supporting families with healthcare, housing & education ... 2011... · in 2010 health services...
TRANSCRIPT
UpdateSpring 2011
The Asfaw family* was terminated
from their Medicaid health insurance in
2008 because Mr. and Mrs. Asfaw made
just over the maximum required income
level to qualify. When their ten year old
son, Marcus, fell during a soccer game and
hurt his leg, the family didn’t know what to
do. They couldn’t afford to pay for a doctor
out of pocket, and they didn’t have health
insurance. Luckily, they found out about
Community of Hope’s health clinic.
Community of Hope provides health
services to our patients regardless of their
ability to pay. The Asfaw family was put on
a sliding fee scale which charges patients a
small co-pay based on their fi nancial
situation. Marcus told the doctor that his
knee hurt.
Marcus was referred to
Washington Radiology Associates (WRA)
for x-rays. Because of Community of
Hope’s special relationship with WRA,
Marcus was able to receive x-rays without
any hassle and with a short wait time even
without insurance. When it was determined
that Marcus needed to see a specialist,
Community of Hope’s Enrollment
Specialist, Lisa Branham, sat down with
Mrs. Asfaw to reassess her family’s
fi nancial situation. Lisa discovered that
with recent changes in Medicaid policy as a
result of healthcare reform, the Asfaw
family would now qualify.
The process was long and complicated.
After the insurance offi ce received their
application, Lisa had to work hard to
encourage the site supervisor to move
forward quickly on this case. Mrs. Asfaw
was so worried about her son that she
called Community of Hope everyday to
check on the status of the application. Lisa
was able to successfully sign up the Asfaws
for health insurance, and Marcus saw a
specialist the following week.
The specialist told Mrs. Asfaw that if
they had waited any longer to get Marcus
in, his hip could have been permanently
damaged. He may not have been able to
walk again! He was sent directly to the
hospital the same day and went through
surgery the following morning.
We are so happy to report that Marcus
is now well on his way to recovery. With a
little bit of help from Community of Hope,
Marcus was able to get the medical care
he needed. Today Marcus is back to doing
what he loves best: playing soccer.
and I drove her straight to the
emergency room. Fortunately, it was
not broken, and she is now recovered.
We didn’t hesitate to go to the
emergency room for this and other
sports injuries because we knew that
our health insurance would cover
the cost of any care she might need.
For people without health insurance,
though, a sports injury – or any major
illness – is a disaster. Community of
Hope’s mission is to support those in
need in times of crisis and despair. But
we cannot do it alone; it takes many
hands to mend the holes in a
fragmented safety net in the District.
Our long time supporters play a
critical role in sustaining our programs.
You can read more about some of these
supporters in this newsletter. These and
other benefactors provide unrestricted
funds that fi ll funding gaps and cover
necessary client and staff expenses. In
addition, our volunteers provide help
with everything from design projects
to painting the walls. Your generosity is
essential to the services we provide and
allows us to fi ll in gaps for people when
they are in need. Thank you for being a
vital partner in our mission!
The story of Marcus Asfaw (“A
Little Help Goes a Long Way”)
reminds me of just how lucky my
family is. Just last week, my
youngest daughter got kicked in the
ankle at the end of a soccer game late
on a Friday night. We were worried
the ankle was broken, so my husband
A Little Help Goes A Long Wayby Whitney Hicks, Development and Communications Associate
In A Time of Uncertainty, Our Supporters Go the Extra Mileby Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director
Photo: Mike Morgan Photography
Suppo r t i ng Fami l i e s w i t h Hea l t h ca re , Hous ing & Educa t i on
IN THIS ISSUE:Funder Spotlight: Gallup, p.2
Students Make Magic, p.2
Take A Virtual Journey, p.3
2010 By the Numbers, p.3
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 805Washington, DC 20036Phone: 202.407.7747Fax: 202.232.1014
#8389 #38754
Non Profit Organization
POSTAGE PAIDPermit No. 115
Dulles, VA
*Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the identity of the patients.
WISH LISTWe want to serve our families with dignity and respect by providing items in good to excellent condition for which there is a need. Before
donating items, please contact Julia Kernan-Schloss at (202) 232-7356 or [email protected].
Sheets & Blankets/Comforters � twin & full
Shower Curtains
Plastic Storage Bins � medium & large with lids
Garment Racks or Armoires � with poles for
hanging clothing
Lamps � table or standing/pole lamps
Furniture � dressers, sofas, loveseats & bed
frames (metal frames preferred)
Dishes � cups, plates, silverware (sets preferred)
Pots & Pans
Vacuum Cleaners (must be in good working
condition)
Laundry Baskets/Hampers
Towels & Washcloths
Grocery Store Gift Cards
Microwaves
FIND US ONLINE:www.communityofhopedc.orgFacebook � www.facebook.com/communityofhopedcTwitter � www.twitter.com/cohdc
have been better! These items came just
in time as the children were gearing up
to return to school.
In addition, Gallup made a
generous donation to Community of
Hope’s family strengthening program.
With this support, Community of Hope
has been able to provide direct
assistance to children and families in
our housing programs which helps them
to obtain a GED, attend educational
classes, and access various services.
We could not keep the doors open
without our supporters. We are grateful
to Gallup and our other supporters who
understand that children do better when
their families and their communities are
strong. Thank you, Gallup!
Funder Spotlight: Gallup, Making the Difference in ChildrenÊs Livesby Canute A. Knott-Malcolm, MPH, Grant Writer
Community of Hope is dedicated to
improving the lives of children in our
housing programs, and we realize it
takes a village to do so. Fortunately,
employees at civic-minded companies
like Gallup are equally committed to
making a positive difference in the lives
of children.
Each year, volunteers from
organizations such as Gallup dedicate
their time, energy, and efforts to serve
Community of Hope’s clients. Last
summer, Gallup’s employees distributed
over 90 backpacks, pens, pencils,
notebooks, and art supplies to the
children at Girard Street Apartments,
Community of Hope’s transitional
OUR MISSION
Community of Hope works to improve the
health and quality of life of low-income,
homeless, and underserved families and
individuals in the District of Columbia
by providing healthcare, housing with
supportive services, educational
opportunities, and spiritual support.
Caty Poulin, Chair
Robert Chambers, Vice Chair
Allegra Hall, Secretary
Kenneth Balch, Treasurer
Rose E. Alford
Tonya Dixon
Fido Ebba
Juli Anne Harkins
Ana Villamil Kelly
Chris Kerns
Folasade Moonsammy-Gray
Cornelius Steele
Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 805Washington, DC 20036Phone: 202.407.7747Fax: 202.232.1014
2010 By the Numbers
Take A Virtual Journey Through Our Girard Street Apartments
Ever wondered what a
homeless shelter looks like?
Community of Hope’s
transitional shelters look just like
other apartment buildings in DC
with kitchens, living rooms,
bathrooms, and bedrooms. To see
a more in depth look of one of our
Girard Street apartments, visit our
website at
www.communityofhopedc.org.
We will take you on a photo
journey of Renee Johnson’s unit.
From left to right: Renee Johnson, Community of Hope client and her case manager, Denise Negron-Bennett.
HOUSING
“A little Consideration, a little Thought for others, makes all the difference” - Winnie the Pooh
From left to right: Community of Hope Resident Monitor Wilbur Fairley, Gallup employee Kevin McConville, and Community of Hope Girard Street Program Manager Ruth Schickel presenting the school bags donated by Gallup.
Volunteer Spotlight: Students Make Magicby Whitney Hicks, Development and Communications Associate
Chandra, National Cathedral School student and Community of
Hope volunteer
HEALTHCARE
The National Cathedral School (NCS), an
all girls’ school grades 4 through 12, is located
on the grounds of the Washington National
Cathedral. The Upper School students are
required to complete community service
hours in order to graduate, although students
at all grade levels are encouraged to
participate in community service. The girls at
NCS have fully embraced this idea! Indeed,
year after year volunteers from NCS help
Community of Hope clients and staff in a
variety of ways.
