2010 community support services annual report

Alachua County Community Support Services

Annual Report

2010

It is my honor and privilege as Director of Alachua County ’s Community Support Services to present our 2010 Annual Report. Our mission is to provide comprehensive health and human services and to establish partnerships to positively impact the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “ There are no problems we cannot solve together and very few that we can solve by ourselves.”

With the help of our collaborative partnerships, we continue to address the needs of our community. As we continue to

tackle economic and financial concerns, I remain confident of our ability to provide Alachua County citizens in need with access to basic health and human services.

This year ’s annual report highlights the services we provide, as well as the necessity for our Department to work in unison with partner organizations to serve the community. By uniting our goals and objectives with other agencies, we are able to provide efficient and effective services that allow for a more sustainable future. This in turn allows us to offer care and support for those citizens most in need.

In 2010, we continued to have a positive impact on the well-being of our citizens. As they deal with current economic realities, our mission is more important than ever. The harsh reality is—when the economy is down, demand for our services goes up.

We hope you will take the time to read this report and familiarize yourself with the important and compassionate work accomplished by Community Support Service in 2010.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you,

Elmira K. Warren Director, Department of Community

Support Services

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From the Director

Workforce• Employees: 66• Volunteers*: 1,211

Volunteer Impact• Hours Donated: 255,504• Value of Hours**: $5,327,258

Contacts• Phone Calls: 261,443• Website Visits: 49,039

RSVP

Department Director

Cooperative Extension

CHOICES

Crisis Center

Social Services

Veteran Services

Victim Services

Partnerships

FGP

CAPP

Poverty Reduction

PPC

Senior Services

Health & Human Services

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Department Overview

Unincorporated - MSTU $190,100 - 1%

2010 Operating Budget - $18,975,217

General Fund $9,689,923 - 51%

Special Revenue - CHOICES $8,397,408 - 44%

Other Special Revenue - Grants $697,786 - 4%

Investing through Partnerships

• $909,875 contributed to the Alachua County Health Department for a variety of medical servicesforourcitizens

• $883,956contributedtoMeridianBehavioralHealthCaretoassistcitizensinneedofmentalhealth and substance abuse services

• $727,600 paid to the Medical Examiner for autopsy services as a State of Florida required unfunded mandate

• $381,228 received in grant funds for the purchase of six cutaway buses to provide transportationforcitizenslivinginruralareasoftheCounty

* Volunteers include: interns (including paid), work-study students, paid volunteers** Volunteer Rate $20.85 (Independent Sector Rate.) This rate willbeusedthroughoutthispublicationforthecalculationofthe“Value of Volunteers.”

success storiesSuccess stories

Retiredcouple,Mr.&Mrs.Hliveinanoldermobilehomeona6acrepropertyoffthebeatenpath.Mr.HisaWWIIveteran and has dealt with prostate cancer and open-heart surgery.Mrs.HisretiredfromShandsHospitalandhasfailing kidneys that require dialysis treatments and doctor visitsthreetimesaweek.

With so much of their limited income going to medical bills,theHfamilycouldnotaffordtofixanumberofserious problems with their home. The home’s roof was leaking,thesidinghadrotted,thewindowairconditionerswereagedandinefficient,andthebathroomfloorwascaving in. The home also had no ramp for Mrs. H’s wheelchair, making it very unsafe for both she and her husband to get her in and out of the house.Volunteers with Rebuilding Together North Central Florida, a CAPP agency, replaced the home’s siding, sealed andrepairedtheroof,sealedthewindowsandinstalledtrim,andinstalledtwoenergyefficientwindowairconditioningunits.AnADA-compliantrampwasalsobuiltforMrs.H’swheelchair.Thecouplewasverygratefulfortherepairsandadditionsandcanlookforwardtoasafer,morecomfortableplacetoliveandlowerutilitybills.

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Community Agency Partnership Program - CAPP

Outofapopulationof243,574,anestimated26%(63,329people)havedifficultyaffordingthebasicnecessitiesoffood and shelter. A 2-bedroom apartment in Alachua County costs an average of $740 a month. A person earning minimum wage ($7.25/hour) would need to work 84hoursaweektobeabletoaffordthatapartment.Hourly, they would need to earn a minimum of $15.00 an hour for a 40-hour work week. A moderate cost plan to feed a family of 4 is $870.15 a month.

The CAPP Program provides supplemental funding tonon-profitorganizationstoprovidebasicneedprograms in the areas of health care, food and housing.

Mission Statement

Division Stats• Employees: 1• Funds Invested: $1,028,172• PovertyReductionPrograms:30• Number of Agencies Providing Services: 24 • NumberofCitizensServed:33,895• Number of Requests for Service Made to CAPP

Staff:567

Community NeedProvide Food and Housing Assistance Adequatefoodandhousingareessentialtoacommunity’s well being.

• CAPP formed partnerships with 17 food and housing-relatednon-profitorganizations

• CAPP provided $387,700 to food and housing programs

• Over 4 million meals were provided to needy adults and children

• 209 seniors received Meals on Wheels• Over200residential&communityvegetable

gardens were planted• 1,870householdsreceivedhousing/utility

assistance• Over $1.8 million dollars worth of food that

otherwise would have been thrown away was collected and redistributed

Action

Ms. M is a 38 year old mother of three with no health insurance. Shewaslaidofflastyearandhasbeenunabletofindemployment.She ignored a lump in her breast for months because she could notaffordtogotothedoctor.AfriendtoldMs.MaboutACORNClinic’s no to low-cost health care program, which is supported with CAPPfunds,andconvincedhertomakeanappointment.Testingrevealed that Ms. M had breast cancer. Luckily, she was successfully treated and is cancer free.

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Community Agency Partnership Program - CAPP


Whenthehealthcareneedsofcitizensgounmet,anentirecommunityisnegativelyaffected.Untreatedhealthconditionsresultinadecreasedabilitytocareforone’sselfandfamily,missedtimefromworkandschool,andapathwaytomoreserioushealthconditions.CAPPformedpartnershipswithsevennon-profitorganizationsprovidinghealth care services.

Community NeedSupport for Healthy CommunitiesOutofapopulationof243,574,approximately37%(90,000people)cannotaffordthecostofhealthcare.

Action • CAPP contributed $273,472 to health care

programs• 2,179 adults and children received medical and

dental care• 6,467medical&dentalvisitswereprovided• Inoneprogram,82%ofpatientsdiagnosedwith

hypertension reduced their high blood pressure

CAPPAlachua County,

FloridaAlachua County,

Florida

Supported inpart by:

Community AgencyPartnership Program

$124,172$123,000

$106,000

$100,000$45,000

ACORN ClinicElderCare

Peaceful PathsEarlyLearningCoalition

St. Francis HouseFlorida Organic Growers

Bread of the Mighty Food BankGainesville Harvest

Three Rivers Legal ServicesHippodrome State Theatre

Black on Black Crime Task Force

ARCHelping Hands Clinic

LazarusRestorationMinistries

CatholicCharitiesBig Brothers Big Sisters

Rebuilding Together NCFCulturalArtsCoalition

Partnership for Strong FamiliesDignity Project(The)

Children’s Home SocietyPlanned Parenthood of NCF

EpilepsyFoundationFriends of the Micanopy Library

$45,000$45,000

$42,000$40,000$38,000

$37,000$35,000

$26,000$25,000$25,000

$25,000$22,000$21,000

$20,000$20,000$20,000

$17,000$15,000

$12,000

2010 CAPP Agency Funding

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ManysmallbusinessesinAlachuaCountycannotaffordto provide health insurance and a large number of part-timeemployeescannotaffordtopayforemployer-basedcoverage.CHOICESprovidesthosequalifiedemployeesbasicprimarycareandpreventativeservices that help the community avoid unnecessary hospitalizationsandEmergencyRoomusagewhilestillprovidingcoverageforphysicianvisits,prescriptions,andoutpatientprocedurestodealwithhealthproblems.

To provide access to health care services for the working uninsured residents of Alachua County throughinnovative,cost-effectiveprogramsandprovidehealtheducationandwellnessinitiativesforthebenefitoftheentirecommunity.

Mission Statement

Division Stats• Employees: 13 • Volunteers: 4• Volunteer Hours: 1,960• Value of Volunteer Hours: $40,866 • ApplicationsProcessed:3,716• MonthlyApplications:300-400• Total membership: 3,340

Community NeedReduce the Number of Alachua County’s Low-Income Residents Without HealthcareProvide basic health coverage for the working uninsured.

