EMPOWERMENT SYSTEMS INC

OUR ARIZONA LIVING WELL INSTITUTE (AZLWI) ENCOMPASSES MANY OF OUR PROGRAMS: 1. OUR EMPOWERMENT LEARNING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS WITH ARIZONA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO OFFER AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. OUR INTERNS RECEIVE A UNIQUE COMMUNITY-BASED EXPERIENCE BY COMBINING EXPERTISE FROM INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS TO BENEFIT OUR UNDERSERVED AND AT-RISK COMMUNITIES. 2. OUR HOMELESS PROGRAM HELPS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ENROLL FOR HEALTHCARE BENEFITS, FOOD STAMPS AND SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS TANF, AHCCCS AND THE MARKETPLACE, AS WELL AS PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT CAHRA, DES, ARIZONA@WORK, HOPE AND THE AT STILL DENTAL CLINIC APPOINTMENT PROCESS. WE HAVE A HOMELESS LAUNDRY AND VITAL RECORDS PROGRAM (BOTH WITH VOUCHERS) AND THROUGH OUR DESIGNATION AS A HEAT RELIEF STATION WE DISTRIBUTE FREE WATER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. 3. OUR LEASING PROGRAM HAS MADE A CONSCIENTIOUS EFFORT TO RENT SPACE IN OUR BUILDING TO OTHER NON-PROFITS. WE LEASE TO ARIZONA'S CHILDREN ASSOCIATION, HOPE AND THE AT STILL DENTAL CLINIC.

WE ENROLL QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP). WE HAVE CERTIFIED ASSISTORS INCLUDING ONE FLUENT IN SPANISH. THEY ASSIST CLIENTS WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS. THEY ALSO ATTEND COMMUNITY HEALTH AND OUTREACH EVENTS TO PROMOTE SNAP AND OUR PROGRAMS IN PINAL COUNTY, SE MARICOPA COUNTY AND THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA. WE HAVE MOBILE OUTREACH AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE AT COMMUNITY PARTNER SITES OF MARICOPA WIC, CREIGHTON SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER, THE CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORHOOD CLINIC AND APACHE JUNCTION. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UNITED FOOD BANK WE OFFER A MONTHLY PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION SERVING COMMUNITY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WITH BOXES OF FRESH PRODUCE AND OTHER FOODS. THIS FISCAL YEAR WE SERVED 2,472 CLIENTS, 1,274 HOUSEHOLDS WITH 1,730 BOXES DISTRIBUTED WITH A TOTAL GROSS WEIGHT OF 41,414 POUNDS. WE HAD AS MANY AS 13 VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE.