VtSHARES (Formerly SECCA) Success Stories
After responding to a call to make some repairs at the home of a 75 year old widow, a plumber contacted the Central VT Council on Aging to report that her home was not really habitable. Her husband had died leaving her with limited income. The bathroom was not functional, the wind blew through the walls and the kitchen was about to drop into the cellar because of rotten floors. The lady had been diagnosed with cancer.
The agency's case manager immediately made some contacts and was able to get donated some used but good building materials, kitchen counters and cabinets and vinyl siding. With volunteer labor and other community resources, the work was completed and the lady could once again live comfortably in her home. The case manager was also able to acquire a grant for weatherization for a new roof, insulation, new doors and windows.
This agency for the elderly continues to help with benefit applications, meals on wheels, prescription assistance and senior companionship.
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One of the programs GMUW supports, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, provides training for incarcerated fathers to enhance the development and growth of the children while minimizing the stigma of knowing that your father is in jail.
After taking part in this Nurturing Fathers class, one inmate stated that his ability to discuss personal matters and create a trusting and loving environment for his daughter improved dramatically. He reported that he'd never had a father with whom he could talk things over with when he was young and he wanted desperately to have his daughter avoid that kind of upbringing.
He stated that the program helped him prepare for fatherhood and that he wants to be there for his daughter when he gets out of jail, help her in her school work and activities, and encourage her to get a good education.
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The Clara Martin Center that works for the mentally impaired/disturbed tells of a young lady they first had contact with when she was 7 years old because of behavioral problems. She received services for about two years through their alternative school.
At age 17, the same young lady returned to the agency's walk-in clinic. She was in poor health and was seeking treatment for substance dependencies. A team from the agency helped her navigate the system of care and this girl was in an inpatient treatment facility for 57 days. Prior to her discharge, the agency team worked with her to create a smooth transition to outpatient services through intensive case management, individual therapy, group therap, and medication management with a psychiatrist.
The agency continued to help her through some conflicts at home, intensified her services and assisted in obtaining supervised housing. They also helped her to return to school during this time. She successfully graduated from high school in June 2007, holds a part time job and is scheduled to attend college in 2008.
This girl and many others like her are doing well because of the intensive services given by Clara Martin Center. Their providers are skilled at building motivation and rapport and spend the time needed, sometimes over many years, in order for the client to reach a positive point in his life.
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The Vermont Children's Aid Society that provides adoption and counseling services for families tells of a story all too familiar. A young couple, age 32 and 34, had been contacted by the Dept. of Children and Families that their parental rights of their children, age 5 and 7, were going to be terminated. The couple had a history of neglecting the children, domestic violence, substance abuse and incarceration. The two children had been in foster care for two years and had lived with the same foster family during that time.
Through this agency's counseling, the parents began to realize that the children were happy with their foster family and that they were receiving excellent care. Their difficulty was a feeling that they would be viewed by the children as abandoning them, not trying to fight for them and relinquishing their rights. The counseling helped them to work through their anger, loss and grief and they decided to write letters to the children explaining to them what had happened and including an apology to them, at the same time communicating that they still loved the cared for them.
A "good-bye" visit was scheduled and the decision was made that they would exchange letters and photos on an annual basis. The children responded positively with this visit and continue to receive support from a therapist. The agency's caseworker worked collaboratively with the therapist in developing an effective case plan.
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A criminal act of vandalism in Barre, VT two years ago resulted in several families of an apartment complex losing six vehicles. The cars were bombed during the night destroying several of them and leaving the owners without transportation to go back and forth to work. They did not have the means to go out and buy other vehicles and because their lost vehicles were older, they did not have insurance coverage other than liability.
Green Mountain United Way partnered with other community agencies to appeal to the local people to donate cars to these victims of the car bombing. Arrangements were made for donated vehicles to be closely inspected and repaired, if needed, by a local reputable garage/mechanic.
Several responses were received from this appeal and as a result two good cars were presented to two young families, helping them to continue in the workforce.
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A recent flood in downtown Barre caused major damage to several businesses and non-profit organizations. Many of them lost furniture, equipment and other items essential to running their organizations, not to mention the time some of them had to be closed in order to make repairs.
Green Mountain United Way (GMUW) works in collaboration with the People's Health and Wellness Clinic in Barre that is in business for the uninsured. That clinic was heavily damaged by the flood and lost everything in their basement.
GMUW was able to provide them with some emergency funding in order to buy replacement appliances and equipment in order to get back on their feet as soon as possible and once again be able to provide services to their clients.
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Most children and teenagers look forward to starting school at the end of the summer. However, some young children and teenagers may be hesitant or don't enjoy school because they may not have new clothing, new shoes or backpacks like their classmates.
Each year IBM in Essex Jct., VT, as part of their Annual Charitable Appeal, purchases, and accepts donation from their employees, of new backpacks which are donated to United Ways in Vermont who then distribute these backpacks to local schools in their area. Several hundred backpacks are distributed.
Many United Ways, including Green Mountain United Way, then add school supplies to the backpacks appropriate for a variety of student ages. When a teacher or guidance counselor or school nurse recognizes a child in need and without school supplies, a backpack with school supplies is provided to that child. Often children who may move into a school district during the school year arrive at school with no school supplies. This program enables them to feel welcome.
Not only does this provide students with some essential items it also boosts the self esteem of the child who benefits from knowing they are "like others in their classroom". School nurses and teachers say this program "makes a world of difference in a student's life". |