Action

CHOICES

CHOICESprovideshealthbenefitsforAlachuaCounty’sworking uninsured:

• CHOICES has provided care to over 5,000 Alachua County working uninsured residents over the past 5 years

• Over 3,000 residents currently receive CHOICES benefits

• Benefitsfocusonprimarycareandpreventativecare• CHOICESbenefitsprovidespecialattentiontothose

withchronicconditions


Ms. J enrolled in the CHOICES Program because, in her words, “I am self-employed and don’t have any health insurance and can’t affordtobuyhealthinsurance.”Ms.J,apublicationeditor,isarepresentativeofthepeopleCHOICESwasdesignedtoserve.Sheworks every day but does not have access to the medical care necessarytomeetherprimarycareandpreventativecareneeds.Through her membership in CHOICES, Ms. J has regular primary care visits with her physician, dental care, and treatment for any chronicconditionsthatdevelop.“Ican’tsayenoughgoodthingsabout CHOICES,” she said.

Ms. J is just one of many CHOICES members who is receiving primaryandpreventativecaretohelphercontinueanactiveandproductivelifestyle.Thesebenefitskeepherandmanyofourcitizensincontactwithhealthprofessionalsprovidingthebenefitsofphysicalexaminations,prescriptionmedications,diagnostictesting,andmedicalproceduresthatkeeppeopleworkingandproductiveinourcommunity.

Cooperative Extension

“TheAlachuaCountyCooperativeExtensionOfficehasbeeninvaluabletoRamseyStockFarm.TheCooperativeExtensionAgentshaveprovidedinformationtoussowecanmakeinformedbusinessdecisionsduringthisdifficulteconomicatmosphere. They have also given help in our desire to increasefarmprofitabilitywithoutadverselyimpactingtotheenvironment. The agents have accomplished this by staying abreast of the most current technology and being able to apply it toproductionagriculture.”

- Kathleen Eubanks, Ramsey Stock Farm, Micanopy, FL

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Agriculture is a $92 million economic industry in Alachua County. Agricultural producers must be on the leading edge of research-based knowledge and technology. The CooperativeExtensionistheonlysourceintheCountyforthisresearch-basedinformation.

ThemissionoftheAlachuaCountyCooperativeExtensionOfficeistoprovidescientificallybasedagricultural, human and natural resource knowledge thatcitizensuseinmakinginformeddecisions,whichcontribute to an improved quality of life.

Mission Statement

Division Stats• Employees: 9• Volunteers: 340• Volunteer Hours: 20,234• Value of Volunteer Hours: $421,879• TotalEducationalContacts:80,858• EducationalProgramsOffered:634• Phone Calls: 5,208

Community NeedSustain Agriculture as a Viable Economic IndustryThe growing need to sustain agriculture in Alachua County, and the desire to grow, market, and buy locally producedcommoditiesinAlachuaCounty.

Action • CooperativeExtensionAgriculturalAgentsserved

25,000 agricultural producers in 2010• TheCooperativeExtensionOfficeistheonly

research-based programming source for agriculture in Alachua County

• TheAlachuaCountyCooperativeExtensionOfficeistheonlysourceforproducerstobecertifiedforpesticidelicenses

• Savedproducers$9,425byoffering14no-costeducationalclassesforcontinuingeducationcreditsneededforbothobtainingandrenewingapesticidelicense

• 1,355ContinuingEducationUnitswereawardedtoAlachuaCountyproducersthroughtheCooperativeExtensionOffice

• Provided 220 farm visits focusing on diagnosing disease,identifyingweeds,fertilizationrecommendations,soilfertility,foragetesting,animalhealth,animalreproduction,animalnutrition,andvegetablerecommendations

• Providedover100educationalprogramsinaneffortto help farmers and ranchers remain sustainable


Photo by Ginger Larson

Crisis Center

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Toparticipateinthesolutionofanyhumanproblemthroughemotionalsupport,education,counseling,andcrisisintervention,wheneverandwhereveritoccurs in Alachua County.

