United Way Agency Programs
2011-2012 UNITED WAY AGENCY PROGRAMS
EDUCATION
Boys & Girls Clubs of East Texas
Director: Jo Lampton 903-593-9211 www.bgcet.org email: jo@bgcet.org
After School Program – Clients served are students at Griffin Elementary and Dogan Middle School. Within a one-mile radius live almost 1,900 children from ages 5 to 19. The median household income for the area is $18,259. Boys & Girls Club is a catalyst for transforming generations of young people into productive, responsible, caring and compassionate citizens who will in turn transform the world; work is solely focused on youth development. Successful character development in youth happens when young people have fun, are recognized, have opportunities and expectations, are in a safe, positive place and develop supportive relationships. Programming is divided into 5 core areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation.
Boy Scouts of America
Director: Mike Ballew 903-597-7201 www.etexscouts.com email: ballew@bsamail.org
Scouting Programs:
Cub Scouting – Clients consist of approximately 1,620 boys in Smith County. Program is year round family-oriented designed for boys who are in 1st thru 5th grades. Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the 10 purposes of Cub Scouting: character development, spiritual growth, good citizenship, sportsmanship and fitness, family understanding, respectful relationships, personal achievement, friendly service, fun and adventure, preparation for Boy Scouts.
Boy Scouting – Clients consist of approximately 1,039 boys in Smith County. Program is available to boys who have completed the fifth grade and subscribe to the Scout Oath and Law; achieves the BSA’s objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.
Venturing – Clients consist of approximately 253 young men and women in Smith County. Venturing is a youth development program for young men and women who are 14 through 20 years of age. Purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults.
Learning for Life – Clients consist of 1,298 boys and girls in Smith County. Learning for Life offers 8 programs designed to support schools and community based organizations in their efforts to prepare youth to successfully handle the complexities of contemporary society and to enhance their self-confidence, motivation and self-esteem. Helps youth develop social and life skills, assist in character development, and help youth formulate positive personal values. Prepares youth to make ethical decisions that will help them achieve their full potential.
Champions for Children
Director: MaryAnn Girard 903-592-1454 www.championsforchildren.org email: maryann@championsforchildren.org
Childcare Trainer/Mentor Teacher Program – Clients served are the nearly 8,000 children in Smith County that spend 2-10 hours in a licensed childcare center. Program provides solutions for poor quality childcare, untrained or under-trained childcare teachers, and individual children who present behavioral or learning challenges in early childhood settings. The programs offer professional training, on-site consultation and teacher mentoring, curriculum and teacher materials and resources for use in the classroom.
Brain Gym – This is a program that promotes the ease of living and learning through safe, simple and effective movement. It consists of 26 easy and enjoyable targeted activities that bring about rapid and dramatic improvements in self-control, communication, comprehension concentration, memory, reading, writing, organizing, listening, physical development and coordination. These activities provide a natural, non-pharmaceutical intervention for children diagnosed with autism, Aspberger's, developmental delays, ADD, ADHA, bipolar and behavior disorders.
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas
Contact: Margaret Yates 972-349-2400 www.gsnetx.org email: myates@gsnetx.org
Scouting in the School Day– This 12-week Girl Scout program serves 1,200 girls who are attending Tyler ISD elementary and middle schools, 6th through 8th grades. Target schools are located in communities where traditional troops have been difficult to establish due to a lack financial resources, transportation, and volunteers. The program is designed to promote a healthy self-image and positive social skills while addressing current social issues and trends affecting girls during what is often the most confusing and critical period of childhood. Highly-trained leaders partner with local schools to deliver the specially designed program in an all-girl environment during PE classes during the school day. Girls take part in interactive groups, community service projects, field trips, role-playing, discussions, and confidence and character building activities that they are unlikely to encounter elsewhere. GSSD helps girls to avoid high-risk behavior, develop self-esteem, empowers them to change their own lives and to positively impact their families and communities.
