UNITED COMMUNITY MINISTRIES INC

SOCIAL SERVICES: THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM MANAGES A FOOD PANTRY WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD ASSISTANCE ON A REGULAR BASIS. FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA COME UP TO THE PANTRY TO RECEIVE CANNED GOODS, FRESH PRODUCE, EGGS, MEAT, AND MORE WEEKLY. IN ADDITION, WE WORK WITH A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS IN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS TO DELIVER FOOD DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES ALONG THE ROUTE 1 CORRIDOR. THE FAMILY ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (FAP) PROVIDES WRAP-AROUND SOCIAL SERVICES TO TANF-ELIGIBLE FAMILIES LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. EACH FAMILY IS SUPPORTED BY A QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER AND MAY BE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES SUCH AS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, JOB READINESS TRAINING, AND OTHER EDUCATION AND WORK RELATED EXPENSES.

CHILD DEVELOPMENT: UCM'S HEALTHY FAMILIES FAIRFAX PROGRAM PROVIDES HOME-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION, HEALTH INFORMATION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND SCHOOL READINESS FOR PARENTS FROM PREGNANCY UNTIL THE CHILD REACHES AGE THREE. FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WORK WITH FAMILIES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE PARENTING, IMPROVE CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE SCHOOL READINESS, AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ELC) PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY DAYCARE AND CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO 5 YEARS. ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE POSITIVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES THAT NATURALLY STIMULATE CHILDREN'S CURIOSITY AND DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN 3 YEARS AND OLDER RECEIVE FREE MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND VISION SCREENINGS. FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS WORK IN CURRICULUM-BASED CLASSROOMS FOCUSED ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS. PARENTS ARE SUPPORTED WITH PARENTING EDUCATION AND REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES.