Windham Regional Community Council Inc

WINDHAM REGIONAL COMMUNITY COUNCIL, INC (WRCC) IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF EASTERN CONNECTICUT.

HOUSING SERVICES THESE INCLUDE: PROJECT HOME, CT RAPID REHOUSING, A PLACE TO STAY, HAVEN, EVICTION FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAM/GUARANTEED SECURITY DEPOSIT PROGRAM, HOUSING MANAGEMENT (PLEASANT STREET PROJECT), AND TEN YEAR PLAN TO END HOMELESSNESS. THE PROGRAMS COMBINE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES HOUSING ASSISTANCE THROUGH HUD HOUSING PROGRAMS AMONG OTHER FORMS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE SUCH AS TEMPORARY RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND CASE MANAGEMENT.

YOUTH SERVICES IMPACTS WINDHAM FAMILIES THROUGH A RANGE OF SERVICES THAT INCLUDE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, JUVENILE REVIEW BOARD, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION, JUVENILE JUSTICE INITIATIVES, AND CHILDREN'S LITERACY. THE PROGRAM SERVES MORE THAN 3,000 YOUTH AND APPROXIMATELY 300 PARENTS AND GUARDIANS PER YEAR. HEALTH PROMOTION AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GROW WINDHAM HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMMING IN CLASSROOMS AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS AT ALL OF THE WINDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND IS IMPLEMENTING COMMUNITY BASED PROJECTS. OVER 60% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE WINDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN SERVED BY GROW WINDHAM. THE WRCC VETERANS ADVISOR PROVIDED SERVICE TO APPROXIMATELY 180 VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THE PAST YEAR. SERVICES INCLUDED OUTREACH, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, AND THE PROVISION OF DIRECT ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING SUPPORT FOR MEDICAL, FINANCIAL, TRANSPORTATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING NEEDS. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CONNECTICUT TEACH ACT PROJECT, WRCC SEEKS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE TYPES OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO INCREASE INDEPENDENCE OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SERVICES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO OVER 200 PEOPLE DURING THE PAST YEAR.

DAYCARE SERVICES THE NEW HEIGHTS CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5 YEARS OLD AND THEIR FAMILIES. ALL CLASSROOMS USE STATE OF CT PRESCHOOL CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK TO PLAN A DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE CURRICULUM FOR CHILDREN. THE PROGRAM HAS ACHIEVED ACCREDITATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. IT IS A BILINGUAL/MULTICULTURAL PROGRAM SERVING A DIVERSE POPULATION, WITH A DIVERSE AND BILINGUAL STAFF. THE WINDHAM CHILDREN'S FIRST INITIATIVE/DISCOVERY PROGRAM IS IN COLLABORATION WITH WINDHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS (WPS). ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE COMPLETION OF A SOCIOECONOMIC AND EDUCATION PROFILE OF WINDHAM CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND THE SPONSORSHIP OF A PARENTAL OUTREACH PROGRAM IN CONCERT WITH WPS.

AIDS SERVICES PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE HIV RISK REDUCTION EDUCATION TO RESIDENTS IN WINDHAM & TOLLAND COUNTIES. OUTREACH IS CONDUCTED IN COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTIES THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND UNIVERSITIES, COURT SUPPORT SERVICES, COMMUNITY REFERRALS AND SELFREFERRALS. CONTACTS ARE MADE BY GROUP LEVEL INTERVENTIONS TO TARGET POPULATIONS, HIV+ PERSONS AND YOUTH, THROUGH THE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND STREET SMART INTERVENTIONS. THE OUTREACH SERVICES PROGRAM PROVIDED HIV COUNSELING & TESTING SERVICES IN COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AND OUR MAIN STREET OFFICE TO APPROXIMATELY 270 PEOPLE DURING THE YEAR AND HAD PHONE CONTACT WITH ADDITIONAL PEOPLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT HIV TESTING.