Literacy Council of Tyler
Director: Nancy Crawford 903-533-0330 www.lcotyler.org email: info@lcotyler.org
Adult and At-Risk Youth Education Classes – Clients served are adults or youth(16 years of age and older) who have left school deficient in basic reading skills, lack a GED, and/or do not speak English as their first language. In Smith County, there are at least 50,000 potential clients. Serving about 2500 students annually, the program provides basic literacy tutoring, GED prep classes and/or English as a Second Language classes. These classes are taught by paid staff and trained volunteers. Programs are held at 16 sites in Smith County where it is shown there is a need and reasonable participation occurs.
Niños de Promesa Preschool
Director: Astilma Vargas 903-595-1021 x133 email: fbcastilma@tyler.net
Preschool Program – Niños is an academic readiness program dedicated to teaching English and developing language literacy skills for 3 and 4 year-old children in preparation for a successful school experience. The program serves 85 preschoolers with over 100 on the waiting list. Tuition is based on the families’ income and the number of members living in each household.
North Tyler Day Nursery
Director: Betty Edwards 903-592-3671 email: northtylerday@att.net
Child Care Program – Clients are children ages 18 months thru 5 years who are from low to moderate income families who are working, may be incapacitated, seeking employment, in college, or in a job training program, and are in need of an affordable quality child care program. Majority of the parents and grandparents have little or no knowledge about cognitive, affective, and physical growth as it pertains to their children and the environment where they live. Therefore, the children have various sensory, emotional, and behavioral issues due to their home and surrounding environment. Individualized instruction and curriculum is provided to develop reasoning skills and problem solving along with social skills and academic readiness in reading and mathematics.
Director: Shelley Judd 903-595-2235 www.parentservicescenter.com email: sjudd@parentservicescenter.com
Parent Education Program (PEP) – The PEP provides educational classes, resources and support groups designed for parents, foster parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, child care providers, teachers and mental health providers. Class topics range from birth through young adulthood and cover normal developmental or family issues as well as specialty issues such as ADHD, autism or bi-polar disorders. These are primarily non-sequential/stand-alone classes that are provided free of charge by licensed professionals in their area of expertise. Our Autism Network provides free or low cost screening for children between 0-6 years who may be on the Autism Spectrum. Specific contract or in-service training classes are also available.
Parents Anonymous of Tyler, Inc.
Director: Terri Smith 903-597-1831 email: territyler1@msn.com
The Middle Way Parenting Program – Clients are primarily low-income families that are dysfunctional because of abuse, neglect, truancy, child custody issues, poor or no parenting skills, drug use, and failure to successfully complete anything. Many feel a sense of hopelessness, despair and anger. They are in a crisis situation with their children, some to the point that the children have been removed from their home. This creates a sense of loss of control of their lives. The program provides a structured year-round parenting and family program in both English and Spanish which is based on a guided learning curriculum that includes role-plays and exercises to force parents to explore their learned values and beliefs. Program provides positive coping mechanisms, communication skills, and self-esteem building techniques designed to eliminate all aspects of child abuse and neglect from family life.
Partners in Youth - The goal of Partners For Youth is to reduce the number of those ages 10 to 17 seen by the Municipal Court by providing sources for youth to change behaviors and set them on course for a productive adult life instead of imposing a fine and expecting behavior changes. Parents Anonymous serves an integral part of this unique program creating a link between youth, courts and the community. Because Parents Anonymous has a proven track record working with this population, we know that truancy and other petty offenses are often a symptom of a much larger problem: family dysfunction; family violence, or out-of-control behavior. Additionally, we know that these behaviors are often the first offense in a life that has gone off-course. Partners For Youth is an intervention program. We are educating and rehabilitating as this is our last chance before they reach adulthood and exhibit behaviors that land them in adult prisons.
SCCADA (Sister Communities Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse)
Director: Greg Thompson 903-939-9010 www.sccada.org email: gthompson@tyler.net
Youth Primary Prevention (YPP) – Clients are students in grades 3 to 8 who have not yet initiated substance abuse. A major component of the Youth Primary Prevention Program is the LifeSkills Training Program which seeks to influence major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation and early use of substances. YPP Specialists deliver distinct elementary and middle school curricula in a series of classroom sessions over the year. The sessions use lecture, discussion, coaching, and practice to enhance a students’ self esteem, feelings of self-efficacy, ability to make decisions and ability to resist peer and media pressure.
