Description
Family Support Services (FSS) provides comprehensive support services within the agency's continuum of care. FSS is the agency's flagship program and benefits more than 8,000 families annually. What once began as a crisis intervention program has grown into a prevention and education program to strengthen a family's ability to avoid and respond to future crisis situations. FSS include:
Information dissemination to increase awareness on health, education, and financial issues.
Needs assessment, and intake and referral services for access to a CFC program or another United Way, government or community-based social service agency.
Emergency food distribution. CFC has one of the largest, most active food pantries in the East End of Houston.
Population Served
Hispanic, Latino Heritage / Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent / Families
Program Long-Term Success
The goals are to provide emergency food relief, information and referral resources for those that receive services through the program. The ultimate changes that will result from this program are that clients will reach a final phase of transition that is characterized by independence from assistance and with the ability to be self sustaining and self sufficient. As a service provider of basic needs, we typically begin engaging with every client by conducting an initial intake in which we assess a client’s needs. In many cases, circumstances will dictate that even before we have an opportunity to conduct a needs assessment, we mobilize to immediately provide some of the most basic and critical needs that brings a client to our front doors.
Program Success Monitored ByHelpOrganizations describe the tools used to measure or track program impact.
More than 2,000,000 pounds of food were distributed. Nearly 1200 seniors were served. Nearly 150 clients received legal assistance. 4,800 clients attended health presentations, more than 15,000 received information and referral services
Examples of Program SuccessHelpOrganization's site specific examples of changes in clients' behaviors or testimonies of client's changes to demonstrate program success.
I was about eight years old when I went with my father and uncle to CFC for food assistance. I couldn't believe the amount of people that would come. I remember how excited I was waiting in line, seeing people leave with bags, carts, buggies full of stuff. I couldn't wait to see what goodies were in store for me. I will always remember the endless supply of yummy, nutritious carrots we would receive, and I remember the friendly faces of the volunteers and staff. I never felt like we were getting a hand-out. To me, it wasn't just a way of getting free extra healthy food. It was like a family field trip. I never remember going hungry or lacking food during those times.
Description
Youth Services consists of Prevention Education and Intervention and Skills Training, Camp Fresh summer camp, and Count Down to College. The program targets concerns impacting the youth in Houston's East End: Substance Use/Abuse, Juvenile Delinquency, School Dropouts and Teen Pregnancy, and focuses on reducing major risk behaviors and fosters resiliency skills. The service is provided during the school year to students at 8 HISD schools. Educators meet with youth participants on a daily basis to deliver services. The program uses the Positive Action curriculum. The summer camp is for youth ages 4-17, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 for ten weeks. It provides prevention education, sports, art, life skills sessions, HIV/STD classes, recreational activities, theater workshops, field trips, and academics. Count Down to College for youth between 8th and 12th grade schedules tours to local and state universities for college exposure activities.
Population Served
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years) / Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent / Hispanic, Latino Heritage
Program Long-Term Success
The annual Youth Services program goal for is a projected Target Goal of 30,000 children and adults.
Program Success Monitored ByHelpOrganizations describe the tools used to measure or track program impact.
The tools are the Positive Action Curriculum Pre/Post Tests. Data is collected through program administered pre-and post-tests at the beginning and end of group participation in the program which is usually in September for the pre and at the end of May for the post. 89% of the youth increased their knowledge of consequences related to participation in risky behaviors that include alcohol, tobacco, drug use, teen pregnancy, and delinquency.
Examples of Program SuccessHelpOrganization's site specific examples of changes in clients' behaviors or testimonies of client's changes to demonstrate program success.
John came to Camp Fresh just wanting to play soccer. When it was time to be in the gym, he was very happy, but when it was time to do reading and writing lab, math board games, and art classes, he would act out and didn't want to follow directions. To challenge his interest, we sent him to a special program three days a week working with musical instruments that were hand made from rocks for a piano and animal skins and rope for a drum set. John's attitude changed and he started joining in on all the other activities in the schedule and started to enjoy working with old and new friends he made. At the end of the summer, John said that he could not wait to come back.
Description
The Los Ninos Montessori Early Childhood Education (ECE) program supports low-income families by making quality, early childhood education accessible to Houston's inner-city East End children ages three to six years-old. CFC offers a comprehensive, intergenerational approach to bilingual education that addresses one of the root causes of poverty -- lack of access to quality, all day, year round education. Los Ninos ECE gives both children and their parents an opportunity to build a strong foundation for academic and economic success.
Los Ninos remains committed to the Montessori philosophy of education, which accelerates learning and social, physical, and academic skills through self-paced exploration and cooperative learning in a prepared environment.
In addition to providing high quality ECE, CFC incorporates strategies for supporting family literacy and improving the education level of the entire family. Parents are encouraged to continue their education through adult education or college courses.
Population Served
Infants to Preschool (under age 5) / Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent / Hispanic, Latino Heritage
Program Long-Term Success
To provide a qualitly early childhood education to 100 pre-school age children from low-income families.
Program Success Monitored ByHelpOrganizations describe the tools used to measure or track program impact.
Montessori lead teachers are responsible for collecting the data. The tool used to measure success is the Whole Child Montessori Report (4-point rating scale). The pre-test is administered in early winter and the post test is administered in early spring
Examples of Program SuccessHelpOrganization's site specific examples of changes in clients' behaviors or testimonies of client's changes to demonstrate program success.
Joseph came to Los Ninos when he was three years old. The first weeks were frightening as he experienced separation from his parents and adjustment to the new environment. Gradually, Joseph felt the nurturing care of his teacher, and as his confidence and sense of security grew, he began to blossom into an accelerated learner. He grew in vocabulary expression, began to master the reading and writing process, became captivated with science and cultural areas of knowledge, as well as working in math with addition and subtraction up to 100. He has mastered knowledge of the solar system, the continents, and the anatomy of humans and animals are among many areas that he loves. He writes grocery lists for his mom and organizes everything by category because he loves to put things in order
Description
The program provides courses of instruction to individuals 18 years of age or older to gain the skills and education necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and a higher standard of living. The program addresses population-specific barriers and challenges by making available access to instructional courses with flexible scheduling. It also incorporates additional services such as computer, family, financial, and nutrition classes. The program provides courses in English as a second language (ESL), adult basic education (ABE) and General Educational Development (GED) in the local community
Population Served
Adults / Immigrant, Newcomers, Refugees / Poor,Economically Disadvantaged,Indigent
Program Success Monitored ByHelpOrganizations describe the tools used to measure or track program impact.
The tools that are used to measure success are the Best Plus Oral English Proficiency Test, the Texas High School Equivalency Test Examination, the Test of Adult Basic Education, and the Best Literacy Test. Data is collected through program administered pre and post testing; data is collected at every 60 hour benchmark of contact hours attained and recorded for the student until the student demonstrates advancing at least one functioning level. Thereafter, students are tested during the next fiscal year.
Examples of Program SuccessHelpOrganization's site specific examples of changes in clients' behaviors or testimonies of client's changes to demonstrate program success.
Raul, an ESL student, came from Mexico. When he arrived in this country, he barely knew any English at all. In his native country, he was a manager at a good company, but lacking English put him at a big disadvantage in the US. He applied for a job as a hotel cook. He took a test, had several interviews and finally got the job, but he still had a difficult time understanding his boss. Since he began attending classes, his life has taken a turn for the better. His wife is also taking classes, and they sometime practice English together. He looks forward to continuing his education at CFC while improving his listening, language, and speaking skills.