Children's Program Volunteer

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About Community LINC

Location:

4014 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110, US

Mission Statement

To end homelessness, impact poverty and remove barriers to self-sufficiency for the families we serve.

Description

• Transitional Housing :

  Community LINC's transitional housing program was created to equip homeless families with new skills to sustain themselves with little or no public assistance. We provide a safe, stable environment for up to 24 months while the family participates in strengths-based case management services, mental health counseling, life skills training and budgeting.

  Each family lives in an apartment, utilities paid, at no cost. However, everyone is required to save a minimum of 50% of their income (1) to reduce the rent or utility debt that prevents them from obtaining permanent housing and (2) to save for rent and utility deposits or a down payment on a home. All unemployed adult residents secure jobs through our in-house employment office. Weekly classes focus on employability, budgeting and life skills. During these sessions, volunteers and staff work with each resident to facilitate the transition into independent housing and long-term stability.
  • Some of the services provided in our program include:
    • Personal Life Coaching
    • Life Skills/Parenting Classes
    • Personal Budget Coaching
    • GED Tutors and College or Vocational Support
    • Employment support, such as finding a job, daycare and transportation
    • Assistance with finding permanent housing

• Mental Health Program : Many adult residents suffer from mental health conditions, which either cause or result from their homelessness. Depression, often misdiagnosed in African American women, is a profound obstacle to a young mother trying to make sure her family is safe and has enough food to eat. Most of our clients have experienced domestic violence. Each adult resident sees one of the counselors at least once a week for individual counseling for as long as they are in the program. Caring for our residents' mental health needs improves their ability to function independently in the community.
  • One of the services our mental health program provides is:
    • Mental Health counseling
• Children's Program: Community LINC recognizes the need to address special issues of the children in our homeless families. Homeless children lack emotional and educational stability; many lack age appropriate social skills. For children growing up homeless on the streets, life is a matter of survival - surviving drugs, neglect, poverty, abuse, crime and teen pregnancy.
To counter the effects of homelessness on children, Community LINC developed programming for all children to coincide with the class meeting times of their parents. Children participate in tutoring; group activities; recreation time including field trips and craft projects and individual attention from volunteers. We have play therapy available, with parental consent, for children with special needs.
• • One of the services our children's program provides is:
    • Children's Tutors
We also provide CWS Program and case management and outreach service to Missouri Welfare Recipients
• Outreach (Missouri Welfare (TANF) recipients) - Community LINC helps families receiving TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) remove obstacles to employment. Community LINC worked with about 850 of the 6,500 adults receiving TANF assistance in metro Kansas City to address the childcare and/or transportation problems that kept them from finding jobs.