Latch Key and Drug Free Program – Clients are young people ages 8–18 without adult supervision after school and during summer and those with poor academic report cards. They are considered above average risk for alcohol, tobacco experimentation, drug abuse and dropping out of school. They are also more likely to engage in sexual activity which causes sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. Also serve families without insurance or financial ability to pay for professional drug/alcohol abuse counseling. These clients receive counseling free of charge. Program provides individual counseling to identify substance abuse and depression; educational groups for substance abuse, sexual abstinence, delinquent behavior; daily academic tutoring/summer school in a structured environment; follow-up with parents, caregivers, probation officers and siblings; stress reducing recreational activities and fellowship with peers and trusted adults; provides nutritional education, snacks, 2 daily meals in summer and 1 during school year; collaborate with other social service agencies for referral and case work follow-up.
Director: Sarah Bolt 903-592-1454 www.smith-tx.tamu.edu email: sbolt@ag.tamu.edu
Youth Development Program – Clients consists of 3,300 youth and 100 registered adult volunteers. All youth are considered “at risk”. Program offers monthly meetings as an opportunity for members to develop life and leadership skills. Club programs primarily focus on community service, citizenship, and leadership through 4-H project work.
Curriculum enrichment programs for schools are conducted by County Extension Agents, 4-H volunteers, and school teachers in order to teach students a wide array of topics ranging from ag literacy, to healthy lifestyles, to character education. Educational programs and modules are taken directly to the schools as well as other outlets, such as health fairs, special events, and the East Texas State Fair.
Tyler Day Nursery
Director: JaQuita Lee 903-592-4861 email: tdned@sbcglobal.net
Child Care Program – 88% of client population meets low income or poverty-level standards. Program provides quality daycare and pre-school services for children from low-income to poverty-level families. Program provides services that meet the educational need of the children; meet their physical and emotional needs; prevent them from being left at home while their parent(s) work or attend school (a setting that places children at risk for abuse and/or neglect); prepare parent(s) to actively participate in their K-12 education (parent involvement in children’s learning is positively related to their future achievements – academically, socially and emotionally); meet the growing demand in Smith County for affordable, quality childcare.
YMCA of Tyler
Director: Stuart Gilpin 903-593-7327 www.tylerymca.org email: sgilpin@tylerymca.org
YMCA Childcare – Learning Center provides care to children 2 years of age thru preschool and provides for their nurturing and entertainment needs and provides an educational curriculum to prepare them for their promotion into elementary school. Prime Time After School Programs provides care to Pre-K and elementary aged children from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm during the normal school calendar year and provides prevention of “latch-key” children and provides educational support. Other programs include No School Fun Days and Summer Day Camps.
YMCA Youth Services – Program builds respect, honesty, caring and responsibility through positive programs that emphasize character development. The program requires good sportsmanship from participants, parents, coaches, and fans. It also educates participants in healthy physical activities while providing a fun atmosphere and utilizes sports, activities, and special events to assist in combating childhood obesity. Children will learn the benefits of physical activity, leadership skills and how to be a team player; will learn good character development values and how they relate to life; Teen Nights and Y-Teens will give children a positive avenue to develop leadership skills and will provide constructive Friday and Saturday night alternatives to youth at this very delicate time in their lives.
FINANCIAL STABILITY
Director: Gary Duke 903-566-8444 www.azleway.org email: garydduke@aol.com
PAL SMART: Preparation for Adult Living Start Making a Responsible Transition – This program provides case management services to young adults between the ages of 16 and 21. Although the services needed for these young adults to become self-sufficient already exist in the community, individuals leaving care often lack the knowledge, skill and motivation to access them. Case management can provide the support and planning that can make success possible for clients. PAL SMART facilitates aftercare benefits to youth aged 18-21 when the CPS PAL Coordinator refers clients for financial assistance. These benefits are available to youth based on need and in line with eligibility guidelines. The most important aspect of the program is providing direct contact between case managers and clients to ensure that youth leaving care are not entirely on their own with no support once they leave the ‘system’.
Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.
Director: David Walton 903-593-8438 www.GoodwillEastTexas.com and Facebook email: david.walton@goodwilletx.com
"It is the mission of Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. to provide skills training and vocational opportunities for people with barriers to employment.”
