United Community Ministries Inc

TO BUILD THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND CREATE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES BY PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND ADVANCING COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.

UNITED COMMUNITY'S STEPPING STONES PROGRAM PROVIDES CRITICAL BASIC NEEDS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE. STEPPING STONES COORDINATES WITH FAIRFAX COUNTY TO DISTRIBUTE RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE ALSO PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITIES, MEDICAL COSTS, TRANSPORTATION AND DIAPERS. STEPPING STONES RUNS SEASONAL EVENTS SUCH AS A THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE, HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE IN DECEMBER AND BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES IN AUGUST. THE EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM MANAGES A FOOD PANTRY WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE VARIETY OF FOOD ASSISTANCE ON A REGULAR BASIS. FAMILIES LIVING WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA COME TO THE PANTRY TO RECEIVE CANNED GOODS, FRESH PRODUCE, EGGS, MEAT, AND MORE WEEKLY. IN ADDITION, WE WORK WITH A NETWORK OF VOLUNTEERS IN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS TO DELIVER FOOD DIRECTLY INTO COMMUNITIES ALONG THE ROUTE 1 CORRIDOR.THE FAMILY ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM (FAP) PROVIDES WRAP-AROUND SOCIAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES LIVING BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. EACH FAMILY IS SUPPORTED BY A QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER AND MAY BE PROVIDED WITH SERVICES SUCH AS CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, JOB READINESS TRAINING, AND OTHER EDUCATION AND WORK RELATED EXPENSES.

SACRAMENTO NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER AND CREEKSIDE VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTER SERVE AS HUBS FOR 15 LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS TO MEET, LEARN, AND GROW AS NEIGHBORS AND AS A LARGER COMMUNITY. THESE CENTERS ARE PLACES WHERE RESIDENTS CONNECT WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, LEARN TO LEAD, AND MAKE CHANGES THAT STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITY, WITH PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPED BY AND FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS. OUR SPARK PROGRAM (SUCCESS THROUGH PURPOSE, ACHIEVEMENT, RESPECT AND KNOWLEDGE) IS A MULTIFACETED YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 1-12. SPARK PROVIDES A SAFE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER ENVIRONMENT WHERE AT-RISK YOUTH CAN RECEIVE HOMEWORK HELP, LEARN NEW SKILLS, AND ENGAGE IN ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE LEADERSHIP AND INTERVENTION/PREVENTION OF NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS. WORKING WITH FAIRFAX COUNTY, WE PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR LEARNING, MENTORSHIP, AND HEALTH SCREENINGS TO COMMUNITY RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES.UNITED COMMUNITY SPONSORS TWO COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROGRAMS AT WALT WHITMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND MOUNT VERNON WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE WORK WITH TEACHERS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH DIRECT ACCESS TO THE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN AND OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM. WE PROVIDE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO YOUTH AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT PROMOTE STRONGER FAMILIES AND HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

UNITED COMMUNITY'S HEALTHY FAMILIES FAIRFAX PROGRAM PROVIDES HOME-BASED PARENTING EDUCATION, HEALTH INFORMATION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND SCHOOL READINESS FOR PARENTS FROM PREGNANCY UNTIL THE CHILD REACHES AGE THREE. FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO PROMOTE POSITIVE PARENTING, IMPROVE CHILD HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, ENCOURAGE SCHOOL READINESS, AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. EARLY LEARNING CENTER (ELC) PROVIDES HIGH-QUALITY DAYCARE AND CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AGES SIX WEEKS TO 5 YEARS. ALL CHILDREN RECEIVE POSITIVE CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES THAT NATURALLY STIMULATE CHILDREN'S CURIOSITY AND DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN 3 YEARS AND OLDER RECEIVE FREE MEDICAL, DENTAL AND VISION SCREENINGS. FOUR- AND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS WORK IN CURRICULUM-BASED CLASSROOMS FOCUSED ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS. PARENTS ARE SUPPORTED WITH PARENTING EDUCATION AND REFERRALS TO APPROPRIATE RESOURCES. IN FY21, ELC WAS MOSTLY CLOSED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN LATE FY21, ELC BROUGHT BACK TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN PREPARATION FOR A GRAND RE-OPENING JULY 1, 2021.