Mission Statement

Division Stats• Employees: 5• Volunteers: 115• Crisis Counseling Phone Calls: 56,791• Volunteer Hours: 43,375• Value of Volunteer Hours: $904,369• Presentations&Trainings:190• Face-to-Face Counseling Hours: 4,537

Therecenteconomiccrisishasleftpeopleinneedofcounseling services and support now more than ever. Itseemsthattheeconomy’sdownturnhasleftcitizenswith fewer resources and has resulted in many job losses.Unemploymenthasbeenassociatedwithatwofold to threefold increased risk of suicide. According totheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics,theunemploymentrateinAlachuaCountyhasgonefrom3.4%inJanuaryof2008,upto7.8%inOctoberof2010.Thisemphasizesthe importance of providing adequate counseling servicestocitizensofAlachuaCounty.Theseservicesareavailableatnocharge24/7andarecost-effectivebecause they are provided by well-trained volunteers, in additiontoCrisisCenterstaff.

Community NeedHelp for Those Experiencing Crisis or Suicidal Thoughts in Tough Economic Thereisanincreasingneedforcrisisinterventionandsuicidepreventionservicesduetothecurrenteconomic crisis.

Action • 55%increaseinface-to-facecounselinghours• 4,698 new clients served• 9,923 clients seen by Crisis Center


Mr.McalledtheCrisisCenterfeelingdesperateafterlosinghisjobof20+years.Sincebeinglaidoff,hehadbeensearchingforjobsbuttherejustwasn’tany work available for him. He no longer knew how to provide for his family andwasthinkingofsuicide.Mr.Mfeltthathisfamilywouldbebetterofffinanciallywithouthimandevenhadsomefundssavedthatcouldsustainthem when he was gone. He came in to see a counselor and realized that he could make it with encouragement and moral support. When he expressed hisfeelingstohiswife,hefoundhertobeunderstandingandsupportive.Mr.M found employment eventually, but said that he might not have made it throughthosetoughtimeswithoutassistancefromtheCrisisCenter.

mission statement

Foster Grandparent Program

The Foster Grandparent Program matches low-income volunteers aged 55 and over, with pre-k and elementary school children who have developmental,emotional,physical,socialor medical challenges, in order to increase opportunitiesforthemtosucceed,whileprovidingchallenging and rewarding experiences for the volunteers.


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Mission Statement

Dee started kindergarten only knowing her alphabet according to the ABC song.Shecouldn’tidentifyletters,andwasfarbehindmostofherclassmates,whohadbeeninpre-schoolandknewtheirlettersandnumberswhentheystarted. She was shy and very hesitant to read with Foster Grandparent Fran Mesickatfirst,but“Grandma”workedwithherdaily,andshewasproudtoreport that at the end of the school year she had caught up to the rest of the class reading books at grade-level!

Division Stats• Employees: 2.5• Foster Grandparent Volunteers: 107• Volunteer Hours: 93,898• Value of Volunteer Hours: $1,957,773

There are approximately 8,000 children who have one or more specialorexceptionalneedsservedbythestaffoftheSchoolBoardofAlachuaCounty,accordingtoExceptionalStudentEducationServices.Inaddition,theEarlyLearningCoalitionreceived2,408requestsforresourcesorinformationregardingspecial needs children in child care centers and/or served by otheragencies.Thesechildren,withoutassistance,oftenfallbehind in school, and are less successful than their peers. To hire tutors for children with special needs costs $10 to $20 per hour, on average, according to care.com, (a website which matchestutors,babysitters,andcaregiverswithassignments.)In many instances Foster Grandparent volunteers are paired with these special needs children.

Last year, more than 100 Foster Grandparent volunteers mentored, tutored, and assisted over 200 children in over 40 schools,childcarecenters,andafterschoolprograms.

Twenty special needs students were assigned to the volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club, Girls Place, and the City of Gainesville’safterschoolprograms.Attheendoftheschoolyear:• 90%hadimprovedinsocialskills• 80%hadimprovedintheamountofphysicalactivity• 90%hadimprovedinacademicachievement

126 special needs students were assigned to Foster Grandparent volunteers in 22 local elementary schools. At the end of the school year, teachers reported: • 98%improvedinreadingskills• 97%improvedinmathskills• 81%improvedtheirbehavior• 76%ofchildrenservedinelementaryschools

demonstrated improvement in all three areas

55childrenwereservedinchildcaresettings.91%showedsignificantimprovementsin:• Socialandemotionaldevelopment• Appropriate behavior • Academicskills(lettersandnumbers,speech/language)

Community NeedAcademic Success for Special Needs ChildrenChildrenwhohavespecialorexceptionalneeds,suchaslearningdisabilities,physicalchallenges,orbehavioralissues,needtheextraattentionandencouragement of caring adults to succeed in life.

