Way Of The Cross

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - NON-CONSTRUCTION - ORGANIZATION: UNITED WAY OF THE CROSSROADS PROJECT NAME: RURAL COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM ADDRESS: 104 S WILLIAM ST., VICTORIA, TX 77901 PROJECT CONTACT: BETHANY CASTRO PHONE: 361-578-3561 (OFFICE); 361-208-2236 (DIRECT) EMAIL: BETHANY@UNITEDWAYCROSSROADS.ORG WEBSITE: WWW.UNITEDWAYCROSSROADS.ORG GRANT FUNDS: US APPROPRIATIONS—COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING $40,000; WELLS FARGO COMMUNITY GRANT ($20,000 PENDING;) CITY OF VICTORIA CITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY FUNDS ($10,000 PENDING;) UNITED WAY OF THE CROSSROADS AGENCY FUNDING ($5,000.) ABSTRACT: THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM CONNECTS PEOPLE TO ASSISTANCE BY USING A WARM HAND-OFF SYSTEM OF COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS IN MOBILE AND VIRTUAL ASSISTANCE SPACES. THESE NAVIGATORS ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY BUILDING A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE RURAL AREAS OF GOLIAD, DEWITT, AND GONZALES COUNTIES WHILE PROVIDING SERVICES WHERE PEOPLE IN NEED USUALLY CONGREGATE. THE NAVIGATOR SITS DOWN WITH CLIENTS TO ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND MATCH THEM TO SERVICES - HELPING THEM TO GATHER THE INITIAL PAPERWORK, TALK VIRTUALLY TO STAFF AT PARTNER NONPROFIT AGENCIES, AND SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS. OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS ARE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS IN NEED THAT NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM OF SERVICES IS A MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO RECEIVING THOSE SERVICES IN A TIMELY MANNER. DIFFICULTIES FOR THE INDIVIDUAL INCLUDE UNDERSTANDING SERVICE AGENCY CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES, TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, MISSING DOCUMENTS NEEDED TO ACCESS SERVICES, AND LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN COMMUNICATION OR TECHNOLOGY TO FOLLOW THROUGH. THE SERVICE AGENCIES ARE THEN FACED WITH PEOPLE COMING TO THEM WHO ARE ALREADY FRUSTRATED, AND WHO MAY BE ON THE OFFENSIVE DUE TO THEIR LACK OF COMFORT WITH THE PROCESS. THE NAVIGATOR TAKES THE CLIENT OUT OF CRISIS MODE AND PROVIDES IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE WHILE SETTING UP THE OTHER SERVICES. THE INTAKE BARRIER IS THEN REMOVED FOR THE SERVICE PROVIDER. WE ARE SEEKING TO CALM THE “SERVICE CHAOS” BY TAKING THE ONUS OF NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM OFF THE CLIENT AND PROVIDING A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OR “BIRDS-EYE VIEW” OF HOW THE SERVICE AGENCIES FIT INTO THE LARGER PICTURE OF THEIR WELL-BEING. INFORMATION IS OFTEN DISJOINTED AND SOME SERVICES ARE DUPLICATED WHILE OTHERS DON’T EXIST AT ALL TO THE DISMAY OF CLIENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIND WHAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE DAY-TO-DAY. THE NAVIGATORS EDUCATE CLIENTS, GIVING THEM A HOLISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HOSPITALS, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, RECOVERY CENTERS, AND HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES FIT INTO THE LARGER PICTURE OF THEIR WELL-BEING. THE NAVIGATOR SITS DOWN WITH CLIENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND ASSESS THEIR NEEDS AND SUPPORT NETWORK AND TO MATCH THEM TO SERVICES - HELPING THEM TO GATHER THE INITIAL PAPERWORK, TALK VIRTUALLY TO STAFF AT PARTNER AGENCIES, AND SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM’S SERVICES. INDIVIDUALS SEEKING HELP FROM OUR COMMUNITY NAVIGATORS ARE MOSTLY LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME, THOSE ON A FIXED INCOME, OR THOSE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. BUT, THE NEEDS PEOPLE COME WITH TRULY SPAN THE GAMUT—AS COVID CONTINUES IMPACTING OUR WORLD, MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN IN NEED FIND THEMSELVES ON THE EDGE OF FINANCIAL DISTRESS—THESE FOLKS ARE ALSO WELCOME TO THE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM AS THEY, SOMETIMES MORE THAN MOST, NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL SERVICE SAFETY NET.