Blog Week 4 - National Organizations that Help Needy Families

Robin C. Miller                                                                                            EDUC – 6990

Blog – Week 4

I tried to narrow it down to three national organizations that I would love to apply to my community of practice but, there are five organizations that caught my eye…

1.      Bank of America Charitable Foundation Funding Opportunities – (http://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/global-impact/charitable-foundation-funding.html#fbid=t7UHX2TGRWN)

“The Bank of America Charitable Foundation provides philanthropic support to address needs vital to the health of our communities through a focus on preserving neighborhoods, educating the workforce for 21st century jobs and addressing basic human services, such as hunger. In order to create greater impact, they leverage a powerful combination of local and national funding and volunteerism, both addressing the needs of the community and supporting the passion of our employees. These activities help create a ripple effect of positive change and economic stability in communities across the country” (Bank of America, 2014).

2.      Furniture Bank Association of North America – (http://www.furniturebanks.org/)

“Furniture banks are not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations whose mission is to provide free furniture to families struggling with poverty and other severe life challenges. These families are financially unable to furnish their own homes to even a minimal standard. Furniture banks collect donations of gently used furniture, and provide the furniture for free to families in need via referrals from other social service agencies, churches, schools, employers, etc.” (Furniture Bank of North America, 2014).

3.      Dress For Success : Going Places, Going Strong - (http://www.dressforsuccess.org/whatwedo.aspx)

“The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life” (Dress for Success: Going Places, Going Strong, 2014).

4.      National Coalition for the Homeless – (http://www.nationalhomeless.org/want_to_help/)

“The National Coalition for the Homeless is a national network of people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others committed to a single mission: To prevent and end homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness are met and their civil rights protected” (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2014).

5.      Feeding America – (http://feedingamerica.org/)

Feeding America is the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

I focused on these five sites because they all had something different to offer families and children in need. One focused on the community as a whole, another focused on hunger, while others focused on food, clothing, shelter, and home furnishings all in which, families need for basic survival and ability to live a stable life. These programs not only, offer material items but they also, offer motivation, understanding, and a path for families to have another chance at life, success, and happiness.

Here are two job opportunities that I am currently interested in…

1.      Family Advocate – (http://www.idealist.org/view/job/8sKh3PHfb7SP?utm_source=Indeed&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Indeed)

Job Summary – A Family Advocate is needed for the Early Head Start program to conduct home visiting with pregnant women and families with young children ages 0 – 3 to provide health education, connect them to needed health care and other community resources and promote child development. The Family Advocate maintains relationships with identified clients and provides support via weekly home visits. Attends community meetings and trainings; organizes parent meetings. Keeps accurate written records; uses organization database. We seek motivated individuals, knowledgeable about community resources, with good computer skills and the ability to work well with people, good organizational skills.

Requirements - Valid driver's license and clean driving record. High school diploma required.

2.      Parent Advocate: Tabor Northern Community Partners – (http://www.miracleworkers.com/jobs/-/J3F1PB670Y8KKQ9HKN5?siteid=0020R0111&Job_DID=J3F1PB670Y8KKQ9HKN5)

Job Summary - The Parent Advocate offers emotional support, shares experiences, and helps parents and caregivers understand the system. Parent Advocates will have successfully reunified with their children and/or youth or successfully stabilized their family and maintained safe case closure for a minimum of one year and recognize that they have benefited from their experience with the Child Welfare System. As an alternative, Parent Advocates will have positively utilized prevention services to keep their family from entering the formal child welfare system.

Requirements –

·         High School Diploma or equivalent.

·         Two (2) years or more experience working in environment involving children, youth and families.

·         Work experience in social service, education, health care or related field is a plus.

·         Knowledge of child, youth and family service systems and community preferred.

·         Ability to provide accurate and timely reports and recommendations.

·         Ability to work with diverse populations.

·         Strong oral and written communications skills in English.

·         Willingness to participate in on-going learning to update skills and acquired knowledge.

·         Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of children, youth, and families and to cover emergencies.

·         Must have a valid driver’s license and own reliable vehicle with current registration and insurance. Transport children, youth, and family members as required.

·         Must be free from any communicable/infectious diseases.

·         Provide a valid PA child abuse clearance, FBI check and Criminal Background Check.

References

Bank of America. (2014). Bank of america charitable foundation funding opportunities.     Retrieved from http://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/global-impact/charitable         foundation-funding.html

Dress for Success: Going Places, Going Strong. (2014). What we do . Retrieved from            http://www.dressforsuccess.org/whatwedo.aspx

Feeding America. (2014). About us. Retrieved from http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight         hunger/about-us.aspx

Furniture Bank of North America. (2014). No child or adult sleeping on the floor. Retrieved          from http://www.furniturebanks.org/

National Coalition for the Homeless. (2014). About us. Retrieved from            http://www.nationalhomeless.org/about_us/index.html