Action


Partners for a Productive Community

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mission statementThemissionofPartnersforaProductiveCommunityis to reduce the impact of poverty through communityrevitalization,toprovidepreventionandinterventionprogramsandtoaddresseducationand economic concerns of residents in at-risk communities.

Division Stats• Employees: 1 • Volunteers: 79• Volunteer Hours: 477 • Value of Volunteer Hours: $9,945• DonationAmount:$3,800• Dollars Reinvested in the area by Community:

$29,176 • Grant Dollars Invested: $58,000

ThePartnersforaProductiveCommunity(PPC)Programhas worked diligently to stabilize, revitalize and sustain targetedat-riskcommunitiesinsouthwestAlachuaCounty. With the downturn of the economy and the closing of several community resources this area has again become a focal point. Several helping agencies and housingdevelopmentshaveclosedandthecorrelatingreductionofserviceshashighlightedthesecommunitiesagain as areas that are impoverished and lack access to services. Consequently the community residents, leaders, government,businessesandnot-for-profitagencieshave come together to form the Southwest Advocacy Group(SWAG).TheSWAGorganizationhasfocusedtheireffortsinassistingtheresidentsofseven(7)Southwestcommunities:PineMeadows,HarborCove,HiddenOaks,HollyHeight,GordonManor,LintonOaks,MajesticOaksand Tower Oaks. The PPC has worked with SWAG in variouscapacitiesoverthelastfiscalyearbydeterminingcommunityneeds,participatingincommunitymeetingsand referring SWAG to other programs that are capable of assistingtheminmakingtheirvisionareality.

Community NeedStabilizing SW CommunitiesPartnering with agencies and neighborhood groups to Increasethequalityoflifeinat-riskcommunities.

Action

Mission Statement

Ms. C was a single, unemployed mother of 4 young children under the age of 7 living in oneofthesouthwestcommunities.ShewasassaultedbyherboyfriendandcontactedPPCregardinghowtobesthandlethissituation.AreferralwasmadetotheCounty’sVictimServicesandRapeCrisisCenterinaneffortforhertoreceivecounselingandasafelivingenvironment. She did receive counseling, help with basic needs and safe housing for her children. She was also able to obtain a restraining order against her abuser. PPC realizing her need for independence assisted with job referrals.

Thejudicialsystemfoundherboyfriendguiltyofdomesticviolenceandhewasincarcerated. With a safe place for her family to live and no longer in constant fear of abuse,Ms.Cfoundarenewedconfidenceinherself.Thiswasinstrumentalinherabilitysecureemployment.Sheisnowinahealthyrelationship,employedandsustainingherfamily.PPCisstillintouchandavailabletogivethefamilyadditionalinformationandreferral services to ensure the families independence.

• SWAGandPartnersforaProductiveCommunitypresented data to the Board of County Commissioners requestingthepurchaseoftwopropertiesinSouthwest Gainesville for a proposed Community ResourcesiteandPublicHealthUnitClinic.Bothsitesaimtobringcriticallyneededservicestotheareaandwill be operated by local government and various community partners.

Poverty Reduction Program

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mission statementToaddresscriticalissuesrelatedtopovertyinAlachuaCountybyengagingpublicandprivateentitiestoidentifyaspectsofandtypesofpoverty,includingcauses,mitigationandsolutionsofvariousfacetsofpoverty.