In June 2010, a group of NCS volunteers
put together motivational packets for the
children at our Girard Street Apartments,
congratulating them on their successful
school years. The NCS girls brought
construction paper, stickers, markers, and
enthusiasm to the project. The children at
Girard Street loved the letters and were even
more motivated to do well in school for the
w We served a total of 279 families through our housing programs in 2010.
w Girard Street Apartments served 49 households. 33 households exited Girard Street Apartments, and 100% of these went to
positive permanent housing situations. The average length of stay during 2010 was 9 months.
w Hope Apartments served 19 households. 9 households exited Hope Apartments in 2010, and 68% remained sober for at least
6 months. The average length of stay was 13 months.
w Our Home Now Permanent Supportive Housing Program served 113 families, and 100% of these households have remained
intact. Only 1 of the 113 families served has returned to homelessness. That’s a 99% success rate in ending homelessness for
these families, all of whom had been chronically homeless.
w Community of Hope launched our Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Between March and
December 2010, we helped 108 families. Of these 108, we helped 52 families leave shelter to move into permanent housing,
and we helped prevent 56 families from becoming homeless.
w During 2010, the Housing Specialist prevented 31 households from being evicted.
w In 2010 Health Services provided 13,276 visits to 3,667 patients. This consists of 8,211 medical visits to 2,843 patients, 3,102
dental visits to 1,052 patients, and 1,130 behavioral health visits to 205 patients.
w eClinicalWorks, our electronic medical records system, was launched at our Adams Morgan health clinic on
Monday, July 26, 2010.
w 22 % of our patients are uninsured. 95% earn at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Most of our patients (96%) are
members of a racial or ethnic minority group, and 28% are best served in a language other than English (i.e. are English
Language Learners or have Limited English Profi ciency). Almost 20% of our patients were 18 years old and under.
next year.
From canned food drives and bake sales
to outings with the children at Girard Street,
NCS volunteers have really made a difference
in the lives of Community of Hope’s clients.
Chandra, an 11th grader at NCS, started
Making A Greater Impact in the Community
(MAGIC), a community service club, at the
beginning of this school year to encourage
her classmates to get more involved. The
members of MAGIC come out to Girard
Street monthly to play board games, decorate
cookies, and take the kids to the park.
Chandra has been volunteering for many
years and hopes to spend the rest of her life
giving back to the community.
Chandra is just one of the many NCS
students who have volunteered their time
at Community of Hope. We are grateful for
their hard work and hope that others can take
inspiration from their example.
shelter in Columbia Heights that serves
homeless families with children.
Needless to say, the children were
extremely excited, and the timing couldn’t
have been better! These items came just
in time as the children were gearing up
to return to school.
In addition, Gallup made a
generous donation to Community of
Hope’s family strengthening program.
With this support, Community of Hope
has been able to provide direct
assistance to children and families in
our housing programs which helps them
to obtain a GED, attend educational
classes, and access various services.
We could not keep the doors open
without our supporters. We are grateful
to Gallup and our other supporters who
understand that children do better when
their families and their communities are
strong. Thank you, Gallup!
Funder Spotlight: Gallup, Making the Difference in ChildrenÊs Livesby Canute A. Knott-Malcolm, MPH, Grant Writer
Community of Hope is dedicated to
improving the lives of children in our
housing programs, and we realize it
takes a village to do so. Fortunately,
employees at civic-minded companies
like Gallup are equally committed to
making a positive difference in the lives
of children.
Each year, volunteers from
organizations such as Gallup dedicate
their time, energy, and efforts to serve
Community of Hope’s clients. Last
summer, Gallup’s employees distributed
over 90 backpacks, pens, pencils,
notebooks, and art supplies to the
children at Girard Street Apartments,
Community of Hope’s transitional
OUR MISSION
Community of Hope works to improve the
health and quality of life of low-income,
homeless, and underserved families and
individuals in the District of Columbia
by providing healthcare, housing with
supportive services, educational
opportunities, and spiritual support.
Caty Poulin, Chair
Robert Chambers, Vice Chair
Allegra Hall, Secretary
Kenneth Balch, Treasurer
Rose E. Alford
Tonya Dixon
Fido Ebba
Juli Anne Harkins
Ana Villamil Kelly
Chris Kerns
Folasade Moonsammy-Gray
Cornelius Steele
Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 805Washington, DC 20036Phone: 202.407.7747Fax: 202.232.1014
2010 By the Numbers
Take A Virtual Journey Through Our Girard Street Apartments
Ever wondered what a
homeless shelter looks like?
Community of Hope’s
transitional shelters look just like
other apartment buildings in DC
with kitchens, living rooms,
bathrooms, and bedrooms. To see
a more in depth look of one of our
Girard Street apartments, visit our
website at
www.communityofhopedc.org.
We will take you on a photo
journey of Renee Johnson’s unit.
From left to right: Renee Johnson, Community of Hope client and her case manager, Denise Negron-Bennett.
HOUSING
“A little Consideration, a little Thought for others, makes all the difference” - Winnie the Pooh
From left to right: Community of Hope Resident Monitor Wilbur Fairley, Gallup employee Kevin McConville, and Community of Hope Girard Street Program Manager Ruth Schickel presenting the school bags donated by Gallup.
Volunteer Spotlight: Students Make Magicby Whitney Hicks, Development and Communications Associate
Chandra, National Cathedral School student and Community of
Hope volunteer
HEALTHCARE
The National Cathedral School (NCS), an
all girls’ school grades 4 through 12, is located
on the grounds of the Washington National
Cathedral. The Upper School students are
required to complete community service
hours in order to graduate, although students
at all grade levels are encouraged to
participate in community service. The girls at
NCS have fully embraced this idea! Indeed,
year after year volunteers from NCS help
Community of Hope clients and staff in a
variety of ways.
In June 2010, a group of NCS volunteers
put together motivational packets for the
children at our Girard Street Apartments,
congratulating them on their successful
school years. The NCS girls brought
construction paper, stickers, markers, and
enthusiasm to the project. The children at
Girard Street loved the letters and were even
more motivated to do well in school for the
w We served a total of 279 families through our housing programs in 2010.
w Girard Street Apartments served 49 households. 33 households exited Girard Street Apartments, and 100% of these went to
positive permanent housing situations. The average length of stay during 2010 was 9 months.
w Hope Apartments served 19 households. 9 households exited Hope Apartments in 2010, and 68% remained sober for at least
6 months. The average length of stay was 13 months.
w Our Home Now Permanent Supportive Housing Program served 113 families, and 100% of these households have remained
intact. Only 1 of the 113 families served has returned to homelessness. That’s a 99% success rate in ending homelessness for
these families, all of whom had been chronically homeless.
w Community of Hope launched our Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). Between March and
December 2010, we helped 108 families. Of these 108, we helped 52 families leave shelter to move into permanent housing,
and we helped prevent 56 families from becoming homeless.
w During 2010, the Housing Specialist prevented 31 households from being evicted.
w In 2010 Health Services provided 13,276 visits to 3,667 patients. This consists of 8,211 medical visits to 2,843 patients, 3,102
dental visits to 1,052 patients, and 1,130 behavioral health visits to 205 patients.
w eClinicalWorks, our electronic medical records system, was launched at our Adams Morgan health clinic on
Monday, July 26, 2010.
w 22 % of our patients are uninsured. 95% earn at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. Most of our patients (96%) are
members of a racial or ethnic minority group, and 28% are best served in a language other than English (i.e. are English
Language Learners or have Limited English Profi ciency). Almost 20% of our patients were 18 years old and under.
next year.
From canned food drives and bake sales
to outings with the children at Girard Street,
NCS volunteers have really made a difference
in the lives of Community of Hope’s clients.
Chandra, an 11th grader at NCS, started
Making A Greater Impact in the Community
(MAGIC), a community service club, at the
beginning of this school year to encourage
her classmates to get more involved. The
members of MAGIC come out to Girard
Street monthly to play board games, decorate
cookies, and take the kids to the park.
Chandra has been volunteering for many
years and hopes to spend the rest of her life
giving back to the community.
Chandra is just one of the many NCS
students who have volunteered their time
at Community of Hope. We are grateful for
their hard work and hope that others can take
inspiration from their example.
shelter in Columbia Heights that serves
homeless families with children.
Needless to say, the children were
extremely excited, and the timing couldn’t
UpdateSpring 2011
The Asfaw family* was terminated
from their Medicaid health insurance in
2008 because Mr. and Mrs. Asfaw made
just over the maximum required income
level to qualify. When their ten year old
son, Marcus, fell during a soccer game and
hurt his leg, the family didn’t know what to
do. They couldn’t afford to pay for a doctor
out of pocket, and they didn’t have health
insurance. Luckily, they found out about
Community of Hope’s health clinic.
Community of Hope provides health
services to our patients regardless of their
ability to pay. The Asfaw family was put on
a sliding fee scale which charges patients a
small co-pay based on their fi nancial
situation. Marcus told the doctor that his
knee hurt.
