HDFS540_ Community Agency Visit
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School
American Military University *
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Course
540
Subject
Communications
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
5
Uploaded by cierragriffin16
Community Agency “Visit”
Family Gateway
Cierra Griffin
American Military University
December 17, 2023
pg. 1
Community Agency “Visit”
I chose a local agency by the name of Family Gateway. There are three locations in Dallas, TX. This agency helps families that are nearing homelessness or homeless. Services they provide after an assessment is complete. The shelter provides case management, education programs, emergency shelter, and permanent housing. Family Gateway services many different family dynamics such as single parents, multigenerational families, married/ unmarried couples, and boys over 12 that are typically separated from their family at other shelters. The goal is to keep the family together. (FamilyGateway, 2023) While in the shelter, Solid support systems, employment, education, and housing will be addressed. If shelters are full, the family is not sent away. They are provided a hotel room. Education is the focus for children while employment and
housing are the focus for adults. Some of their partners are Adapt, Texas Workforce Commission,
Parkland HOMES Program, Dallas ISD, Salvation Army, Hope Cottage, MetroCare and etc. Adapt is a program that addresses emergency resolution, hospitalization, and resources. Some of the programs and partners that work with Family Gateway work closely with Child Life Specialist or fulfill the same duties such as assessment of needs, counseling, providing resources,
coping skills, support, therapy, and developmental skills. The resources are not just for the children but the entire family. (FamilyGateway, 2023)
The first step is assessment and diversion. At this phase, the goal is to mediate with the landlord and avoid eviction. Diversion can prevent trauma which is typically caused by homelessness. Families provide community and financial services. Each family that calls their hotline is listened to, assessed, given an intervention plan, saved beds, and given additional needed services. Family Gateway has 3 shelters; a 35-room shelter, 50 room shelter and 10 rooms. Upon arrival, families are provided food, necessities, housing, and security. Parents are given tools to increase finances, a stable job, provide a stable environment for their children, pg. 2
Community Agency “Visit”
reliable education for the children and live independently again. Family Gateway not only provides shelter but supportive housing apartment complexes. (170-200 units) Case managers will do monthly house visits, address maintenance requests, offer resources and advise about a lease. Case managers are assigned to each family to determine how they got to the brink of homelessness or homelessness, obstacles that stop them from maintaining a job, housing, and contributions to the household. (FamilyGateway, 2023) A family case plan will be created. Goals
are set for independence and housing stability. Families are given resources to help with education, training, finances, parenting and how to take care of themselves. When children become homeless, their development is negatively impacted. They lack skills academically, emotionally, and socially. Children are enrolled in school; toddlers are placed in early education or preschool through the legacies they partner with. Some programs are after school, summer programs, mentoring, tutoring, help with homework and fun. The afterschool programs focus on emotional, language, math, and social skills. One of Family Gateways partners is Youth180. Youth180 is a preventive program that provides trauma response to families and their children. The goal is to help children and families develop coping skills, conflict resolution, making the right choices and risk of abusing drugs/ alcohol. Clinical services are mental health counseling and outpatient substance abuse treatment. Counseling helps the entire family come to terms with what has happened and how to healthily handle future issues. The entire family can heal.
Some types of support that Family Gateway and CCLS can be provided are therapeutic play, coping skills, and help children work through their feelings. Therapeutic play is a useful tool to help children express themselves healthily. Therapy play will help the children express their anxieties with the uncertainties of homelessness and instability. Some children and families are unaware of their emotional turmoil. Play is how children learn and communicate. Family pg. 3
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Community Agency “Visit”
Gateway partners with agencies that offer clinical services, play therapy can be an effective method. (Behavior, problem solving, feelings, independence, social skills and etc.) Family Gateway provides several services to address healthy development, therapy, coping skills, education, and support. pg. 4
Community Agency “Visit”
Work Cited
ACLP homepage
. Default. (n.d.). https://www.childlife.org/ Program partners - family gateway family gateway
. Family Gateway - Empowering children & families affected by homelessness. (2023, March 10). https://familygateway.org/about-us/program-partners/ pg. 5