UNITED WAY OF GREATER NEW BEDFORD INC

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM:THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED THROUGH TWO COST-REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS. ONE IS AN ACCOMMODATION RATE CONTRACT FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ("DCF"), AND THE OTHER IS A COST REIMBURSEMENT GRANT WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS SERVICE ALLIANCE ("MSA"). ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL OF THIS WORK IS TO STRENGTHEN FAMILIES, PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND BUILD A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY.FAMILY RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER ("FRC") - OFFERS AN ARRAY OF SERVICES FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN RANGE FROM BIRTH TO 18 YEARS OF AGE. WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PARTNER, CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES, THE FRC PROVIDES A RANGE OF SERVICES AD SUPPORTS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT SERVICES AND INFORMATION AND REFERRAL RESOURCES FOR SUCH THINGS AS HOUSING SERVICES, FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION AND EMPLOYMENT AND CHILD CARE. THE FRC ALSO PROVIDES PARENT EDUCATIONAL GROUPS, PARENTCHILD ACTIVITIES, EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS FOR BOTH PARENTS AND TEENS. IN ADDITION, THE FRC PROVIDES SPECIFIC SERVICES FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN WHO ARE DEALING WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL, KNOWS AS CHILDREN REQUIRING ASSISTANCE (CRA). THESE SERVICES INCLUDE ACCESS TO A RANGE OF VOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT SERVICES.NEW BEDFORD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS COALITION (NBCCC) - THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE COALITION IS TO FACILITATE THE ORGANIZATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD WHILE PROMOTING A COMMUNITY CENTERED CHILD WELFARE BEST PRACTICES APPROACH.PATCH - CO-LOCATED IN THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, ALONG WITH THE NBCCC STAFF, IS THE DCF PATCH UNIT. PATCH IS A TEAM OF DCF SOCIAL WORKERS WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR NBCCC STAFF TO PROMOTE SHARED OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM OF CHILD PROTECTION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. BEING CO-LOCATED WITH NBCCC ENABLES DCF SOCIAL WORKERS TO CONNECT FAMILIES INVOLVED WITH DCF TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES MORE QUICKLY, MINIMIZING THE NEED FOR LENGTHY DCF INTERVENTION, AND PROVIDES FAMILIES ACCESS TO AN ARRAY OF RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT REPEAT CHILD MALTREATMENT.

COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM - THE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDES VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT THROUGHT ITS ONLINE VOLUNTEER MATCHING DATABASE, CONDUCTS EVENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO ENGAGE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH VARIOUS SERVICE EVENTS, WORKS WITH GRASSROOTS GROUPS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BUILDING MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM AND PROMOTES AWARENESS AND EDUCATION. ALSO, THROUGH IT'S HUNGER COMMISSION, IT PROVIDES FOOD AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE TO ESTABLISHED PANTRIES, SHELTERS, SOUP KITCHENS AND COUNCILS ON AGING AND PROVIDE WORKING FAMILIES WITH FREE,FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH MOBILE MARKETS.