Volunteers Of America Inc

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 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 ARE RUNNING PILOT PROJECT TO BILL STATE MEDICAID FOR SOCIAL DETOXIFICATION SERVICES WHICH WILL HELP PROVIDE MORE ACCESS TO ADDICTION TREATMENT AS WELL AS MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED. 2.VOA OPERATES A 200 BED EMERGENCY SHELTER AND RESOURCE CENTER FOR HOMELESS WOMEN. THE GERALDINE E. KING WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER IS THE LARGEST RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM OPERATED BY VOA IN A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY OWNED BY SHELTER THE HOMELESS. THE PROGRAM BEGAN OPERATION IN AUGUST 2019 AND IS OPERATED AS PART OF THE ADULT HOMELESS DIVISION. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO REMAIN CLOSE TO FULL CAPACITY DURING THE PANDEMIC. COVID RELATED MEDICAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED ON SITE PERIODICALLY FOR BOTH TESTING AND VACCINATIONS. 3.THE 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. 4.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. THERE IS A FREE LEGAL CLINIC ON-SITE. COVID RELATED MEDICAL SERVICES WERE PROVIDED ON SITE PERIODICALLY FOR BOTH TESTING AND VACCINATIONS. 2.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. 3.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. THE AMPLIED MENTORING PROGRAM (AMP) MATCHES SCREENED ADULT VOLUNTEERS WITH YOUTH FOR A NINE MONTH SUPPORTIVE INTERVENTION. 4.MAUD'S CAFE PROVIDES YOUTH WITH PAID WORK EXPERIENCE COUPLED WITH PROFESSIONAL CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP YOUTH TRANSITION INTO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS. MAUD'S CAF WAS OPENED IN JANUARY 2018 AS VOA'S FIRST SOCIAL ENTERPRISE TO PROVIDE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND THE STATE DEPT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES.

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 ASAM LEVELS OF CARE. 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 TEAM (ACT) IS A HIGH INTENSITY INTERVENTION FOR PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS. THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM IS MOBILE AND FOCUSED ON IMPROVED PERSONAL STABILITY AND SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY. 4.VOA'S DENVER APARTMENTS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A VITAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS PROJECT IS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING HOUSING AND SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS WITH 24-HOUR ONSITE STAFFING AND SUPPORT FROM VOA'S ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT TEAM (ACT). THIS PROGRAM IS OPERATED AS PART OF THE INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL SERVICES DIVISION.