Santa Maria Community Services

SANTA MARIA IS A CATALYST AND ADVOCATE FOR GREATER PRICE HILL FAMILIES TO ATTAIN THEIR EDUCATION, FINANCIAL, AND HEALTH GOALS.

SANTA MARIA'S EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMMING INCLUDES: EVERY CHILD SUCCEEDS (ECS), PROMOTING OUR PRESCHOOLERS (POP) AND STABLE FAMILIES. ECS AND POP PROVIDE INTENSIVE HOME VISITATION SERVICES FOLLOWING EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM (GROWING GREAT KIDS AND READY ROSIE). STABLE FAMILIES FOLLOWS A NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE MODEL THROUGH THE SIEMER FOUNDATION AND OFFERS DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN (INCLUDING PRESCHOOL) TO HELP STABILIZE THEIR HOUSING TO PREVENT AVOIDABLE MOVES AND THE CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING BEING DISRUPTED. ALL 3 PROGRAMS PROVIDE SUPPORT, COACHING, STANDARDIZED SCREENINGS, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION TO PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS AND THEIR CHILDREN AGES 0-5. ECS AND POP ALSO FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT PROVIDING ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS TO PROMOTE THIS. THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE REFERRALS FOR INTERVENTION FOR THOSE CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT ON TARGET. APPROXIMATELY 400 FAMILIES ARE SERVED ANNUALLY IN ALL 3 PROGRAMS. 514 INDIVIDUALS BENEFITTED FROM ECS AND POP AND 383 FROM STABLE FAMILIES 132 OF WHOM ARE ADULTS AND 251 CHILDREN. SOME OF THESE ARE DUPLICATED DUE TO CROSS OVER BETWEEN THE PROGRAMS.

THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOCUSES ON LONG TERM STRATEGIES FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY BY OFFERING HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY (HSE) PREPARATION CLASSES IN BOTH ENGLISH & SPANISH, ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES, EMPLOYMENT COACHING, BENEFITS COUNSELING, HOUSING SUPPORTS AND FINANCIAL COACHING AT NOT COST TO CLIENTS. LONGER TERM OUTCOMES INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT RETENTION, IMPROVED CREDIT RATINGS, INCREASED NET INCOME AND INCREASED NET WORTH. WHEN APPROPRIATE, FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENROLL FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS AND AREA RESOURCES IN ORDER TO FREE UP CASH IN THE FAMILY BUDGET TO PAY DOWN DEBT, BUILD ASSETS AND EVENTUALLY WORK THEMSELVES OFF OF PUBLIC BENEFITS THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE COACHING. A FINANCIAL COACH ASSISTS CLIENTS IN COMPLETING A FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES TO SAVE MONEY ON THINGS LIKE CHECK CASHING FEES, TAX PREPARATION COSTS, FINANCE CHARGES AND OTHER HIDDEN COSTS WHILE BUILDING SAVINGS THROUGH MATCHED SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFERS HSE PREPARATION TO ADULTS AND OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH WHILE THE JOB READINESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALL CLIENTS AS THEY EXPLORE CAREER OPTIONS AND ASSISTS THEM TO DEVELOP PLANS TO REACH CAREER GOALS. DURING 2021, 382 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

SANTA MARIA'S WELLNESS & IMMIGRANT SERVICES HAS TWO BASIC COMPONENTS. THE WELLNESS COMPONENT ENSURES THAT THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED INCREASE THEIR USE OF COMMUNITY HEALTH RESOURCES. HEALTH COACHES/NAVIGATORS ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN IDENTIFYING CHRONIC DISEASES AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE ONGOING TREATMENT AND FACILITATES ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. THIS WORK IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH SITES, COOKING CLASSES, HEALTH WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIRS. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE, FREE EYE EXAMS/GLASSES, HEARING EXAMS, AIDS TESTING & EDUCATION, HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT, HEALTH NAVIGATION, AND FREE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. OF PARTICULAR NOTE, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE HEALTH NAVIGATION SERVICES TO THE HISPANIC/LATINO AND AFRICAN COMMUNITIES. THE IMMIGRANT OUTREACH COMPONENT PROVIDES GROUP PROGRAMMING, ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (ESOL) CLASSES, AND RESOURCES FOR THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES OF THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA. SERVICES ARE OFFERED FREE OF CHARGE AT A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY LOCATIONS AS WELL AS VIRTUALLY. WELLNESS & IMMIGRANT OUTREACH SERVED 746 ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN 2021.

PROJECT ADVANCE AMERICORPS PROGRAM OPERATES ON A SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR. DURING 2021 A TOTAL OF 7 FULL TIME AND 3 HALF TIME MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY SETTINGS. MEMBERS SERVED AS TUTORS AND COACHES AT OUR 4 PARTNER SITES TO HELP LOW INCOME YOUTH AND ADULTS FIND AND ENGAGE RESOURCES TO GET MUCH NEEDED ASSISTANCE WITH THEIR EDUCATION, HEALTH, HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT. THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WORKS INTENSIVELY FOR A FULL SCHOOL YEAR WITH SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES ENROLLED IN OYLER SCHOOLS IN LOWER PRICE HILL, PROVIDING ADVOCACY AND GROUP WORK USING AN EVIDENCE BASED MODEL. SANTA MARIA'S "BUILDING YOUTH ASSETS" PROGRAM OFFERS A COMBINATION OF STRUCTURED GROUP FACILITATION AND CONSISTENT FAMILY ADVOCACY, HELPING YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES THAT ARE PREDICTIVE OF ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC SUCCESS. THE PROGRAM ALSO WORKS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN LOWER PRICE HILL, PARTNERING WITH THE LOWER PRICE HILL VIOLENCE PREVENTION COLLABORATIVE THAT UTILIZES A VARIETY OF BEST-PRACTICE STRATEGIES TO GIVE YOUTH PROTECTIVE FACTORS WHILE REDUCING RISK FACTORS. THE JOE WILLIAMS FAMILY CENTER LOCATED IN THE FORMER SITE OF THE ESPY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB REGULARLY OFFERS AND SUPPORT DOZENS OF YOUTH FOR A DIVERSE ARRAY OF ACTIVITIES BOTH AFTER SCHOOL & DURING THE SUMMER, INCLUDING A SPORTS LEAGUE, BASKETBALL, ART OPPORTUNITIES, MUSIC, DANCE, HEALTHY COOKING AND MUCH MORE. DURING 2021 THIS PROGRAM SERVED 229 INDIVIDUALS WHICH INCLUDED 122 YOUTH.SANTA MARIA ALSO ACTIVELY RESPONDED TO THE COVID CRISIS BY DISTRIBUTING EMERGENCY RENTAL/UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND SERVING THE COMMUNITY AS A LEADER FOR PLANNING AND CONDUCTING MULTIPLE LARGE SCALE EVENTS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, COVID TESTING, AND COVID VACCINES. THESE EVENTS ATTRACTED THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS.