News Release
| Goodwill and the Annie E. Casey
Foundation Partner to Promote Strong Families |
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| Goodwill Family Strengthening Award
Winners Announced |
| June 27, 2005 |
Rockville, MD — Goodwill Industries and the Annie E. Casey Foundation partnered
five years ago to support and expand family strengthening activities and
programs across the United States. Each year, Goodwill Industries International
recognizes four Goodwill member organizations for having exemplary programs that
connect families with local services and resources necessary to gain economic
independence.
“The common goal of these varying family programs is to
promote whole family approaches that move each family member along the path of
learning and to self-sufficiency,” says George W. Kessinger, President and CEO
of Goodwill Industries International. “Providing services and linking people to
the resources that meet their individual needs creates productive families which
develop strong communities.”
FAMILY STRENTHENING PROGRAM WINNERS:
- Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey’s (Astoria,
NY) Refugee Self-Sufficiency Program seeks to address the needs of low-income,
limited English-speaking refugees, immigrants, and asylees in New York City’s
Midwood, Brooklyn and Pelham, Bronx communities. The program provides English as
a Second Language classes, computer literacy, and comprehensive employment
support for adults. The program also offers family counseling, parenting
classes, wellness and financial planning classes, onsite childcare, citizenship
training, self-sufficiency training, and interpreter services. A referral
network of more than 25 programs and agencies also links refugees, immigrants,
and asylees to services including transportation assistance and work clothing to
further help the families connect to their new communities. During its five
years of operation, the program has assisted nearly 7,000 individuals and their
families.
- The Families Together Program of Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan
(Traverse City) assists single and two-parent families who are chronically
homeless, victims of domestic abuse, or both. The program is run from the
Goodwill Inn, a Goodwill-operated homeless shelter. In addition to providing
emergency shelter, the program refers participants to support services and
agencies; provides health services and referrals; offers transportation
assistance; establishes transitional and permanent housing; and provides school
supplies and holiday needs for their children. Families Together also provides
services to youth, veterans, and people recently released from jails, prisons,
and mental health facilities. The key to program success is intensive case
management, which contributes to a 90 percent permanent housing placement rate
for families enrolled in the program. The demand for these services has grown in
rural northern Michigan from 24 families in 2002 to 49 families in 2004.
- The Back on Track Program of Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San
Mateo, and Marin Counties (CA) is a unique, first-of-its kind partnership with
the District Attorney’s office to help young people, ages 18-30 avoid a
first-time felony conviction for low-level narcotics sales upon completion of a
rigorous, 12-month career development program. Young people who are at risk of
incarceration following conviction are eligible for the Deferred Entry of
Judgment. The arrangement, which allows the felony conviction to be dropped
effectively, alters a destructive pattern that limits young people’s future
options, weakens family ties, and destabilizes communities. Through a network of
partner agencies, the program provides education and employment support, life
skills training, mandatory community service, and community-based mentoring.
During its first year, Back on Track helped 87 individuals and their families.
It keeps young parents out of jail or prison and keeps children out of foster
care.
- The Crossroads Program’s approach includes the development of a
family-centered plan to identify needs and arrange for the appropriate services
for each member of the family. North Louisiana Goodwill Industries (Shreveport)
Rehabilitation Center’s program is designed to help individuals who have
multiple challenges in their lives, which prevent them from obtaining and/or
retaining employment. The program enrolls individuals who are homeless, victims
of domestic violence, previously incarcerated, have a history of substance
abuse, or are people with mental or physical disabilities. A referral network
that encompasses over 50 agencies enables the Crossroads Program to provide
counseling, shelter, financial literacy, GED preparation, childcare, and
employment preparation and placement. In 2004, the program assisted more than
500 families and added a youth component to serve previously incarcerated youth
and their families.
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Phone: (240) 333-5266
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