04/18/2023 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

The Hope for Families Center HFC Shelter Program Grant amount: $35,000 Funds used: $35,000 Total children served: 190 Cost per child: $184.21 Focus Area: Early Childhood Development; Building Parent Capacity Program Description: The Shelter Program is the first step for homeless families with children under 18 years of age to stabilize their lives by providing safe shelter, nutritious meals, clothing and other basic necessities through case management, referrals and enrollment assistance to services available within the community. The goal for each family is to achieve financial stability, employment and permanent housing. Adults are referred to service providers within the community for employment training/placement, parenting skills and mental/physical health care. Children are immediately assessed and enrolled in appropriate schooling, day care and after school, summer, winter and spring break activities/camps. HFC has also been working with the families and children to discuss mental health needs of the entire family for stability. All of these factors tied together enables parents to obtain and maintain employment. Collaboration: The Hope for Families collaborates with numerous agencies that provide services to our clients. To cite a few: The Source for a small fee provides dinner to our clients delivered to our campus three nights a week. HFC staff has been cooking healthy dinners four nights a week with concentration on fresh fruits and vegetables. Health needs are met through Treasure Coast Community Health and Whole Family Health. Case management works with schools, after-school programs, day care facilities and Homeless Children's Foundation to find meaningful life enrichment activities for the children at the facility. Also, Case Management works directly with DCF who monitors the welfare of children while in the shelter, especially if there is an open case on the family. Residents and their children who are struggling with mental health obstacles are referred to the McCabe Connections Center at the Mental Health Collaborative and Suncoast Mental Health Center. Safe Families for Children helps our families with other areas of childcare and support when working toward sustainability. Finally, we work directly with Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council with Coordinated Entry and Rapid Rehousing efforts if affordable housing is available. When a family enters the shelter, case management immediately begins to work with the adults to explain and develop employment, budgeting, savings and rapid rehousing plan if affordable housing is available. They also work with the family to get the children into appropriate day care, school, after-school and summer, winter and spring camps. In order for the parent to work, the child must be in appropriate, supportive day care, school or other programs. The case manager responsible for children's programs then works with the parents/guardians to get all required documentation needed, completion of all required forms, scheduling of appointments and enrollment in day-care, school, after-school programs and other camps. The case manager responsible for Rapid Rehousing works with adults in locating appropriate housing once they have saved required money for rent. Both case managers work as a team to provide a multi -disciplinary approach for delivery of service to adults and children within the HFC. All case management takes place at The Hope for Families Center. 152