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2000 Best Practice AwardsProgram and Geographical Winners: Louisiana
Best Practice: Christopher Homes Eldercare Support
Services
Program Offers Personal, Spiritual, and
Community Support for Elders
New Orleans.
The Christopher Homes Eldercare Support Services is a non-medical model
for providing assisted living services for low-income elderly. Program staff
arrange activities such as education, training for senior caregivers, health
care provides, and assistance with activities of daily living. Daily living
services include assistance with meal preparation, housekeeping, bathing,
transportation, and escort for medical appointments and case management.
The objective of the program is to focus on employing senior residents of
Christopher Homes complexes, and seniors within Orleans parishes. The support
of the elderly includes improving the environment of frail elderly, providing
assistance in their apartment, and promoting lifelong personal and spiritual
development, educating the elderly on services available in the community,
and seeking to prevent early nursing home placement.
Contact: Sister Clare Thomas, Phone: (504)
949-0636
Tracking Number: 2907
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: One Hundred Men of Shreveport
African American Men Develop Youth Support
Group
Shreveport.
The unemployment rate among African Americans in the City of Shreveport
is almost twice the rate of the total civilian labor force. Citywide, the
poverty rate exceeds 24 percent and it is as high as 79.4 percent in targeted
inner city neighborhoods. One Hundred Men of Shreveport began when a group
of four local young men came together in 1993 to promote positive change
in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Today, there are 70 members and the
goal is to exceed 100. Recognizing the need for strong, effective role models
for disadvantaged youth in the inner city, they decided to spend time with
50 male youths ages 8-17 in activities that were both fun and educational.
Outings included movies, bowling and camping and fishing. Mentors volunteer
approximately 120 hours per month. Since January 1999, the program has served
more than 200 young men from "at-risk" neighborhoods. The components
of youth enhancement education include mentoring, computer literacy, martial
arts, tutoring and career preparation.
Contact: Rickey Carthon, Phone: (318) 525-1100
Tracking Number: 2306
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Community Support Program, Inc.
Crossroads, Portals, Portico and Transitions Programs
Programs Assist Mentally Ill with Independent
Living Skills
Shreveport.
Community Support Programs, Inc., serves persons diagnosed with severe and
persistent mental illness through transitional shelter. Its provides individualized
services and fosters independence, resulting in programs designed to fit
the individual. The agency's mission is "...to serve the client/family
and to enhance each person's opportunity to live successfully in the community."
It has four major programs. Crossroads is a 45-day emergency shelter for
homeless, chronically mentally ill adults. It offers room and board, medication
education and monitoring, skills training in activities of daily living,
and links to available housing, employment and other community resources
and support. The Portals program provides supportive services to adoptive
and foster families. It also provides a resource center, planned and crisis
respite, and support and preservation services. Significant research is
conducted to establish which services promote permanent placement and reduce
neglect and abuse. Portico provides preventive interventions and support
services to families who are in danger of having their children removed.
It also provides planned and crisis respite, counseling, parent training,
family activities, support groups, mentoring and self-help resources. Transitions
helps homeless individuals who suffer from a chronic mental illness and
who have documented limitations in daily independent living skills. It implements
individualized services based on client needs.
Contact: Margaret Shemwell, Phone: (318) 221-7978
Tracking Number: 150
Winning Category: Program (Housing - Multifamily)
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Content Archived: April 20, 2011 |