VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA UTAH

PROMOTING SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS, OR OTHER PERSONAL CRISIS, INCLUDING CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM, AND UNEMPLOYMENT, WITH A FOCUS ON SOLUTION-ORIENTED APPROACHES, USING A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES FROM PREVENTION TO INTERVENTION TO LONG-TERM SUPPORT. 1. THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SOCIAL MODEL DETOXIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL SERVICES PRIMARILY TO VERY LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS CLIENTS. THE TREATMENT PROGRAMS VARY IN LENGTH DEPENDING ON NEED AND MAY EITHER BE OFFERED AT ONE OF THE ORGANIZATION'S DETOXIFICATION CENTERS, OR OUTPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS. SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND/OR LIFE SKILL TRAINING IS GIVEN TO ENABLE CLIENTS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. 2. VOA OPERATES ITS MEN'S DETOXIFICATION CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY. THE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, LOCATED IN MURRAY, PROVIDES SOCIAL DETOX SERVICES TO WOMEN WITH A SAFE AND SUPERVISED PLACE TO WITHDRAW AND PREPARE FOR THE NEXT STEP OF TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. WOMEN CAN BRING THEIR DEPENDENT CHILDREN UP TO AGE 10 INTO THE CENTER WITH THEM. BOTH DETOXIFICATION CENTERS CAN ACCEPT MEDICAID FOR SOCIAL DETOXIFICATION SERVICES WHICH WILL HELP PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT AS WELL AS MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED.3. THE VOCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT TEAM (VEST) IS A SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM TO HELP CORNERSTONE COUNSELING CENTER CLIENTS FIND AND KEEP MEANINGFUL AND COMPETITIVE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY. THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY STRUGGLE WITH BARRIERS WHICH MAY INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH, CRIMINAL HISTORY, OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE HISTORY. CLIENTS ARE PAIRED WITH AN EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST WHO ASSISTS THEM WITH PERSONALIZED JOB SEARCH, JOB PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT. 4. THE HOMELESS OUTREACH PROGRAM (HOP) CONDUCTS STREET OUTREACH TO CONNECT WITH HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, IN PARKS, ALONG RIVERS, AND SPENDING DAYTIME IN LIBRARIES, ETC. THEY MEET BASIC NEEDS AND LINK HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDING SHELTERS, DETOX CENTERS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, BENEFITS, AND WORKFORCE SERVICES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY HOUSING TO STABILIZE PEOPLE. 5. VOA OPERATES A 200-BED EMERGENCY SHELTER AND RESOURCE CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN. THE GERALDINE E. KING WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER (GEK) IS THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OPERATED BY VOA IN A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OWNED BY SHELTER THE HOMELESS. THE PROGRAM BEGAN OPERATION IN AUGUST 2019 AND IS OPERATED AS PART OF THE ADULT HOMELESS DIVISION. VOA ALSO OPERATES THE RESOURCE CENTER AS AN OVERFLOW SHELTER WITH AN ADDITIONAL 50-75 BEDS TO PROVIDE CLIENTS A SAFE AND WARM PLACE TO SLEEP DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS.

ENCOURAGING POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR TROUBLED AND AT-RISK CHILDREN AND YOUTH, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF ALL CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE PROGRAMS PROVIDE A CONTINUUM OF CARE AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AGES BIRTH TO 24 THROUGH PREVENTION, EARLY INTERVENTION, CRISIS INTERVENTION, AND LONG-TERM SERVICES. 1. THE YOUTH RESOURCE CENTER (YRC) WHICH OPENED IN 2016 SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HOMELESS YOUTH (15-24 YEARS OLD) BY MEETING BASIC NEEDS INCLUDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, MEALS, CLOTHING, AND SHOWERS/LAUNDRY. YRC STAFF ALSO ASSIST YOUTH TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT AND/OR EDUCATION AND FACILITATE ENTRY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ON-SITE SERVICES INCLUDE THE YOUTH LEGAL CLINIC TO SUPPORT CLIENTS WITH LEGAL ISSUES THEY MAY FACE. THE YOUTH EMPOWERED SOLUTIONS TO SUCCEED PROGRAM (YESS) PROVIDES ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH.2. HOUSED AT YRC, VOA'S PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES TO ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS TO EDUCATE AND DETER THEM FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE, THROUGH INCREASE COPING SKILLS, PROSOCIAL BEHAVIORS, AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS. THE AMPLIFIED MENTORING PROGRAM (AMP) PROVIDES MENTORING FOR YOUTH THROUGH A DEPT. OF JUSTICE FUNDED GRANT. THIS PROGRAM MATCHES SCREENED ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH YOUTH FOR A 9-MONTH SUPPORTIVE INTERVENTION.