Division Stats• Employees: 2• Advisory Boards: 1• Phone Calls: 4,119• Volunteer Hours: 860• Value of Volunteer Hours: $17,931

At the 2009 Alachua County/City of Gainesville Hunger Summit,arecommendationwasincludedintheHungerAbatement Plan that the State of Florida should contract with local restaurants that agree to provide hot meals to homelessindividuals.Asaresult,thePovertyReductionProgram, working in partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), began a model pilot program that allows homeless persons who have registered with the AlachuaCountyCoalitionfortheHomelessandHungrytousetheirSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram(SNAP),formerlyFoodStamps,benefitstopurchasepreparedmealsatparticipatingarearestaurants.TheSNAPpilotprogramis the only one of its kind in the Southeast region of the UnitedStates,andallowsthosealreadyreceivingbenefitsand without a place to cook or store food, an opportunity to get a hot meal. This program had been 9 months in the makingwithactiveplanningbytheCountystaffinthePovertyReductionProgram,UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture,DCF,theAlachuaCountyCoalitionfortheHomelessandHungry and area restaurants.

Community NeedIncrease Meal Options for Homeless ResidentsReducinghungerinourcommunity,onestepatatime.

Action

Mission Statement

• TheSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgram(SNAP)/ElectronicBenefitTransfer(EBT)PilotProgram began on June 15, 2010

• 275 homeless individuals are currently enrolled intheprogram,thisrepresents20%oftheSNAPrecipients who are noted as having a homeless living arrangement

• 1,292 people in Gainesville were counted as homeless during the January 2010 Point in Time SurveyconductedbytheAlachuaCountyCoalitionfor the Homeless and Hungry

• 5localrestaurantsareparticipatingintheprogram,with more to come on board soon


“A woman came in to apply for the pilot program: she had been considered upper middle classuntilareallybaddivorceayearagowhichleftherhomeless.Iwasexplaininghow the program worked, and we began talking. I told her that earlier in the week I had expressed to a group of advocates that not only does this program connect people withfood,italsogivespeopleanhourinarestaurant,connectingthembacktoasenseof normalcy in their lives. Her eyes welled up as she said she could not believe that someoneactuallynoticedhowimportantthatwastopeople-shefeltthatsomeoneactually understood her. She said her middle class background had absolutely not preparedherforsurvivalinpoverty.Beforeourconversation,shethoughtshewasbeingfoolishforwantingsobadlyjusttogoinandhaveapizza.Shesaidthatjustthatlittlebitoftimeinarestaurantwouldfeellikeshehadapieceofheroldlifeback.”

- Cheryl Twombly, DCF ACCESS Program

Retired & Senior Volunteer Program

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mission statementTheRetiredandSeniorVolunteerProgram(RSVP)providesvolunteeropportunitiestocommunitymembers aged 55 and greater to help create quality communitiesinAlachuaCounty.

Division Stats• Employees: 2.5• Volunteers: 597 (equivalent of 46 full

timeemployees)• Volunteer Hours: 85,944• Value of Volunteer Hours: $1,791,932• Number of Volunteer Sites: 46

Therearemanyunmethuman,educational,environmental,andpublicsafetyneedsforwhichcitizensover the age of 55 can impact, due to their knowledge, skills,abilitiesandoveralllifeexperiencebyvolunteeringatlocalnon-profitagencies.

• AlachuaCounty’sRSVPprogramhad597retiredandsenior-agedvolunteersthatdonatedtheirtimeandservicestonon-profitcommunityagenciesintheareasofEducation,Environment,HealthCare,Poverty,Arts&Culture,andSupportforSeniors

• RSVP volunteers delivered an average of 243 hot, nutritiousmealsperweekdayfortheMeals-on-Wheels program

• 100%ofSeniorsparticipatingintheMeals-on-Wheelsprogram indicated their health had been improved or maintained and/or that the meals had allowed them to remain independent enough to stay in their homes

• 41 RSVP volunteers assisted Al’z Place and Altrusa House, both adult day care centers, to provide a coordinated program of professional and compassionate services for impaired adults and their caregivers

• 63 clients received assistance from RSVP volunteers with personal care, skilled nursing, supervision, therapeuticrecreation,socialservices,nutritiousmeals,caregiversupport,restorativeexercise,andrespite care

Community NeedSupplement Service Providers’ DemandsVolunteers55andovermeetingcriticalcommunityneeds. Action

Mission Statement

“My 84 year old mother has Alzheimer’s disease and were it not for Al’z Place and the wonderfulstaffandRSVPvolunteers,Iwouldnotbeabletokeepworking.Herillnesshasprogressed to a state where I cannot leave her alone. She goes to Al’z place during the day tohelpkeephermindandbodywellandactive.Theynotonlyproviderespitecare,theyprovidesupportforme.Theygivemeusefulinformation,accesstosupportgroupsandasmiling face or a hug just when I feel I cannot go on. Thank heavens for Al’z Place and the Angels that work there.

