to home; “Stress Management” – education lessons from the Garrett County Health Department - “Nutrition” – food education; “Parenting Skills” – ACEs Education from the Garrett County Health Department.
Hampshire County
Catholic Charities of West Virginia - Stabilization
In an effort to better help people move out of poverty, the Romney office of Catholic Charities WV replaced its emergency assistance program with stabilization services. Stabilization services involve helping clients address the immediate crisis while working to mitigate future emergencies. Financial assistance with basic needs are provided to those clients who qualify for the program.
Slanesville Elementary School – After School Tutoring
Students attending the Slanesville Elementary School in grades 1 through 4 who need support in math and reading are provided an opportunity to have a tutor after school to help them. The children receiving tutoring achieve 100% of assignment completion.
Mineral County
Catholic Charities of West Virginia – Stabilization
In an effort to better help people move out of poverty, the office of Catholic Charities WV replaced its emergency assistance program with stabilization services. Stabilization services involve helping clients address the immediate crisis while working to mitigate future emergencies. Financial assistance with basic needs are provided to those clients who qualify for the program.
Mineral County Family Resource Network – Energy Express
Energy Express is a 6-week program that provides continued learning during the summer and food for those children who attend.
In Appalachia, generational poverty is the norm. And often times a lack of education and ability to read are also common generational deficits. Programs like Energy Express promote education in a way that widens the young mind, reaches the home through family involvement, and endorses continued learning. By providing the upcoming generation with the option of good education, healthy meals and community support we allow the cultivation of a better Appalachia.
Mineral County Family Resource Network – Court Appointed Special Advocate Closet (CASA)
The CASA Closet is a place where families in child abuse and neglect cases can obtain supplies for reunification. Items like cribs, high chairs, clothing, etc. These items prepare parents for the return of their children. Also included in the closet will be a resource guide to services that will keep families together.
Piedmont Library – Summer and Holiday Programs
The goal continues to be to provide food and educational programs for the youth during the holidays and the times they are out of school, which, will keep them active and have them continue to be interested in reading and learning in a fun manner. It is also good for social interaction.
All children in need will receive a bag of school supplies to be able to start school prepared, as well as supply them with something to eat that they may not be able to get if they didn’t attend the programming.
Tri Towns After School Program
The Tri-Towns After School Program provides a safe place for children pre-k through 8th grade to go after school. Between 16 and 25 students attend regularly and receive help with their homework from 7 or more volunteers. Assignments are completed and checked for accuracy. A warm meal is also provided for all children who attend. For some, this warm meal serves as their dinner. Food is also provided to children in the program during school breaks from other organizations in the community.