Community Prevention Partnership Of Berks County

PROVIDE PREVENTION SERVICES ADDRESSING THE PROBLEMS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POVERTY, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND DRUG USE, CRIME AND VIOLENCE, SCHOOL DROPOUT, ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY, CHILDHOOD/ADOLESCENT OBESITY AND OTHER RELATED SOCIAL ISSUES.

HOME VISITATION PROGRAMS:NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IS A COST-EFFECTIVE, EVIDENCE-BASED HOME VISITATION PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY REGISTERED NURSES TO 329 FIRST-TIME, LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK, MOTHERS FROM PREGNANCY THROUGH THE TIME THE CHILD IS TWO YEARS OLD. THE BERKS COUNTY PROGRAMS ARE SUPPORTED THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. A CONTRACT WITH SCHUYLKILL COUNTY DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROVIDES FUNDING FOR THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP.PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM IS AN EVIDENCED BASED HOME VISITATION PROGRAM SERVING FAMILIES PREGNANT OR PARENTING CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN. TRAINED PROFESSIONALS CONDUCT HOME VISITS PROVIDING INFORMATION, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO PARENTS DURING THE CRUCIAL EARLY YEARS OF LIFE. THE PROGRAM SERVES 225 LOW-INCOME FAMILIES. 30 FAMILIES SERVED IN THIS PROGRAM HAVE A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. IT IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS:EATPLAYGROW IS A PROGRAM FUNDED BY THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF MINORITY HEALTH. THE PROGRAM IS A CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAM FOCUSING ON LATINO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AGES 2-6 YEARS. BILINGUAL HOME VISITORS VISIT LATINO FAMILIES RESIDING IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELIVER A SERIES OF 11 HEALTH, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS FOCUSED LESSONS. EACH LESSON IS ACCOMPANIED BY AN AGE-APPROPRIATE ACTIVITY. MONTHLY GROUP SESSIONS PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL OUTINGS FOCUSED ON PROMOTING PHYSICAL FITNESS. THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED 60 FAMILIES WITH DIRECT SERVICES AND COLLECTED COMPARISON DATA ON 60 ADDITIONAL FAMILIES. KIDS AGAINST PRESSURE PROVIDES SKILL BUILDING TO APPROXIMATELY 80 CHILDREN IN AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT SERVES LATINO STUDENTS IN FIVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN READING. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON ENHANCING SELF-ESTEEM WHILE RECOGNIZING AND ACCEPTING INDIVIDUAL LIMITATION AND DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS TO BUILD POSITIVE PEER RELATIONSHIPS. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A CONTRACT WITH SERVICE ACCESS AND MANAGEMENT, INC. THROUGH THE BERKS COUNTY OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.CIRCLE OF FRIENDS DROP-IN-CENTER SERVES APPROXIMATELY 200 ADULT CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PROVIDES THEM WITH SOCIALIZATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES. THE PROGRAM OFFERS MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, AND SOCIALIZATION OPPORTUNITIES. MEMBERS ALSO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING BASIC SERVICES. THE CENTER SERVED 30,000 BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHES. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A CONTRACT WITH SERVICE ACCESS AND MANAGEMENT, INC. THROUGH BERKS COUNTY OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO APPROXIMATELY 30 PARENTS WITH A CHILD IN ONE OF THE CHILD-SERVING SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION, DRUG AND ALCOHOL, JUVENILE PROBATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, HELPING THE PARENTS NAVIGATE THE SYSTEMS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES AN ADVOCATE AND A MENTOR FOR THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN. THE PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM ASSISTS IN BUILDING BRIDGES OF TRUST BETWEEN THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE SERVICES DESIGNED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY A CONTRACT WITH SERVICE ACCESS AND MANAGEMENT, INC. THROUGH THE BERKS COUNTY OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.EDUCATION LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER TRAINING IS A CONTRACTED PROGRAM WITH THE BERKS COUNTY INTERMEDIATE UNIT THAT ASSISTS PREGNANT AND PARENTING TEENS IN BERKS COUNTY TO STAY IN SCHOOL, EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED, AND MAKE THE TRANSITION TO EMPLOYMENT. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED YEAR ROUND TO BOTH FEMALES AND MALES AND ARE CREATIVE AND FLEXIBLE TO MEET INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

THE BERKS COUNTY HEALTHCHOICES REINVESTMENT GRANT PROVIDED FUNDING TO RENOVATE THE BUILDING WHERE THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS DROP-IN-CENTER IS NOW LOCATED. THE GRANT ALLOWED THE PROGRAM TO RELOCATE FROM A MUCH SMALLER ONE FLOOR LEASED SPACE TO THE NEW THREE STORY LOCATION WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED BY COMMUNITY PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP AS OFFICES. THE NEW LOCATION ADDED AN EXPANDED DINING AREA AND KITCHEN, AN EXERCISE EQUIPMENT ROOM AND ADDITIONAL SPACE FOR THE CONSUMERS TO MEET AND ENGAGE IN PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. THE CENTER MOVED INTO THE NEW CENTER FEBRUARY 2020.