Programs >> Community Services
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"Our priority is strengthening the capacity of the individuals, families and communities to contribute to, and benefit from, greater involvement in their own destiny." |
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Resource Mothers Program |
Work Experience Program |
Summer Lunch Program |
Clean Comfort Program |
Senior Program |
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Virginia Cares Program |
Self Help and Resource Exchange Program |
Emergency Services |
Children's Clothes Closet |
Technical Program |
Resource Mothers Program works with teenage mothers who have limited support and are having babies for the first time are provided intensive training and close supervision. This program seeks to improve the use of pre- and post-natal services. Also stresses the importance of staying in school, delaying additional pregnancies and the development of parenting skills.
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Identifying pregnant teens and getting them into prenatal care early. |
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Assisting teens in obtaining Medicaid and other community services. |
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Providing basic health advice in areas such as exercise, proper eating habits, infant care and development, and smoking, drugs and alcohol avoidance. |
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Ensuring teenagers follow instructions from healthcare providers and to keep their appointments. |
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Encouraging the young mothers to continue on with their educational pursuits (especially to finish high school) |
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Being available and accessible to help the teenagers and their families deal with problems. |
The clients must be: 18 years old or younger (having their first baby); a resident of Newport News; willing to receive assistance from the community; and, want to have a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. > [Back]
Work Experience Program is a work and training activity through which TANF and food stamp recipients gain experience through on-the-job training in a public or private non-profit agency or organization. The Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) is unpaid job training in a public or private nonprofit agency or organization. Participants have the opportunity to develop basic work habits, learn or improve skills and gain current experience to be used on a job application. They are to regard their placement as a job and follow the same rules and regulations as the regular employees. Placement hours are calculated based on their TANF and Food Stamp allotments. Their initial placement will last for six months, unless they find full-time employment. Supportive counseling and other services are provided to those who participate, i.e. day care, and other services needed to support the participants’ involvement in the program. Transportation to work (bus tickets or gas vouchers) and day care for children are provided for participants.
Benefits of the program accrue not only to participants but to the agency or organization as well. The site gains temporary workers, who supplement rather than supplant existing employees. The program has helped many participants over the years to find employment in a variety of areas. This program also gives the participants the opportunity to develop good work habits, positive work attitude, and an under¬standing of the employee-employer relationship.
The Newport News Department of Human Services contracts the Office of Human Affairs to operate the CWEP. [Back]
Summer Lunch Program known as the Summer Lunch Program, was established to ensure that children in needy areas could continue to receive nutritious meals during school vacation. Around 14 million children nationwide depend on free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts for 9 months of the year. For many of those children, summer vacation does not mean “fun in the sun” but rather increased risk of hunger and developmental decline. Learning does not end when school lets out. Neither does the need for good nutrition - which is crucial for children to have safe and productive summer. The Summer Food Program provides an opportunity to continue a child’s physical and social development while providing nutritious meals. The program helps children return to school ready to learn. Free meals are provided to all children between the ages of one and eighteen at USDA approved open or enrolled sites with significant concentrations of low-income children.
In 2008 the Summer Lunch Program served a record number of meals, over 176,000, during the 46-day program. During its peak, the Summer Lunch Program served over 4,000 youth a day. We managed over 39 feeding sites in James City County, York County, Hampton and Newport News. [Back]
Clean Comfort Program provides a shower facility, a clean change of clothing and medical assistance for homeless men and women; operating on a "day-care" principle Monday through Friday, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Julius Conn Gym. The facility offers medical consultations with various health care professionals who visit the site on a regular basis. Other services provided are: mail drop; phone services; bus tickets; and toiletries. Direct on-site referral services are provided to the homeless. Agencies are contacted to visit the facility to render on-site services such as, East End Health Facility, Community Services Board, HomeBase, Veterans Administration, AIDS Foundation, HealthCare for the Homeless, and many others. Some of the services are dental, general health, AIDS education, Flu shots, TB tests, blood pressure and cholesterol screenings. We maintain an adult clothes closet on-site - however, they must take a shower first in order to be issued clothing. These articles primarily come from private donations. We also have received two washers and one dryer enabling staff to clean donated clothes as well as clothes of the participants.
This facility plays an integral part in aiding the homeless. The program encourages the participants to volunteer at the center and they log in hundreds of hours each month. The program staff have built a strong relationship with the patrons. Some of the participants are alcoholics, addicted to drugs, have AIDES, went bankrupt, or some other traumatic incident in their life to cause homelessness. They know that the staff deeply cares for them. [Back]
Senior Program is located at the Office of Human Affairs' Clark Multi-Purpose Center. This program has been an active part of OHA since 1967 and housed at the Clark Center since 1981. The service area includes the Cities of Newport News and Hampton. All programs and activities are offered to adults age 60 and over; special programs are offered to other adults who are under 50. Hot and nutritious lunches served five days per week, sponsored by PAA (Peninsula Agency on Aging) and by Community Food and Nutrition.
The center provides an atmosphere to encourage senior participation in recreational, educational, nutritional, cultural programs, exercise and activities. Tours and shopping trips are scheduled. Television, books, games, crafts, and music are available in the senior lounge. Transportation is provided to many of the seniors. [Back]
Virginia Cares Program provides one-on-one counseling with ex-offenders and their families. Client needs are determined and referrals are made to other agencies offering vocational rehabilitation, medical, legal and substance abuse services. Clients in this program are also provided with the following services: food and clothing referrals as necessary, transportation to get them to and from job leads, stores, emergency food or housing. The Coordinator also provides the following services:
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Develops job banks by contacting employers, Virginia Employment Commission, etc. |
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Counsels ex-offenders on career planning and job seeking skills. |
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Locates and develops educational and training resources, such as GED, academic and financial assistance. |
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Provides data that is required by central staff. Maintain files and prepare monthly reports, meeting prescribed deadlines. |
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Recruits, trains and supervises volunteers on a regular basis. |
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Does follow-ups on ex-offenders and their families. |
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Refers clients for financial/budget counseling. |
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Corresponds with inmates regarding release plans and serves as a contact person for ex- offenders being released. |
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Serves as an advocate for offenders, ex-offenders and their families. [Back] |
Self Help and Resource Exchange Program is designed to supplement a participant’s food supply by providing food at a reduced cost. OHA is a member of the local Food Bank’s Second Harvest Program. We provide discounted food packages at $17.00 each. The purchaser receives a box of food valued between $40 to $50 dollars. We are dedicated to alleviating hunger, developing programs to increase awareness of the hunger problem and providing an opportunity for volunteerism and community involvement.
Food stamps are accepted. We provide to the community a place where they can submit an application for food stamps. The staff works with them using computers that are online. We do not make the program verifications - this is all done with their online application. [Back]
Emergency Services provides assistance to families who are in a "crisis" situation, thus preventing eviction, disruption of services and preventing homelessness. This is done by providing a central information base for community service agencies that can render needed services. Information and referral is an integral part of this department - matching the needy with the service that addresses that need.
The Outreach office staff canvass' the community linking information and programs. They seek to work with the community to build a structure of self-assurance and self-help. The coordinator meets with schools, churches, businesses and other agencies to disseminate information about OHA and offers assistance where necessary.
Programs provided are:
EFSP: This program is funded by the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board with funds received from the Federal Emergency Management Authority (FEMA). We are the designated agency to handle Newport News applicants. Due to the limited amount of funding the program usually runs from February through June. The program broadens the Community Outreach Center’s capacity for providing food, clothing and shelter to residents through direct services or referrals to other agencies for assistance. Assistance with Rent/Mortgage and Utility bills is also provided. Food Pantry: Emergency Services maintains two food pantries (2708 Chestnut Avenue and 6060 Jefferson Avenue 2nd Floor Rouse Tower (Department of Human Services) - both in Newport News. Emergency Services is a member of the FoodBank and receives food from their agency at $0.14 a pound. The FoodBank also provides food for special events such as flooding, hurricane, and other emergencies. This food is usually free. We receive canned, dry goods, bread, meat and fresh vegetables. Traditionally during the November and December holidays we provide a larger food supplement. The recipients receive the food at no cost to them and no more than once a quarter. However, this can change depending on the individual’s plight. They are monitored with our intake application and are asked to volunteer at their church or charity. [Back] |
Children’s Clothes Closet provides clothing to needy children to enable them to feel confident about themselves, maintain good health and positive school attendance. An RSVP worker manages the clothes closet for children by coordinating with churches, businesses and individuals in the community to gather the necessary clothing for children in need. [Back]
Technology Program increases computer access to the labor market in compliance with the Workforce Investment Act. Computer training is also designed to introduce low-income families to computers and the internet through introductory classes, stationary access sites, training and ownership opportunities. A critical component of this project is partnering with local churches, schools and businesses; mobilizing local resources and involving each community in the project. [Back]