PROPOSAL STATEMENT:

Lutheran Social Services will address the difficulties experienced by recent immigrants to our community by establishing a Hispanic Neighborhood Center.  The center will begin operating in September, 2005, and will serve as a safe place for people to receive information, referral, food and clothing, and counseling services.

GRANT REQUEST:

St. Paul Lutheran Church requests a grant in the amount of $15,000 ($10,000 year one; $5,000 year two).  These funds will supplement congregation resources so that a full-time director can be hired for our proposed holistic health care center.

NEEDS ASSESSMENT/PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Over 500 young men are released by the penal system of our state into the community each month.  Preparation for re-entry is limited to a one-hour session with a counselor in the prison, a clean shirt and pair of pants, and $40 for bus fare.  They receive no significant job skill training inside the prison system and no assistance in basic life skills.  Unemployment rates for 2004 among this population in our city, three months after release from prison, was over 50% and over 70% were sent back to prison within two years of being released.

ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND METHODS:

Our goal is that migrant workers in our community are healthy and able to lead productive lives.  To that end, we hope that over 100 farm worker family units receive information about the causes and prevention of communicable diseases, access available community medical and social service resources, and receive TB tests within the first 12 months of the project.  To accomplish this, we will hire and train community health advocates and we will design and implement health information and TB/AIDS prevention workshops.

CREDIBILITY AND VIABILITY:

LCFS has served the Janesway community for over 50 years.  A staff of over 100 individuals provides support for several programs located throughout the community.  These programs include a job skills training and referral program, a home day-care providers training and resource center, and low-income senior housing.  In 1995, LCFS was honored with the Caring Partners Award, given by the Janesway Chamber of Commerce to an organization that exemplifies effective service to the community.

NEW AND UNIQUE:

While plans have been under development for the health and wellness center for over two years, the doors opened officially two months ago.  Our research indicates that this is the only center in the county designed specifically to serve the needs of the low-income older adults.  We are aware of only a handful of programs nationwide with this focus.

LUTHERAN INVOLVEMENT:

The Bakery House is owned and operated by an ecumenical association of ten Christian congregations, six of whom are Lutheran.  Each member congregation contributes financially and provides volunteers for the work of Bakery House.  The pastors of St. John and Trinity Lutheran churches were founding members of the alliance that eventually resulted in the development of The Bakery House.

BUDGET SUMMARY:

The expense budget for this project over the next three years totals $35,000 ($20,000 year one; $10,000 year two; $5,000 year three.)  Income sources anticipated are as follows: