Combating Family Homelessness: A Guide to HUDs Continuum of Care Program

Abstract

Course name Instructor’s name Assignment due date Resources File for Programs for Children and Families Program 1- Category: Government Support Services Relating to Poverty, Financial Crisis, and Homelessness [Name] U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’ Continuum of Care (CoC) [Name] By Mail: Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 451 7th Street Southwest Washington DC 20410. Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone] Email: [email]. Website: https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/ Services provided HUD’s Continuum of Care (CoC) is a federal-funded program targeting the homeless population through state and local-level intervention. CoC began as a concept for intervention as part of the implementation of the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Act of 1987 that seeks to provide equal learning opportunities for children experiencing homelessness. Through the program, the federal government provides emergency assistance to families with school-aged children exposed to the dangers of homelessness and the disruption of their education. HUD is in charge of providing the funding and management support to state and local programs that support families and children with immediate and long-term solutions to homelessness. CoC’s goal is to develop a solution to homelessness by incorporating community-wide solutions that encompass the support and commitment of the federal government. Outreach: CoC provides the human and financial resources that support communities in conducting outreach for families and children exposed to homelessness. The program seeks to connect with people in need of housing, facilitate intake into immediate and long-term housing, and continuously assess their state of homelessness. CoC provides support to individuals in need of housing and state or local support systems providing assistance to vulnerable families and individuals. Immediate housing support: One of the key responsibilities of CoC is to facilitate the provision of emergency housing solutions to families and children at risk of homelessness. The program evaluates the needs of children facing homelessness and determines the need for temporary housing and available options for individuals at risk. Transitional housing: The ultimate goal of CoC is to provide stability for families facing homelessness at a national level. As part of this objective, the program provides transitional housing services that seek to facilitate access to stable homes for individuals at risk. The initiative provides housing for between one and twenty four months to allow individuals to access more permanent solutions for housing challenges. Permeant housing support: Under CoC, HUD provides parent housing solutions to at-risk individuals and families to ensure their access to stability and end homelessness. The program offers rental assistance to tenant-based individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and in need of support. The access to long-term housing is a critical objective for CoC and permanent housing assistance is necessary when immediate, and transitional housing solutions are inadequate to meet the needs of its clients. Connecting people with resources: CoC plays an important role of identifying persons at risk of homelessness and connecting them with resources at the local and state level. One of the factors contributing to homelessness is the mismatch between available resources and the needs of the population. CoCs at the local and state level identify the needs of people in need of support for different levels of homelessness and connects them with resources that best meet their needs. Additionally, CoC plays an important role in facilitating the access to mental health, education, and food support resources to the homeless population. The program helps vulnerable individuals and communities navigate challenges related to homelessness and the risk of loss of housing support. Tracking homelessness: The federal program plays an important role of tracking homelessness to determine changes, patterns, and emerging issues. It is an important data on national homelessness indicators that provide insights on how state and local programs can best approach the program. CoC demonstrates the challenges affecting homeless persons including children and the effectiveness of intervention measures at different levels of government. Cost CoC is a federal program under HUD and does not require beneficiaries to pay for the services it provides. Target population Families and children experiencing homelessness or related social and health challenges. Program 2 - Category: Parental Incarceration [Author] We Got Us Now [Author] Ebony Underwood, Founder / CEO We Got Us Now 228 Park Ave S, PMB 83277 NEW YORK, NY 10003 USA Email: [email]. Website: https://www.wegotusnow.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wegotusnow/ Services provided Ebony Underwood founded We Got Us Now in 2018 as a result of the reception of her story on her personal experience with an incarcerated parent. The content creator and social entrepreneur intended to use her experience and those of other people impacted by incarceration to empower children and young adults experiencing similar circumstances. As a digital platform targeting the population of people impacted by incarceration, the organization advocates for the wellbeing of its clients by acting as their voice and a source of inspiration for the population. Underwood has received recognition for her leadership on the subject and was awarded the Soros Justice Fellowship for impacting young people. Mission statement: The mission of the organization is to engage, educate, and empower the children and young adults of incarcerated parents by providing lived experiences. The organization seeks to provide a voice to the inviable population impacted by incarceration by advocating for their wellbeing and facilitating connections with family members. Digital Storytelling: We Got Us Now is a unique program since it is based on the use of digital media to support vulnerable children and families. The organization uses digital narratives where children and young people share their experiences on the impact of parental incarceration. The program helps to amplify the voice of individuals who have experienced challenges as a result of the incarceration of their parents. Leadership program: The flagship service is an actionist leadership programs that recruits and trains clients to become experts on the impact of parental incarceration. We Got Us Now seeks to empower the children and young people affected by parental incarceration to become part of the positive influence required to change public perception on the subject. The organization empowers previously invisible voices to gain an impact on other people’s experience from parental incarceration. Peer mentorship and support: The leaders and members of We Got Us Now, including the founder, have experienced separation as a result of parental incarceration. Through peer mentorship for younger and new members, the program brings together people who have shared the trauma and stigma of the subject matter to improve their wellbeing. Mentorship plays a major role in facilitating the wellbeing of individuals who have faced the trauma and challenges of isolation. Public education: Recognizing the lack of public awareness in the experience of children and young adults affected by parental incarceration, the organization has developed