Career and Counseling Services Division: Qualified individuals can receive services such as vocational assessments, work adjustment training, and vocational adjustment training. Individualized plan for employment for the consumer can include: skills and job readiness training; evaluation of strengths and weaknesses; development of confidence through social skills training/counseling; employment services to obtain and maintain employment.
Commercial Services Division: The Commercial Services, previously known as "Opportunities in Tyler", provides cost competitive, high quality, timely services that include: packaging and assembly, secure document destruction, grounds maintenance and recycling.
Recycling includes: cardboard, metal, e-waste such as computers, printers, cell phones, etc. through Dell Reconnect. Employees of Goodwill's sheltered workshop are individuals who need to strengthen their work skills and self-confidence in a closely supervised and nonthreatening environment. Program provides transitional work experience and permanent employment in a sheltered environment.
Donated Goods and Retail Stores: 15 Retail stores located throughout a 13 county area and 14 school districts with additional sites accepting donated goods. Donations support the primary mission of Goodwill Industries.
Goodwill enhances the quality and dignity of life for individuals, families, and communities by eliminating barriers to opportunity and helping people in need reach their fullest potential through the power of work.
Habitat for Humanity of Smith County
Director: Jack Wilson 903-595-6630 www.smithcountyhabitat.org email: coo@smithcountyhabitat.org
Re-Habitat – This is a program that performs necessary repairs on the homes of low-income seniors (60 years of age and older). In focusing on low-income seniors, the goal is to address the inadequacies of living environments that are in immediate need of repair.
To qualify: Median family income must be under 50% of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, Affordable Housing Program guidelines for Tyler/Smith County. The 50% median family income, 2-person home, for 2009 was $ 22,100. The owner of the home must be over 60 years of age. The home must be owner-occupied. The scope of the work to be done must be within our capabilities. All able-bodied homeowners and residents of the home are required to work along-side the staff and volunteers. Homeowners are expected to be cooperative partners with the staff and volunteers. The homeowner must stay in their home at least three years after the work is completed. The homeowner must sign a "Retention Agreement" that remains in effect for three years after the completion of the project. The homeowner will have to repay a pro-rata cost of the repair/modification, based on the time the homeowner remained in the home before selling or refinancing.
Salvation Army
Director: Captain Ben Lawrence 903-592-4361 www.salvationarmytyler.org email: ben_lawrence@uss.salvationarmy.org
Red Shield Social Services – Clients are all the homeless populations and those at-risk of becoming homeless in our area. Vision is to reach beyond just housing the homeless. Self-sufficiency is the objective. Offer a true “second chance” at life by supporting basic needs while the client achieves goals of employment, budgeting, education, and permanent housing.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
SCCADA- (Sister Communities Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse)
Director: Greg Thompson 903-939-9010 www.sccada.org email: gthompson@tyler.net
ADAPT: Latch Key and Drug Free/Kids Café Program – Clients are young people ages 8–18 without adult supervision after school and during summer and those with poor academic report cards. They are considered above average risk for alcohol, tobacco experimentation, drug abuse and dropping out of school. They are also more likely to engage in sexual activity which causes sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. Also serve families without insurance or financial ability to pay for professional drug/alcohol abuse counseling. These clients receive counseling free of charge. Program provides individual counseling to identify substance abuse and depression; educational groups for substance abuse, sexual abstinence, delinquent behavior; daily academic tutoring/summer school in a structured environment; follow-up with parents, caregivers, probation officers and siblings; stress reducing recreational activities and fellowship with peers and trusted adults; provides nutritional education, snacks, 2 daily meals in summer and 1 during school year; collaborate with other social service agencies for referral and case work follow-up.
Director: Susan Hawkins 903-597-0995 www.arcofsmithcounty.org email: shawkins@arcofsmithcounty.org
Respite Camping:
Camp HeyDay - Clients served are people with mild to moderate cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities ages 10-75. Program provides a week of respite for their parents or caregivers; offers a week of highly supervised fun for the client; teaches upper-level high school students (counselors) responsibility, social growth and compassion; provides campers with role models to emulate at camp and following their return home.
Camp Kennedy – Serves adults over 21 with mild to moderate cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities. Program provides all of the above and opportunity for adult campers with mental retardation to participate in a more physical camping environment which includes archery, hiking, shooting BB guns, canoeing and other typical camp activities. Campers also participate in the low ropes course to experience success in overcoming a challenge.
Camp Friendship – Day camp held twice a year. Serves severely disabled, medically fragile children ages 5-21. In 2006 this was made ‘intergenerational’ day camp and now includes older campers who no longer are able to attend one of the residential camps. Through various activities they are provided social interaction with their peers and counselors.
Director: Dr. John English 903-596-8353 www.bethesdaclinic.org mail: jenglish@bethesdaclinic.org
Chronic Disease and Wellness Management – Clinic is designed to provide medical care for individuals living or working in Smith County who make less than 200% of the poverty level. Program provides general primary care, including ancillaries (labs, x-rays, EKGs, etc.), education and exercise programs, along with considerable subspecialty access; provides dental care, and counseling on a limited basis.
CRISIS INTERVENTION
Director: Tammy Prater 903-581-7981 www.smithcounty.redcross.org email: PraterT@usa.redcross.org
Armed Forces Emergency Services – Clients are active duty military, reservists, their families, and veterans in the community. Program gives emergency communications services, financial assistance with benefits and counseling to active duty military, their families and veterans in the community. Red Cross volunteers verify emergency situations such as death and serious illnesses and provide reports to military personnel and their commanders.
Disaster Relief Services – Clients have lost many of their material possessions and are homeless due to house fires or weather related events. Program gives assistance by trained caseworkers based on verified disaster-caused need which may include temporary shelter, clothes, shoes, work-related items, food, medical items, and basic household furnishings. Service is free and available 24 hours a day.
CASA for Kids of East Texas
Director: Patty Garner 903-597-7725 www.casaforkidsofet.org email: patty@casaforkidsofet.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates – Client population is 0-18 year olds who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect and are in custody of the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services. When it is not safe for children to be with their own families, Child Protective Services petitions the court to remove the children from their homes. They may be placed temporarily with relatives, a verified foster family, or an emergency shelter. After removal, the children are at the center of a 12 month legal process to determine permanent placement. CASA volunteers represent these children by speaking on their behalf in court making sure that their best interest is met. Volunteers are trained to act as first-hand experts on the individual needs of abused and neglected children in foster care, giving them the best possible chance at a hopeful future.
Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County
Director: Carol Langston 903-533-1880 www.cacsmithcounty.org email: carol@cacsmithcounty.org
Child Abuse Intervention Program (CAIP) – Clients served are child victims of physical and sexual abuse and their families. Program works closely with a team of law enforcement investigators, Child Protective Service investigators, sexual assault nurse examiners and criminal district attorney prosecutors to detect, investigate and prosecute incidents of child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse in Smith County. The program also provides individualized yet comprehensive services to child victims of physical and sexual abuse, child witnesses to violent crimes, their protective caregivers and siblings.
East Texas Crisis Center
Director: Lana Peacock 903-509-2526 or 1-800-333-0358 www.etcc.org email: director@etcc.org
Family Violence/Sexual Assault Program –This program provides services to approximately 1,200 women and children in Smith County who are victims of family violence and/or sexual assault. Safety and protection are provided through risk assessment & safety planning, crisis intervention counseling, legal advocacy, and emergency shelter. Education and support services help women establish independent living by providing counseling, support groups, Positive Parenting family activities and Women’s Economic Education classes. Children ages 3 months through age 17 are provided nursery care, Early Childhood Development, After-school Tutoring, group counseling, and Summer Camp while living in the emergency shelter with their mothers.
United Way of Smith County Initiatives
Director: Jo McMahan 903-581-6376 x211 www.unitedwaysmithcounty.org email: jmcmahan@uwtyler.org
The Nonprofit Development Center is a professional resource in partnership with nonprofits to create a community of excellence. The Center serves as training and consulting services for the East Texas nonprofit community.
Director: Karen Boehm Dial 211 or 903-534-9977 www.unitedwaysmithcounty.org email: kboehm@uwtyler.org
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