Friday, June 26, 2009
Grant will help keep families intact
Have you heard?
JoAnne Poindexter
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Family Service of Roanoke Valley has received a $5,000 grant to expand a program aimed at keeping families intact by treating children in the Roanoke Valley.
The grant from the Family and Children's Trust Fund will be used for the "Wrap Around Roanoke Initiative," a program that Family Service started with a community development block grant from the city of Roanoke.
Family Service, responding to a report that Roanoke ranks high in cases of child abuse and neglect -- sixth in Virginia in 2007 -- adopted a family strengthening approach called "wraparound services" that has reduced the number of children who are removed from their homes and communities for services.
The 2009 Family and Children's Trust Fund award will make it possible for Family Service to train more than 400 service providers and clients to address families' needs.
Family Service has partnered with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, Roanoke and Roanoke County social services departments, The Arc of the Greater Roanoke Valley, the Down Syndrome Association, the schools' parent resource centers, court services units, local health departments, the Council of Community Services, the United Way of Roanoke Valley, the city of Roanoke and private and governmental service providers.
Cheri Hartman, director of youth development at Family Service of Roanoke Valley, is the project coordinator.
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The Local Office on Aging recently recognized volunteers who give thousands of hours working with preschool and day care youngsters and helping residents in their own age group.
The volunteers are involved with the LOA's Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs and were recognized during an annual recognition luncheon May 27.
Three special awards were presented. Mary Lou Smith, a volunteer at Downtown Learning Center, earned the Saunders-Grogan Award, formerly the Wonderful Grandparent Award. Recipients must exemplify kindness, patience, acceptance and understanding toward improving the lives of children they serve.
Harold Duckett, a senior companion to an in-home client, earned the Charles T. Green Community Involvement Award. Recipients must be active in the community or a church organization.
Ella Walker, a senior companion to a client who lives in a nursing home, was recipient of the Marge Paisley-Hodges Award. Recipients must exemplify kindness, patience, acceptance and understanding toward improving the lives of seniors they serve.
Marion Smith, with 1,768 hours at the Betty Lou Brown Head Start Center, and Sylvia Forrest, with 1,589 volunteer hours at the Betty Lou Brown Head Start Center and Total Action Against Poverty's Transitional Living Center, earned awards for the most volunteer hours in the Foster Grandparent program. Other foster grandparents recognized for service hours were Thelma Brown, Edith Johnson, Mary Lou Smith, Ella Lee Hairston, Yvonne Bradshaw, Lelia Baker and Donald Powell.
Willie Mae Parker, who spent 1,883 hours with an in-home client, and Elsie Saunders, who spent 1,271 hours with an in-home client, had the highest number of volunteer hours with the Senior Companion Program.
Others recognized were Teresa Brown, Dorothy Payne, Agnes Logan, Ella Walker and Frances Thompson.
