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Family Services
The Family Services department serves over 2,000 customers each year, providing energy assistance, counseling, tri-lingual services and crisis counseling. Many customers are given budget counseling to enable them to better manage their finances. Customers are also assisted through referrals to other agencies, health education and English as a Second Language instruction.
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Human Services Infrastructure
The Human Services Infrastructure (HSI) is collaboration between the State Department of Social Services, 211 Info Line, and the 12 Connecticut Community Action Agencies. It is a coordinated, statewide social service system for people in Connecticut with the goals of helping people easily access services, whether or not they are seeking DSS services. People, who are not seeking DSS services, get information, advocacy, and referrals to the many service providers in the community. Those that are seeking DSS services get assistance will arrive at DSS already informed and in many cases, with all the necessary paperwork already completed. HSI supports better use of existing resources; connecting clients to community resources before, during and/or after intervention by the Department of Social Services; getting clients to DSS prepared to use services efficiently; and coordinating services within the statewide network of 'helping' agencies.
Self Sufficiency Service Delivery Model
The goal of the family self-sufficiency model is to increase economic self-sufficiency among low-income and disadvantaged populations by implementing a comprehensive service delivery system that integrates family support services, employment services, education services, and childcare services. The program's aim is to bridge the gap between services and to make it as easy as possible for customers to access the specific help they need to succeed and break down the barriers to success. These barriers include mental health issues, poor job history and lack of job readiness, language barriers, family problems, substance abuse, medical problems, and educational or intellectual challenges. Intensive case management helps individuals and families address and overcome these issues.
Services:
Crisis Counseling
Provides emergency services to customers with immediate needs such as food, clothing, or shelter. The counselor makes referrals and gives the customer whatever help is needed to solve the immediate problem. Last year the Crisis Counseling program served 275 people.
Hispanic Resource Center
An information and referral center to serve the needs of the growing Hispanic population of the Stamford area. Translation, community organizing, and case management are also provided. In addition, ESL classes, which are designed to assist foreign-born customers in the acquisition of language, math, reading, and job seeking skills, are offered through this program. 408 people were served through the Hispanic Resource Center last year.
Victor House
Founded in April 2007, Victor House is a safe-haven for homeless families in Stamford. Our supportive housing program provides a range of services for low-income families seeking permanent housing within the community. With the support of the Housing Coordinator, residents focus on finding stable employment, and enroll in GED and job training courses. All our residents are given the opportunity to obtain all the help they need to break the cycle of homelessness, incarceration and poverty. The program currently consists of eight scattered sites and we anticipate the creation of additional units in the near future.
Tri-Lingual Services
This program utilizes Haitian and Hispanic advocates to provide translation and assistance to Hispanics and Haitians in areas such as: immigration, employment, and health care. We refer customers to other CTE programs and to programs at other community agencies and assisted 310 people last year.
Haitian Family Mentoring Program
This program worked with 305 Haitian immigrant families to assist them in their transition to life in America last year. Education about HIV and AIDS and help with healthy decision-making are important goals of the program. In 2000-2001, the program will be extended to include the Hispanic community.
Hispanic/Haitian Outreach Program
This is a new program, funded by the Stamford Community Development Program, that provides outreach to the Hispanic and Haitian communities in Stamford to educate residents concerning the availability of services and to refer them to appropriate programs both at CTE and at other community agencies.
Energy Assistance Program
The Energy Program determines eligibility for assistance with energy bills for homeowners and renters. A large portion of the 1,600 participants in this program are senior citizens who are on fixed incomes.
REACH Program
The REACH (Residential Energy Assistance Challenge) program is a new program providing matched funds towards energy costs. An energy savings account is established to help plan for winter heating costs and those dollars are matched 1:1 up to $1500. Energy conservation and financial literacy classes around budgeting, banking, and savings are provided as well as utility mediation services.
For more information on CTE's Family Services Department, please contact:
The Family Services Receptionist, at
(203) 352-4846
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