Marcus was referred to
Washington Radiology Associates (WRA)
for x-rays. Because of Community of
Hope’s special relationship with WRA,
Marcus was able to receive x-rays without
any hassle and with a short wait time even
without insurance. When it was determined
that Marcus needed to see a specialist,
Community of Hope’s Enrollment
Specialist, Lisa Branham, sat down with
Mrs. Asfaw to reassess her family’s
fi nancial situation. Lisa discovered that
with recent changes in Medicaid policy as a
result of healthcare reform, the Asfaw
family would now qualify.
The process was long and complicated.
After the insurance offi ce received their
application, Lisa had to work hard to
encourage the site supervisor to move
forward quickly on this case. Mrs. Asfaw
was so worried about her son that she
called Community of Hope everyday to
check on the status of the application. Lisa
was able to successfully sign up the Asfaws
for health insurance, and Marcus saw a
specialist the following week.
The specialist told Mrs. Asfaw that if
they had waited any longer to get Marcus
in, his hip could have been permanently
damaged. He may not have been able to
walk again! He was sent directly to the
hospital the same day and went through
surgery the following morning.
We are so happy to report that Marcus
is now well on his way to recovery. With a
little bit of help from Community of Hope,
Marcus was able to get the medical care
he needed. Today Marcus is back to doing
what he loves best: playing soccer.
and I drove her straight to the
emergency room. Fortunately, it was
not broken, and she is now recovered.
We didn’t hesitate to go to the
emergency room for this and other
sports injuries because we knew that
our health insurance would cover
the cost of any care she might need.
For people without health insurance,
though, a sports injury – or any major
illness – is a disaster. Community of
Hope’s mission is to support those in
need in times of crisis and despair. But
we cannot do it alone; it takes many
hands to mend the holes in a
fragmented safety net in the District.
Our long time supporters play a
critical role in sustaining our programs.
You can read more about some of these
supporters in this newsletter. These and
other benefactors provide unrestricted
funds that fi ll funding gaps and cover
necessary client and staff expenses. In
addition, our volunteers provide help
with everything from design projects
to painting the walls. Your generosity is
essential to the services we provide and
allows us to fi ll in gaps for people when
they are in need. Thank you for being a
vital partner in our mission!
The story of Marcus Asfaw (“A
Little Help Goes a Long Way”)
reminds me of just how lucky my
family is. Just last week, my
youngest daughter got kicked in the
ankle at the end of a soccer game late
on a Friday night. We were worried
the ankle was broken, so my husband
A Little Help Goes A Long Wayby Whitney Hicks, Development and Communications Associate
In A Time of Uncertainty, Our Supporters Go the Extra Mileby Kelly Sweeney McShane, Executive Director
Photo: Mike Morgan Photography
Suppo r t i ng Fami l i e s w i t h Hea l t h ca re , Hous ing & Educa t i on
IN THIS ISSUE:Funder Spotlight: Gallup, p.2
Students Make Magic, p.2
Take A Virtual Journey, p.3
2010 By the Numbers, p.3
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 805Washington, DC 20036Phone: 202.407.7747Fax: 202.232.1014
#8389 #38754
Non Profit Organization
POSTAGE PAIDPermit No. 115
Dulles, VA
*Names and identifying information have been changed to protect the identity of the patients.
WISH LISTWe want to serve our families with dignity and respect by providing items in good to excellent condition for which there is a need. Before
donating items, please contact Julia Kernan-Schloss at (202) 232-7356 or [email protected].
Sheets & Blankets/Comforters � twin & full
Shower Curtains
Plastic Storage Bins � medium & large with lids
Garment Racks or Armoires � with poles for
hanging clothing
Lamps � table or standing/pole lamps
Furniture � dressers, sofas, loveseats & bed
frames (metal frames preferred)
Dishes � cups, plates, silverware (sets preferred)
Pots & Pans
Vacuum Cleaners (must be in good working
condition)
Laundry Baskets/Hampers
Towels & Washcloths
Grocery Store Gift Cards
Microwaves
FIND US ONLINE:www.communityofhopedc.orgFacebook � www.facebook.com/communityofhopedcTwitter � www.twitter.com/cohdc