On-site Services/Activities at the Robert J. Delonis Center

Community Kitchen (Food Gatherers)

·  Lunches (Monday- Friday)

·  Dinners  (daily)

·  Breakfasts (daily – residents only)

Michigan Works

·  Employment specialist on site 20 hours per week

·  Assistance with job searches

·  Assistance with resume writing

·  Provides workshops on interviewing techniques, completing job applications, job retention skills, and dressing for success

Housing Placement

·  Assistance with finding affordable housing options

·  Administer program of thirty-five Shelter Plus Care vouchers

·  SAWC Housing Coordinator – full-time

Medical Clinic

·  Nurse Practitioner available five days per week

·  Volunteer doctors from University of Michigan available one evening per week

·  Chief Residents’ Clinic (staffed by U of M Dept. of Internal Medicine) available one afternoon per week

·  Assistance with diagnostics

·  Medical Case Management – assistance with obtaining health insurance and improving utilization of community health care resources

·  Assistance with medication when available

·  Assistance with treatment and/or referral when appropriate

·  Medical outreach to off-site homeless community

·  Sponsor Health Fairs - information and testing available about health issues common in the homeless population – 3 times annually – on site (twice) & at St. Andrew’s Breakfast Program (once) – staffed by SAWC Health Clinic, nursing students from U of M School of Nursing & Washtenaw Community College, & community medical service providers

Health Services Access  (Washtenaw/ Livingston County)

·  Outreach worker on site 10 – 20 hours weekly

·  Substance abuse assessments, referrals for treatment,  and authorization for state/ county subsidized treatment

·  Outreach to consumers regarding addressing substance abuse issues

·  Consultation to Shelter Association Case Management staff regarding consumer related substance abuse issues

Faith Based Programs

·  Bible study (New Testament) weekly

·  Worship service (Christian)  (two different churches) six times monthly

Washtenaw County Public Health STD/HIV Clinic

·  On site weekly

·  Medical exams for STD’s

·  Provide information/ education/ counseling about sexually transmitted diseases

·  Dispense protective devices to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases

·  Provide testing for HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and syphilis (USR)

Sheltering Programs

·   Men’s Shelter (3^rd floor) – 35 beds

·   Women’s Shelter (4^th floor) – 15 beds

·   Rotating Shelter (winter months only) – 25 spaces for men

·   Warming Center (winter months only or when temperature or wind chill is 20 degrees or below) (2^nd floor) – spaces for up to 50 people

·   Wait List Status (qualifies for a bed, but no bed currently available) – may stay overnight on 2^nd floor

·   Cooling Center (2^nd floor) – when heat index is 90 degrees or above

Project Outreach Team (PORT)  (CSTS)

·  Mental health assessments

·  Psychotropic medication for qualifying clients

·  Case Management services for qualifying clients

·  Nurse, psychiatrists on-site two half-days per week

12 Step Programs

·  Alcoholics Anonymous Open (speaker) Meeting – weekly

·  Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Study Group Meeting – weekly

·  Big Book (AA) Study Group (with Dawn Farm Detox) – 5 days per week

·  Narcotics Anonymous – weekly

Unite for Sight

·  Vision screenings – on site monthly (Fall thru Spring)

·  Referrals to health professionals for assistance for those with below normal eye vision acuity

Food Stamp Advocacy Project

·  On site two times per month  (Fall thru Spring)

·  Determine eligibility for food stamp program through FIA

·  Assist in completing paperwork to apply for food stamps

Legal Consultation and Advice  (No Representation)

·  On site weekly

·  Assistance with advice and counsel about legal issues

Veterans’ Administration 

·  Washtenaw County Veterans’ Services Officer on site weekly (by appointment)

·  Assist in determining eligibility for a variety of benefits

·  Facilitate obtaining benefits (i.e. medical, financial, entitlements)

Legal Assistance with Social Security Claims

·  On site monthly (by appointment)

·  Assist with disability eligibility determination

·  Assist with applying for Social Security disability related claims/ entitlements

Washtenaw Literacy Program

·        Individual help with improving reading & writing skills – on site – by appointment

“Smoking Cessation for the Homeless” Program

·  Individual support for stopping cigarette smoking – behaviorally based

Support Groups

·   “Toxic Relationships” – weekly groups, gender specific – topic/ discussion focused – lead by social worker from St. Joe’s Academic/OB Gyn Clinic. Women’s Group through a Substance Abuse Prevention grant

·  “Learning Coping Skills” – weekly Women’s Group – focus on identifying problematic trauma-based symptoms and developing healthy coping skills to address them – lead by SAWC social worker

·  “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life” – weekly groups, gender specific – focus on learning and using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to better handle life issues and to expand coping techniques – lead by SAWC contractual social worker &/or MSW intern

·  “Reclaiming Your Life – Skills for Recovery from Life Challenges” – weekly skill building class focusing on learning how to recognize, apply, and maintain the key elements of the recovery process as they apply to stressful life circumstances, traumatic events, mental illness, or substance abuse – lead by Washtenaw County Public Health Prevention worker