- Ms. M, Gainesville, FL

RSVP Volunteer Hours and VenuesHealth Care - 293 VolunteersEducation-63VolunteersArt&Culture-109VolunteersOrganizationalSupport-60VolunteersSupport for Seniors - 169 VolunteersPoverty&Homelessness-60VolunteersEnvironment - 14 Volunteers

36,254

22,432

9,253 8,024 7,5081,801 673


Social Services

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mission statementTo serve as a safety net and to enhance the health and productivityoflowincomeAlachuaCountyresidentsbyprovidinginformationandreferrals,accesstohealthservices,andshorttermfinancialassistance.

Division Stats• Employees: 7• Clients Served: 5,015• Phone Calls: 55,789

Community NeedReduce Homelessness Through Prevention of Eviction/Foreclosure and Utility Manylow-incomecitizensexperiencefinancialhardshipwhich may threaten their ability to maintain safe and secure housing.

Mission Statement

The economic downturn has seriously impacted the qualityoflifeofmanyAlachuaCountycitizens.SocialServices receives hundreds of calls each week from residentsfacingpotentialevictionordisconnectionoftheirutilityservices.Manyhomeownersareseekingassistanceto prevent foreclosure. Having once been able to meet theirbasicneedsindependently,manyfamiliesnowfindthemselves with low or no income as a result of inability to secure employment or loss of the level of employment theyhad.Asaresult,povertyandpotentialhomelessnessare very real concerns for more residents than ever. The goaloftheEvictionandUtilityDisconnectionPreventionProgram is to help maintain housing by providing short termrent,mortgageandutilitypaymentassistance,landlord/tenantmediationandproblemsolving.

Duringthepastfiscalyear,SocialServicesimpacted2,947AlachuaCountycitizensby:

• Preventedevictionof536families• Prevented foreclosure of the homes of 41 families• Maintainedutilityservicesfor604families

Action

Mrs. J called Social Services in tears because her landlord had threatened to evict her and her family in three days from their home. Herhusbandhadbeenemployedfulltimebuthishourscontinuedto dwindle each week as his employer had less work to give him. Bills began to pile up, the biggest being the rent on the home in which they had been living for years with their three children. Mrs. J had beenlookingforworkbuthadnotyetreceivedcallsbackafterleavingapplicationsallovertown.Theywereattheendoftheirropeandhadnowhere else to go if they had to leave their home. Social Services paid one month’s rent for them and spoke with the landlord to be surethiswouldstoptheevictionproceedings.Thelandlordagreedand worked out an arrangement with the family for the payment of the remainder that they owed. The family was able to remain safely in their home.

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Veteran Services


mission statementProvide support and assistance to veterans, their familiesandsurvivorsinappreciationoftheservicetheyhaveprovidedtousandournation

Division Stats• Employees: 3• Volunteers: Average of 4• Volunteer Hours: 2,100• Value of Volunteer Hours: $43,785• Phone Calls: 38,170• OfficeVisits(citizensprovidedservicesinoffice):

2,221• Out-Reach Visits (home, nursing home, or other

visits): 220

Ifaveteran’sdisabilitiesarecausedbytheiractivedutymilitary service, our veteran counselors provide assistance inapplyingforservice-connecteddisabilitybenefits.Medicalcare allows the veteran to be seen and treated for the condition,aswellasreceivemedicationanddiagnostictesting.Monthlycompensationcanassisttheveteraninpaying for basic household items since the veteran may be unable to work as much as a result of the disability. Vocationalrehabilitationprovidestrainingandeducationthat can broaden the veteran’s horizons, teaching skills thatwillbeusefulinfutureemployment.Inaddition,beingcertifiedashavingaservice-connecteddisabilitycreateseligibilityforsurvivorbenefitsintheeventthattheveterandies as a result of the disability.

