Program:
Clearinghouse
- Budget:
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$85,000
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
Program Description:
The Clearinghouse serves as a center for information and referral services. Through a network of 80 area churches as well as other community organizations, the Clearinghouse responds to over 4,000 requests each year.
By engaging the help of local churches, we provide responses to immediate and short-term needs such as transportation to medical appointments, child care and minor home repairs.
We provide information and assessments to local churches, helping them respond in an informed and compassionate way to those who come to them in need.
Program Long-Term Success:
This initiative - Beyond the Walls - is the origial mode of service - engaging the faith community to meet needs through the power of relationship and service. This coordination of services avoids duplication and leverages resources from all partners.
Program Short-Term Success:
Volunteers answer 4000 requests yearly and refer each caller to an agency or church for assistance. Calls referred to churches are legitimate, manageable and specific through a network of partner churches.
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
“One day my husband and I drove a woman all the way to Grand Rapids to have surgery. We decided to stay there with her the whole day because she had no other family”, tells Diana Beltman. “She was so thankful for our kindness that she was crying. She even gave us a box of handmade cards as a thank you…That’s the most rewarding part of volunteering – the big, beautiful smiles and tears.”
Diana has been volunteering with Good Samaritan Ministries’ Clearinghouse through the rides program for a year now. Being wholeheartedly involved in this ministry, Diana coordinates the volunteer drivers at her church, Rose Park Reformed, and she also deals with clients and arranging rides at Good Samaritan Ministries and even gives rides herself. The Clearinghouse rides program arranges volunteer drivers to give local rides to doctor’s appointments, courthouse dates, interviews, and other various types of activities.
When Good Samaritan Ministries sent a call out to local churches looking for volunteers to become drivers, Diana knew she wanted to help.“I enjoy working with people and working for a worthwhile cause. Since I’m retired, my goal is to give back now that I have the time.”
Diana has found that she has also learned so much from working with different volunteers, not just from working with those in need. “My overall perspective on people who volunteer has become brighter. If there weren’t volunteers, I don’t know what people would do. I’m constantly amazed at the time and energy people will give.”
“I am thankful for a place like Good Samaritan Ministries that can help the community. I only with there was more people involved because the need is there.”
Program:
Affordable Housing Connections
- Budget:
-
$427,000
- Category:
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Housing
- Population Served:
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Homeless
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Poor/Economically Disadvantaged, Indigent, General
Program Description:
Affordable Housing Connections is a combination of services that help families and individuals in need of housing assistance. They offer Housing Search Assistance to help those who need to find less expensive or safer housing than they currently have. They also offer Rapid Re-housing to help those who are currently homeless find new housing. Finally, they offer the Community Housing Partnership (CHP), a transitional housing program, in collaboration with Community Action House. CHP provides homeless families and individuals with up to 18 months of affordable housing, mentoring, financial counseling, case management and life skills training.
Program Long-Term Success:
In 2007, Good Samaritan Ministries completed six year study measuring effectiveness of mentoring on families receiving assistance with housing, transportation, employment, & budget counseling.
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
"I'm on my way to home ownership...thanks for giving me a solid stepping stone [helping me] keep my goals in mind...thank you to everyone for giving me the chance I never knew existed." - Single parent after being in the Community Housing Partnership
Program:
Faith in Youth - AmeriCorps
- Budget:
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$199,000
- Category:
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Youth Development
- Population Served:
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
The Faith in Youth Partnership was developed to address the shortage of youth programs in our community that support positive values in which committed people give their time and model good behavior. It is a collaborative initiative with area middle schools, local churches and faith-based organizations, and the AmeriCorps program. Twelve AmeriCorps members, paid volunteers, serve as a bridge between the churches and the middle schools to coordinate the resources needed to reach out to at-risk middle school students.
Program Long-Term Success:
A developmental asset survey showed that 88% of the students reported a positive internal behavior change as measured by an improved school attitude, ability to resist risky behaviors and a better self image.
Program Short-Term Success:
Over 800 youth were served at eight sites with volunteers mentoring and providing positive role models.
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
“I love seeing Johannah smile and laugh. She has such a beautiful and genuine smile that is so contagious” says AmeriCorps member Jane Fisher. “Through mentoring I’ve learned how important it is to spend time with others…Johannah helps me cut loose too and remember that life does not have to be serious all the time.”
Jane and Johannah met a year ago through the Map it Out Mentoring Program, part of the Faith in Youth Partnership. They spend about an hour a week together doing various activities like watching movies, eating ice cream, bowling, going to CritterBarn, and just hanging out. Over the past year they’ve developed a strong friendship. “It took a while for Johannah to warm up to me and begin sharing the ins and outs of her life. Once she warmed up though, she cannot seem to keep her mouth quiet! Now she loves to tell me about her day.”
Jane has seen a confidence develop in Johannah especially when she tries new things. This confidence Jane credits to the fact that through mentoring, a child sees that they are unique and loved for who they are. “It means a lot that someone will care enough to show up once a week and spend time with them and invest in their life and to know that they have a friend,” Jane says. “Mentoring is a small commitment that makes a huge difference in not only the child’s life, but also yours.”
Program:
Parents as Teachers
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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General Public/Unspecified
Program Description:
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a parent education and family support program that offers personal visits to share information about child development and talk to you about any questions you might have, parent group meetings where parents can learn from and support each other, screenings to assess your child’s overall development, and access to community resources for those who need them. Trained parent educators give specific advice based on scientific information to help parents catch teachable moments everyday to build their child’s many skills.
PAT is offered in partnership with Life Services Parent Center and area churches and faith-based organizations. We began serving families with chidlren under age 3 in Fall 2009.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Beyond the Walls
- Budget:
-
--
- Category:
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Community Development
- Population Served:
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General Public/Unspecified
Program Description:
Beyond the Walls is Good Samaritan's initiative that encourages the faith community to work at a grassroots level using assets and resources already in the neighborhood to promote positive transformations. It is a relational process that fosters community with a shared sense of ownership, investment and trust - bringing possibilities into a neighborhood as residents and the faith community work together in positive ways.
Neighborhood coalitions are formed with local associations, organizations and government agencies to combine assets and meet local needs.
Churches participate in community development workshops and spend time listening to their neighbors. Church clusters go through the process of asset mapping, relationship building, identifying neighborhood leaders and creating a shared vision for the neighborhood.
Positive community transformation to benefit neighborhoods remains a priority for Good Samaritan Ministries and Beyond the Walls church partners.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
On June 19th, 2009, Holland saw one of the worst floods on record – thousands of families and businesses in the area were left with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of flood damage. For families without insurance and without the funds to pay for repair it seemed to be a hopeless situation.
Members of Good Samaritan Ministries’ Beyond the Walls program stepped up to fill the need by forming the Flood Relief Task Force. A group of community and church leaders formed the Task Force to provide resources to local families so that they are enabled to help themselves. Good Samaritan Ministries employee and Task Force founder, Judy Van Dyke says, “This is what we do with Beyond the Walls. We provide resources and walk alongside the families so that they can help themselves. We are empowering people to solve their own problems.”
The Task Force has provided problem assessment, home inspections, connecting with community resources, providing state and federal funding, connecting families with case management, community support through churches, and accepting financial assistance. Judy asserts, “Our goal is to make sure everyone is safe and warm. Seventy homeowners are still in need.”
The Task Force started in August and will continue to work until all families are back on their feet. They hope to raise $200,000 to aid local families facing damages. So far they have been able to help a few families, but mostly they have provided hope for families. Through the Task Force local businesses and community members have really stepped up to help creating a collaborative spirit and letting the generosity of our community come out showing God’s hands in the process.