Projects

Workforce Boulder’s Project Work Together

Since 1996, with the reform of the Welfare Act (TANIF), a person may be a welfare recipient for five years maximum during a lifetime. The impact of this is that many individuals may need to seek jobs who are unskilled and/or caring for young children. It has been found that having a mentor who is not part of the system and who can offer support and encouragement during this transition is helpful. In Boulder County most of the people in the Project Work Together program are single mothers. Coalition members have been appropriately trained and are serving in this program.

RSVP Services to Isolated Elderly

This is an organization in which retired people (over age 50) help older, ill or isolated elderly with compassion visits, transportation to medical appointments and shopping. RSVP is dedicated to making sure that there is some safety net for older people who are alone. The Coalition, in conjunction with other faith communities, provides volunteers in Louisville, Lafayette and Erie, towns which have a high elderly population and very few services.

FOCUS

The Coalition, in collaboration with Lifebridge Christian Church, Bonai Shalom (a conservative Jewish congregation), the Episcopal Church of Santiago and the Shambhala Prison Community, will be working with the Boulder County jail to provide teams of mentors for both offenders who are transitioning back to the community and for their families. The recidivism rate nationwide is over 80%. Mentor programs have proven to significantly reduce the number of offenders who return to incarceration.

This project, which includes an extensive training program, is currently being developed with the intention of being actively in place by February 2005. Mentor enrollment is currently open. Also, volunteers with professional training in family therapy, prison education, parenting, group dynamics, volunteer management, probation, and youth at risk programs are being recruited to consult with the Advisory Board and serve as resources for the mentors.

New Collaborations

There are two project collaborations in the initial stages.

Wraparound focuses on at-risk-youth by working with the entire family, associated others i.e. teachers, therapists, neighbors, and all the agencies who might contribute to the family regaining stability and the well-being of the young person. Mentors are needed to advocate for the youth, sometimes for the parents.

RSVP: Adopt A Grandparent   Isolated and homebound elderly have been found who are suffering from malnutrition and neglect. This person is often someone who has lost a spouse and cannot care for his/herself. Congregations are being asked to adopt a grandparent, committing to several years of compassion visits, helping to establish a network of care including the appropriate human service agencies, subsidizing a hot meal a day through Meals on Wheels, and helping with companion animal care in some situations. There are also opportunities for intergenerational volunteering with youth doing yard work, shoveling snow, walking the dog, etc.

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