Center For Transforming Lives

THE CENTER FOR TRANSFORMING LIVES LIFTS WOMEN WITH CHILDREN FROM POVERTY TO POSSIBILITY, THROUGH SAFE HOMES, EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY.

HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START SERVED 431 CHILDREN DURING THE PROGRAM YEAR. THE CHILDREN RECEIVE FULL DAY AND FULL YEAR CHILDCARE PROGRAMMING WITH SUPPORT SERVICES. HEAD START CHILDREN RECEIVE SUPPORT SERVICES IN HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND FAMILY SUPPORT. ALL FAMILIES ARE ASSIGNED FAMILY ADVOCATES, OFTEN SOCIAL WORKERS. FAMILY ADVOCATES ASSESS FAMILY NEEDS AND PROVIDE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE IDENTIFIED FAMILY NEEDS. CTL HEAD START EXCELS IN PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY. CTL HEAD START ENDED THE PROGRAM YEAR PROVIDING SERVICES TO 10.66% OF ENROLLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES. THE REQUIREMENT IS 10%. IN ADDITION, OF THE 431 CHILDREN SERVED, 16.15% EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS.

HOUSING SERVICES FROM 9/1/2020-8/31/2021 CTL'S HOUSING PROGRAM SERVED 681 ADULTS AND CHILDREN (287 ADULTS AND 394 CHILDREN). ALL HOUSING PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICE INCLUDING MOVE-IN KITS, GROCERIES, HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES AND BUS PASSES.CTL'S EMERGENCY SHELTER (ES) PROGRAM SERVES UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS WOMEN, AGED 18 AND OLDER, WHO ARE VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ASSAULT OR WITH PAST ABUSE HISTORY, WHO LIVE IN OR FLED TO TARRANT COUNTY. CTL'S ES PROGRAM HAS ONSITE BED CAPACITY OF 20 UNITS. CTL'S TRANSITIONAL HOUSING (TH) PROGRAM HAS ONSITE BED CAPACITY OF 10 UNITS AND 20 COMMUNITY-BASED RENTAL UNITS IN TARRANT COUNTY. ONSITE TH OFFERS SURVIVORS INDIVIDUAL ROOMS WITH ACCESS TO A COMMUNAL KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM AND LAUNDRY FACILITY. COMMUNITY-BASED RENTAL UNITS ARE FOR SURVIVORS WHO DEMONSTRATE READINESS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOR SURVIVORS WITH CHILDREN WHO, AT ENTRY, WERE LIVING IN PLACES UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION. CTL'S RAPID REHOUSING (RRH) PROGRAM BENEFITS ELIGIBLE FAMILIES THAT MEET HUD'S DEFINITION OF "LITERALLY" HOMELESS AND LACK NECESSARY SUPPORT NETWORKS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO OBTAIN AND SUSTAIN PERMANENT HOUSING WITHOUT SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. PROGRAM COMPONENTS INCLUDE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS, RENTAL ASSISTANCE, COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT, SERVICE PLANNING, AND DISCHARGE/AFTERCARE PLANNING. NEED DRIVEN SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE COUNSELING FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT INVOLVES COLLABORATING AND EMPOWERING FAMILIES TO RECOGNIZE THEIR OWN NEEDS, STRENGTHS, AND RESOURCES AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN SETTING GOALS AND BUILDING SAFE, TRUSTING, AND COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS. ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS ACCESS TO MAINSTREAM BENEFIT ENROLLMENT, REFERRALS TO MEDICAL AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS AVAILABLE TO ALL FAMILIES.

CHILD AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT CENTERS PREPARE CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 5 FROM AT RISK FAMILIES FOR SUCCESS IN KINDERGARTEN WITH INTENSIVE EARLY EDUCATION. THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES TEAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO REACH ADDITIONAL CHILDREN THROUGH ITS HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START COLLABORATION. CTL SERVES APPROXIMATELY 760 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. CTL BELIEVES THAT THE DUAL GENERAL ANTI-POVERTY INTERVENTION IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY MOVING WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY. CTL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW PROVIDERS IN TARRANT COUNTY FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN BIRTH TO FIVE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. 95 OF 431 OR 22% OF CHILDREN CARED FOR BY THE CENTER ARE CHILDREN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. IF CHILDREN ARE IN THE CARE OF THEIR MOTHERS, MOTHERS CAN WORK, RECEIVE TRAINING OR GO TO SCHOOL TO ASSIST THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR CURRENT SITUATION.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY - BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COACHING, AS WELL AS CAREER COACHING SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT NO COST TO LOW-INCOME TARRANT COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND APPROXIMATELY 500 ARE SERVED ANNUALLY. ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE MATCHED SAVINGS AND A CREDIT BUILDING LOAN PROGRAM TO INCREASE ABILITY TO MANAGE INCOME AND BUILD ASSETS FOR FAMILIES, AND MICRO-BUSINESS MATCHED FUNDING AND COACHING TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. AVERAGE INCREASE IN SAVINGS IS $1,062 AND THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN INCOME IS $337.