a plan education on the matter. We Got Us Now uses its digital platform to raise awareness on issues that children face as a result of the incarceration of their parents. The organization addresses the trauma, stigma, and the need for support for children affected by parental incarceration. Connection with family members: Through the organization, children and young adults get the opportunity to connect with their families and receive support services. It collaborates with partners, influencers, and allies to raise awareness on the impact parental incarceration has on children and young people. The organization encourages potential members to seek the necessary from within the organization and in their communities. Advocacy: One of the tools that the organization uses to support children and young adults affected by parental incarceration is advocacy for policy changes. It seeks to make it easier for children of incarcerated parents to contact their family members and promotes fair sentencing to limit separation. We Got Us Now advocates for the end of mass incarceration of racial minorities to mitigate the impact it has on children and young people. Educational materials: The program provides educational materials intended to improve the capacity of children and families of incarcerated patterns. Children and young adults affected by incarceration face barriers to interacting and connecting with families. The program seeks to enhance connections by educating stakeholders to increase their capacity to cope with separation. Seeking justice for clients: The program connects its clients with professionals in the criminal justice system to facilitate the path to acquiring justice for victims of mass incarnation. We Got Us Now seeks to provide its clients with resources that ensure a path to a more just system while ensuring that its clients receive the support they need to cope with separation. Cost All services are free for the organization’s clients. Target population Children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration. Program 3 - Category: Maternal Depression and Mental Health Issues [Author] Maternal Mental Health NOW [Author] Kelly O'Connor, Executive Director Maternal Mental Health NOW 1308 E Colorado Blvd Unit #320 [City, State] Email: [email]. Website: https://maternalmentalhealthnow.org/. Services provided Maternal Mental Health NOW is a local program targeting women experiencing mental health issues and who face barriers seeking help during pregnancy and after birth. It was inspired by the experience of Kimberly Wong after the birth of her daughter where she faced challenges getting support from mental health experts. Founded in 2007, the organization seeks to connect marginalized women in Los Angeles county with experts on maternal depression and mental health issues. Kimberly was inspired by the extreme feeling of depression that almost led her to take her life for lack of support despite her access to financial abilities to cater for treatment. Mission: The mission of the organization is to facilitate the treatment of prenatal and postnatal depression in Los Angeles county by eliminating barriers that face women from marginalized groups. The organization seeks to bring quality mental health care closer to all women in the country and ensure their ability to access the services. Support For Families: The organization identifies and provides support and training for family members to improve their ability to be supportive of their clients. The program recognizes that family members play an important role of facilitating the prevention and screening of mental health problems among women. The organization seeks to improve the capacity of diverse families to support women experiencing or at risk of maternal depression and mental health problems. Self-Help Tools: The leaders of the program seek to improve the capacity of women to make informed decisions on when and how to seek support during and after pregnancy. Therefore, it provides tools that seek to enable women to determine when they need to seek mental health support services. Online Training: Taking Advantage Of Modern Technologies In Telehealth And Communication, The Organization Provides Clients With Access To Online Training From Experts In Maternal Health Care. The Program Targets Women Experiencing Prenatal And Postnatal Mental Health Issues Including Depression Who May Lack Informed Support During And After Pregnancy. Women Have Access To A Wide Range Of Experts On Disciplines Related To Mental Health And Challenges During Pregnancy. Support For Professional: To Ensure Women Giving Birth In The County Receive The Best Quality Of Care, The Program Provides Support To Professionals Offering Services To Clients. Maternal Mental Health NOW Seeks To Empower Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, And Birth Workers In The County To Ensure That Their Involvement In The Care Of Patients Leads To The Best Outcomes For Their Mental Health. They Provide Networking Channels For Professionals, Offer Culturally Relevant Training, And Emphasize On Holistic Care As A Method For Improving The Mental Health Of Women Before And After Birth. Connecting Clients To Experts: According to the leaders of the program, lack of informed support is a major barrier to quality mental health for women. The program acts as a channel to connect women to qualified experts on mental health capable of providing quality support during and after pregnancy. The clients have access to experts from diverse fields with adequate training and experience to support them during and after the period of the pregnancy. Training For Individuals And Organizations: The program organizes and undertakes training initiatives for individual caregivers and institutions to enhance their preparedness to support women during and after pregnancy. Organizations offering health services to women during and after pregnancy receive training and preparation to improve their capacity to meet the needs of their clients. Peer support: The peer support initiative empowers professionals and clients by increasing access to assistance on maternal health issues. Maternal Mental Health NOW connects both professionals and families with their peers to improve their capacity to support women at risk of depression and maternal mental health issues. Prevention of illness: The program intervenes in case of women at risk of maternal mental health illness to increase the likelihood of screening and intervention. Its online support system offers mothers the access to qualified professionals that offer accessible mental health support assistance. It makes it easier for clients to seek and access quality services from experts on maternal mental health. Cost The cost of services at Maternal Health NOW differs among clients and with the service provided. For providers and institution, the program charges for professional services such as training and seminars. However, the program’s services are free for women seeking professional support and in need to connect with peers and experts. It is mostly an advocacy organization on maternal depression and mental health issues as opposed to mental health organization. Target population Healthcare providers and experts, and women at risk of prenatal and postnatal mental health issues and their family members. Program 4 - Category: Child Exceptionalities Including Both Disabilities and Gifts [Author] National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) [Author] Daniel H. Gillison, Jr., CEO, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 4301 Wilson...