Learning from Promising Programs and Practices
Spotlight on Individual Programs and State-level Studies
Total Community Action, Inc. (TCA) is a nonprofit, community-based agency dedicated to serving the needs of the disadvantaged. TCA operates six neighborhood centers and one senior center. The centers provide an array of social services to over 148,000 residents. The centers attempt to assist the poor and disadvantaged in finding avenues for addressing their needs or concerns while improving the quality of their lives. Founded in 1964, TCA has addressed the needs of the poor and near poor by providing direct assistance and the opportunity for people to better help themselves. Services include early childhood development, energy and water assistance, weatherization, job counseling and guidance, transportation for the elderly and disabled, commodity distribution, youth work experience, and a telephone tape library that provides information on a variety of subjects. TCA has worked effectively with State governments to obtain funding and provide services.
Contact Information
Peter W. Dangerfield, Jr. - Executive Director
Pearlie H. Elloie - Director, Office for Children, Youth & Families
Carolyn G. Ford - Director of Operations
Fay J. Wooten - Director of Administration
Florence Hebert - Personnel Director
Total Community Action, Inc.
1420 South Jefferson Davis Parkway
New Orleans, LA 70125
http://www.totalcommunityaction.com
(504) 827-2200
Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc. (LSS) offers a range of comprehensive services in Texas and Louisiana. In particular, LSS provides residential treatment for emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, and skilled nursing care and assisted living and independent living services for seniors. Specific programs for children offered include adoption, foster care, residential treatment, and unplanned pregnancy counseling. Other programs for seniors include adult day care, assisted living, independent living, and home health care. Additional general services offered include emergency assistance, health screening and monitoring, disaster response, clergy care, and chaplain services. LSS has worked effectively with State government agencies to secure funding and provide services.
Contact Information
Dr. Kurt Senske
Chief Executive Officer
Lutheran Social Services
PO Box 140767
Austin, TX 78714
http://www.lsss.org
(512) 459-1000 or (800) 938-5777
The Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network, a program funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, facilitates the sharing of information across State lines about "what works" and what does not work under welfare reform, and establishes linkages among organizations serving welfare recipients and their partners at the State and community level. Among other things, the Network helps organizations learn about innovative programs and effective strategies to successfully move low-income families to employment and self-sufficiency. To find examples of community-based organizations that are helping families effectively make the transition, go to http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/inn_prog/topics.cfm?catID=1.
The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy addresses the emerging role of faith-based organizations in the American social welfare system. The organization undertakes independent review of research studies conducted to date, evaluating the effectiveness and efficacy of faith-based organizations involved in delivering social services. It also produces research that addresses gaps in knowledge. As part of this effort, the Roundtable is compiling a comprehensive database of the best available social science research on the scope and efficacy of faith-based social services. Search the site for publications documenting successes and challenges in this arena. In addition, use the site to uncover other resources and events that can support program growth and outcomes. Below are six recent publications developed by the Roundtable in 2003 on faith- and community-based initiatives in five States, along with findings from a 50-State study. The link to the PDF file follows the title of each publication. Use the link to access the report, or go directly to the Web site home page and search for the publication title.
Scanning the Policy Environment for Faith-Based Social Services in the United States: Results of a 50-State Study
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/11-17-2003_state_scan.pdf
Faith-Based Organizations and Social Service Delivery in New Hampshire
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/
case_study_2003_new_hampshire.pdf
Great Expectations and Recent Frustrations: Oklahoma's Continuing Quest to Partner with Faith-Based Organizations
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/case_study_2003_oklahoma.pdf
The Challenges of Implementing Faith-Based and Community Initiatives in Montana
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/case_study_2003_montana.pdf
The Faith-Based Initiative in Texas: A Case Study
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/case_study_2003_texas.pdf
Faith-Based Organizations and the Delivery of Social Services in Florida: A Case Study
http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/docs/events/
2003_annual_conference/case_study_2003_florida.pdf
Share and enhance your knowledge of promising practices by participating in discussions with other potential grantees on the following topics:
To facilitate your participation in these discussions, please review the ARC Discussion Forums Rules and Policies and the Tools for Effective Web Communication.
Note: To view PDF files, you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is freely available for download. For more information on accessibility and Acrobat Reader, visit the access.adobe.com page.
|