·  Fiber Arts/ Knitting Group – monthly activity group – focus on building sense of success through skill mastery, developing positive relaxation techniques, valuing creativity, and giving back to the community through working on projects which are donated to area hospitals/ non-profits – lead by community volunteer

·  Introduction to Housing, Employment, Medical, and Case Management Services – every two weeks – focus on explaining Shelter Association resources/ assistance, options within the community, and expectations SAWC has for participants in the Shelter’s program – lead by SAWC Housing Coordinator,  MI Works representative, SAWC Medical Case Manager, and SAWC Case Manager

·  Informational sessions on medical issues (i.e. Breast & Cervical Cancer, Hypertension, Hep C, Diabetes) – monthly – lead by SAWC Health Clinic staff and speakers from other area medical services providers

·  “Drugs of Abuse” – six weekly sessions focusing on information about different drugs of abuse and their potential impact on users’ lives

·  “Information on Safe Sex: Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases” – twice monthly – lead by HARC (HIV Aids Resource Center) staff

·  “Relapse Prevention Group” – (Fall thru Spring)weekly 20 session topic-focused group – rolling admissions – includes sessions on identifying factors leading to relapse and ways to overcome these factors, the need for short and long term goals, stress reduction techniques, the importance of supports and how to develop a support system, signs and symptoms of relapse, and creating an individualized relapse prevention plan – facilitated by HelpSource staff

·  “Expanding Options – Exploring the Dynamics of Aggression, Violence, and Controlling Behaviors” – weekly Men’s group- targeted at ex-offenders – topic-focused – rolling admissions – focuses on exploring the dynamics of aggression/ violence/ and controlling behavior in participants’ lives, providing a forum to discuss their experiences with violence/ aggression, challenging/ exploring beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors about controlling and abusive behavior, and, when appropriate, encouraging further participation in a batterers’ intervention program – facilitated by Catholic Social Services ADA staff

·  Employment Skills Group – two times per month – focuses on strategies for finding employment, especially targeted to the ex-offender population – upon completion, consumer is eligible to interview for participation in the more extensive Coordinated Employment Opportunities Program (CEO) for ex-offenders offered at Michigan Ability Partners – facilitated by MAP/ CEO workers

·  “Tips on Filling Out Job Applications” – every two weeks group - focuses on creating a “master application” which can be taken along to help in job searches – lead by MI Works representative

·  “Tips on Interviewing for Employment” – every two weeks group – focuses on content of interviews, practice in answering questions, physical presentation – lead by MI Works representative

·  “Tips on How to keep a Job” – monthly group – focuses on job retention skills – lead by MI Works representative

·  “Dressing for Success in Interviewing & Employment” – monthly group – focuses on how to dress, present appropriately for interviews and on work sites – lead by MI Works representative

·  HERO – monthly group – focuses on employment goal empowerment, identifying consumers’ “vision” for employment and how to develop an “action plan” to accomplish goals – facilitated by HERO staff

·  “Expression through Art” – weekly activity groups, gender specific – focus on expressing feelings, exploring trauma issues through art projects – lead by SAWC social worker

·  Basic Money Management  - series of three weekly sessions focusing on setting financial goals, money management, & credit issues – offered monthly – lead by MSU Extension Services trainer

Case Management

·  Requirement for all SAWC residents and those on Waiting List for beds

·  Focuses on Income, Savings, Housing Program (ISH)

·  Identifies barriers to obtaining/ maintaining income (i.e. employment, mental health issues, substance abuse issues)

·  Assists in obtaining/ maintaining income (i.e. employment, entitlements)

·  Assists in saving income (residents must save at least 70% of income for housing upon exit)

·  Assists in locating affordable housing

·  Assists in referrals for ancillary services (i.e. transportation, clothing, health issues, counseling)

·  Assists in obtaining credit reports

Social Work Services

·  SAWC social worker – full-time

·  Assess clients for potential family supports, family of origin issues, trauma symptoms, substance abuse, and/ or mental health issues which might impact a client’s readiness for/ ability to successfully sustain housing

·  Make recommendations to the team regarding most appropriate referrals/ interventions

·  Act as liaison with foster care system. When appropriate, advocate for contact/ reunification with children no longer in the client’s physical custody.

·  When appropriate, provide supportive counseling (group and/ or individual) focusing on preparing clients to be able to make successful transition to therapy/ counseling available at treatment agencies in the wider community

·  Provides individual supportive counseling to graduates of shelter housing program (Alumni) – focuses on identifying problems, barriers to maintaining post-shelter housing

Assessments

·  For determination of needs -- physical, psychological, practical

·  For determination of resources – income, skills, family support

Other Services

·  Access to telephone for local, business related phone calls

·  Access to showers, restrooms

·  Access to laundry facilities

·  Referrals for additional community supports

·   Bus tokens (limited),

·   “Fare Deal” card (AATA) income certification

·   Special programs (i.e. voter registration, tax preparation)