Volunteers Of America Inc

1.ORGANIZATION MISSION: VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA, UTAH'S PROVIDES A COMMUNITY SUPPORTED BRIDGE THAT PROVIDES A PATH FOR THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND INCREASE THEIR SELF-RELIANCE. WE ENVISION A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS, EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THEY NEED, AND HOMELESSNESS IS ERADICATED.

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. FOCUS IS 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, OUTPATIENT TREATMENT CENTERS OR ON-LINE, A NEW OPTION INITIATED DURING THE PANDEMIC. SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELING WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND/OR LIFE SKILL TRAINING IS GIVEN TO ENABLE CLIENTS TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT, PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. VOA OPERATES ITS MEN'S DETOXIFICATION CENTER IN SALT LAKE CITY. A SECOND DETOX CENTER, THE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN, IS LOCATED IN MURRAY AND PROVIDES WOMEN WHO ARE ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCES 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 SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PILOT PROJECT TO BILL STATE MEDICAID FOR SOCIAL DETOXIFICATION SERVICES AND IMPLEMENTED THE PROCESS OF BILLING ALL MEDICAID PAYERS WHICH PROVIDED MORE ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT AS WELL AS MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED. 2.THE VOCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES 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, PLACEMENT AND SUPPORT. 3.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 TO COMMUNITY SERVICES INCLUDING SHELTERS, DETOX CENTERS, MEDICAL PROVIDERS, BENEFITS AND WORKFORCE SERVICES AS WELL AS COMMUNITY HOUSING TO STABILIZE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON INCREASING THEIR INCOMES.

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 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. 2.ON SITE AT THE YRC IS THE YOUTH LEGAL CLINIC TO SUPPORT YOUTH CLIENTS WITH LEGAL ISSUES THEY MAY FACE. ALSO LOCATED AT THE YRC IS VOA'S YOUTH EMPOWERED SOLUTIONS TO SUCCEED (YESS) PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS AND SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. 3.THE YOUNG WOMEN'S TRANSITION HOME IS A SEVEN BED, ALL FEMALE RESIDENTIAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT, GUIDANCE, AND STRUCTURE TO HOMELESS YOUNG WOMEN AGES 16-20 WHILE ALSO BUILDING THE ADDITIONAL LIFE SKILLS NEEDED TO TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 4.THE PREVENTION PROGRAM IS OFFERED 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. 5.THE PREVENTION SERVICES PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES MENTORING FOR YOUTH THROUGH A DEPT. OF JUSTICE FUNDED PROGRAM CALLED AMP (AMPLIFIED MENTORING PROGRAM). THIS PROGRAM MATCHES SCREENED ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH YOUTH FOR A 9-MONTH SUPPORTIVE INTERVENTION.

FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE AND HEALTH OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, MENTAL ILLNESS, AND HIV/AIDS THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES AND A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES. 1.BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AT TWO LOCATIONS, CORNERSTONE COUNSELING CENTER AND FAMILY COUNSELING CENTER. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT SERVICES INCLUDE MEDICATION PRESCRIBING AND MANAGEMENT AS WELL AS ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL ILLNESS. INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SESSIONS ARE OFFERED AT ALL LEVELS OF CARE AS DEFINED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE (ASAM). CORNERSTONE'S CHILDREN'S CARE CENTER IS A UNIQUE ON-SITE CHILDCARE SETTING STAFFED BY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN DURING THE TIME THEIR PARENT IS IN THE COUNSELING CENTER FOR TREATMENT. THE FACILITY IS OPEN BOTH DAY AND EVENING HOURS AND IS AVAILABLE ON A SLIDING SCALE. COVID-19 RESULTED IN A SHIFT TO TELEHEALTH IN THE SPRING OF 2020 AND THE CHILDREN'S CARE CENTER WAS CLOSED TEMPORARILY. 2.IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, CORNERSTONE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER FACILITATES THE INTEGRATION OF MEDICAL CARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CLIENTS NEEDING PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE SERVICES. COVID-19 CLOSED THE MEDICAL CLINIC. 3.THE ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT) TEAMS ARE HIGH INTENSITY INTERVENTIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS. THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS MOBILE AND FOCUSED ON IMPROVED PERSONAL STABILITY AND SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. 4.DENVER APARTMENTS HOUSE 22 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PARTICIPANTS WITH THE ACT TEAMS. IT IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS. STAFF ARE ON SITE 24/7 IN THE CLUBHOUSE AND THE ACT TEAM ALSO SUPPORTS RESIDENTS WITH INDEPENDENT LIVING.