Marshall White Center – Building Community
In June of 2009, Ogden Weber Community Action Program (OWCAP) signed a management agreement with Ogden City to assume management responsibilities of the Marshall White Community Center. The Marshall White Center is a community recreation facility for the population at large but more specifically for low-income populations at risk. Responsibilities fell under CSBG programming and, while challenging, the center has blossomed under this new management. A complete facelift was completed indoors; new exercise equipment was purchased; new programming brought in; and usage has increased considerably. Part of this success has been expanding youth programs at the center. With ARRA funds, OWCAP has hired two youth coordinator to provide opportunities for area youth to have some place to go after school that offers structured activities to better equip them for their future lives. Programs have been implemented in the areas of civic involvement, recreation, gang prevention, mentoring, and arts and humanities. This program has been very successful for those enrolled in bringing change in behaviors and attitudes regarding personal choice and the importance of education. 76 children have been involved in the program thus far.
Tony – Employment/Education Services
Tony worked in the oil fields and was laid off due to the economic crisis about a year ago. Tony had been a welder for twenty years. Tony and his wife and three children moved to Davis County to live with relatives because of their financial situation. Tony has been on unemployment for 9 months, he has become increasingly frustrated because, although he has applied for several jobs, he still hasn't received a job offer. Family Connection Center was able to place him and his family on the case management program, he attended a budgeting class, to help him with his finances and receives weekly food pick-ups. The money saved from purchasing food allowed him to begin to catch up on his bills and family medical costs. He enrolled at Davis Applied Technology College to take a pipe welding module to make him more marketable in the employment field. He has taken his first test and passed with flying colors. The module will take about 60 hours of class time. With his experience, he will be able to complete the module in 25 hours. His wife is currently researching information to go back to school to finish her degree. Tony and his family have been on the case management program funded by ARRA for two months and are progressing toward self-sufficiency.
Kristen – Case Management
Kristen, a single mother, has a history struggling with barriers to employment including substance abuse and lack of training. Kristen's family have been visiting the local food pantry for several months and recently became aware of additional information and resources from her Support Services Case Manager. Kristen had begun an on line training course, but was not progressing because she lacked the needed computer equipment to complete her training. With support and encouragement she was able to find the necessary equipment and complete the employment training. She is currently employed working from home as a customer service representative with a reputable national company. What makes Kristen's story so special isn't just the final outcome, it's the steps of determination and strides of self confidence that have been made as this customer has successfully finished what she set out to do!
Jen – Dental assistance (Advocacy)
Jen is a mother of 5 children. When she was married to her first husband 7 years ago, he was abusive, and throughout her marriage she lost all but 5 of her teeth due to his physical abusiveness. Jen worked as a volunteer was assisted in applying for the "e;Give Back a Smile"e; program. After filling out the paperwork, having an interview with an advocate, and waiting, Jen got word that she was approved for the program. She went to the dentist who cast models for dentures, free of charge. She anticipates receiving her dentures in the soon and after 7 years will finally have a full set of teeth again.
Maria - Weatherization
Maria came in looking for help to fix her heater. She lives in a trailer with her family and the heater has been broken for too long but they didn't have money to fix it. The weather was getting a lot colder and she was really worried about her kids. Maria was told her about the Weatherization program and was given an application with an addressed envelope for her to send it in. She sent it in and a few days later her heater was fixed. Maria was extremely happy and very grateful for the help that she had received.
Larry – DWS (Advocacy)
Larry is a single father with has 3 children in the home. He has been let go from 2 jobs this year because of injuries that prevent him from fulfilling job functions. He applied for food, financial, and cash assistance with Department of Workforce Services, but was having difficulties completing the application. Larry has a learning disability and is functionally illiterate. He brought all the letters he had received from DWS to his CAA caseworker. Together with his caseworker, Larry was able to work step by step through what needed to be done to finish the application. Once the process was clearly shown to him he was able to follow through on his own and at last, qualify for assistance. He is now working with an employment counselor at DWS to find stable work. There are still several barriers, such as his learning disability, that will make Larry's road to self-sufficiency difficult. However, he now knows that there are programs out there that can help him and he is no longer lost about where to go for help.
Mel & Barb – Community Partnership
Mel and Barb suffered a devastating fire that pushed their already precarious financial situation over the edge. Barb is a diabetic and is unable to work due to disability. Mel had a good job that he was let go from because he had to take time off to care for her when her condition deteriorated. The couple was living only on Barb's disability check when a fire forced them to move. They were barely keeping up with bills, but the move caused a delay in the receipt of their disability check. They were out of food and out of Barb's insulin when Mel came in for help. Through the help of a partner in the community, Barb was able to access a 30-day supply of insulin to sustain her until their check came. A couple of weeks later, Mel and Barb moved to another city where they have family and a good possibility of a job.
