2014 Grants, Focus Area: Mental health

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County and
The Center for Violence Free Relationships
$20,000

STOP THE CYCLE – With this grant award, Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County (BBBS) and The Center for Violence-Free Relationships (CVFR) will create a new collaborative partnership that will increase early detection and intervention of domestic violence and create an enhanced network of services in order to improve the mental health of children and families.

Early intervention and access to services are critical to the mental and emotional healing of a family in crisis.  An integrated network of services will ensure the family gains priority access to the preventative mentoring services provided by BBBS, as well as intervention and counseling services offered by CVFR.  This collaboration will be a foundation of a strong safety net for women, children and families within the entire community.

CVFR-BBBS Final Report

New Morning Youth and Family Services
$20,000

Untreated mental health issues can result in significant destructive circumstances in the lives of children and their families.  Mental health issues interfere with a child’s education, social interactions, and general development. For over 43 years, New Morning has been the primary referral agency for these children.

New Morning will use the Women’s Fund grant to provide treatment to 50 children in our community in need of mental health services.  Of the approximately 1,000 children who will seek our services this year, over half will be a victim of child abuse or have witnessed domestic violence in their home; and thus, our highest priority will be for this population of children.  New Morning Youth & Family Services will provide professional mental health services to children age birth – 18 at over 20 school and community sites throughout the Western Slope of El Dorado County who otherwise could not afford counseling services.  New Morning’s clinical staff is among the highest skilled and best-trained therapists in the county.

New Morning Final Report


Impact Grants

Women and Children: United Outreach of El Dorado County
$5000

United Outreach provides emergency (for up to 30 days) and transitional (for up to 4 months) shelter to women and their children who have suffered a temporary setback (job loss, divorce) and find themselves in crisis and often facing homelessness.  With food vouchers, counseling, and case management, clients are able to get back on their feet in a safe and stable environment and eventually transition into permanent, sustainable housing.  This grant award will allow United Outreach to begin placing additional women and their children in emergency and transitional housing and continue to make a life-changing difference to the families it serves.

Breaking the Cycles of Poverty: Community Resource Center
$5000

Susie’s House is a Rapid Re-housing program embracing the concept that “Housing First” breaks the cycle of poverty.  Following the tradition of the 100k Homes movement, the Susie’s House program recognizes the numerous studies showing that housing first is how we help people out of homelessness and ensure that they remain housed even if they have severe substance abuse and mental health issues.  Named after Susie, a woman who died of exposure in the hills of El Dorado County, Susie’s House is an effort designed with the hope that such an incident will never occur again in our community.  Within a year, this grant award will permanently house a minimum of four homeless individuals in a safe shelter, a minimum of ten clients will be assisted with supportive services, furnishings and necessary household items and emergency shelter, and a minimum of twenty clients will be assisted by referrals and collaboration with other community organizations in service to the homeless, those fleeing domestic violence, Vets, and others at-risk.

Promoting Senior Services: Senior Day Care Services of El Dorado County
$1,447.79

Recognized as a day care leader, Senior Day Care Services of El Dorado County has been specializing in dementia care for nearly 25 years.  Targeting persons in the early to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, they are able to maintain optimal functioning of each individual’s physical and mental health over the inevitable course of the disease, enabling them to remain living at home for as long as possible and preventing premature nursing home placement.

In 2008, the El Dorado Community Foundation voted to fund the purchase of a washer/dryer combination for the new El Dorado Hills Senior Day Care Center.  The opening of the new Senior Center was put on hold due to the economic turndown.  Since the Senior Center was not ready to accept the grant, another organization was selected and the grant dollars expended.  On March 31, 2014, the El Dorado Hills Senior Day Care Center opened its doors.  Twenty-six of the members attending the Placerville site have transferred to the new El Dorado Hills site.  Our grant award of $1,447.79 will fund the purchase of the washer/dryer combination for the new El Dorado Hills Senior Day Care Center.