Ourofficerendersservicestoveteransinseveralways:throughtraditionalofficeappointments,nursinghomevisits,andtravellingcounty-widetocompletebenefitapplicationsin-homeforhouseboundveterans.Wetakepride in providing exemplary services to these people who have served and protected our country.

DivisionStatsonVADisabilityCompensation:• 581officevisitswererelatedtoVAdisability

compensation,thisaccountsfor30%ofallvisitstoVeterans Services in 2010

• Veteran Services processes claims at or below the nationalaverageof9-12months

• 60%oforiginalclaimsfiledbyVeteranServicesaregranted,comparedwiththenationalaverageof35%

Community NeedHelp Veterans with Service-Connected DisabilitiesApplying specialized knowledge to assist veterans andtheirdependentsinsecuringallentitleddisabilitybenefitsearnedthroughhonorablemilitaryservice.

Action

Mission Statement

FilingforVADisabilityCompensationcanbealengthyanddifficultprocess.Mr.Shadbeenpursuingaclaimwith the VA for almost 20 years. With the help of a SeniorVeteranCounselor,hefinallysucceededinhisVADisability Claim. He will now be able to receive medical careforhisdisabilitiesthatwereinterferingwithhisdailylife.Inadditiontothemuchneededhealthcare,he received a retro payment of over $120,000 from the VAforbackmonthlymonetarycompensation.“ThankyouVeteranServices!Inevercouldhavegottenthisfarwithout your help,” said Ms. S

VictimServices&RapeCrisisCenterheldaweek-long“RespectYourDate” contest at eight high schools in Alachua County. Students were given a fact sheet and a quiz about date-rape drugs and sexual assault. Questionsonthequizincluded:

• What age group is most at risk of being raped? • Inmostrapecasesistheoffenderastrangertothevictim?• Mostabusehappensinacyclewheretensionbuilds,thevictimis

abused, and then the abuser apologizes. The cycle will repeat itself even though the abuser said “it won’t happen again.” Is this true or false?

Students were surprised to learn that alcohol is the #1 date rape drug. This contest and dialogue helped to open some doors:severalstudentsspokeprivatelywithcounselorsafterwardstosharetheirownexperienceswithdatingviolenceandsexual assault. At the end of the week, winning names were drawn at each school. If the student had answered all of the questionscorrectly,sheorhewasawardedwithafundecoratedgiftbagcontaininggiftcertificates.

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Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center

mission statementTo diminish the impact of sexual violence and facilitate recoverytovictimsandsurvivorsofviolentcrime.

Division Stats• Employees: 10• Awareness&RiskReductionEvents:61• Phone Calls: 16,685• Clients Seen: 3,080• Grant Dollars Received: $222,160• Volunteers: 25• Volunteers Hours: 6,223• Value of Volunteer Hours: $129,750• Face-to-Face Counseling Hours Provided To Our

CitizensByUnpaidPracticumStudents:225

VictimServicesoffersage-appropriatepresentationsinelementary, middle, high school, and college classrooms throughout Alachua County to educate students about sexualassaultanddatingviolence.Destructiverelationshipsduring the teen years can lead to life-long unhealthy relationshippractices,maydisruptnormaldevelopment,and can contribute to other unhealthy behaviors in teens that,ifleftunchecked,canleadtoproblemsoveralifetime.Because of fear or embarrassment, many students who haveexperienceddatingviolencearereluctanttoseekhelpthrough counseling and hotline services. They also have concerns about how to respond to a friend who has been assaulted.VS&RCChasdevelopedacurriculumthatteachesteens how to recognize the signs of abusive behavior, get help, and help a friend in need.

Community NeedReduce Incidents of Teen Rape and Dating ViolenceEducateteensaboutabusiverelationshipstohelppreventdatingviolence.

Action

Mission Statement

• 61AwarenessandRiskReductioneventswereheldduring the past year

• 5,473citizensattendedtheseevents


Cooperative Extension2800 NE 39th Avenue

Gainesville, FL 32609-2658

Tel (352) 955-2402TDD (352) 955-2406 Fax (352) 334-0122

http://alachua.ifas.ufl.edu/

218 SE 24th StreetGainesville, Florida 32641-7516

Tel: (352) 264-6700TDD: (352) 955-2449Fax: (352) [email protected]/css

2010 community support services annual report

Documents