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Causes: Family Services, Human Services
Mission: To provide social services in the manner of Jesus Christ, with compassion, care and concern for justice to all people in need and to advocate for their welfare calling those of good will to assist in this mission in the Diocese of Kalamazoo
Target demographics: Homeless, runaway or vulnerable youth in Southwest Michigan through Ark Services for Youth and The Ark Shelter. Caring Network provides help for pregnant women and mothers with infants.
Geographic areas served: Kalamazoo, Calhoun, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Allegan, Cass, Barry, Branch and Berrian counties
Programs: The ark is located in kalamazoo and is the only short-term crisis intervention shelter serving youth ages 10-17 in the nine counties served by the diocese of kalamazoo. The ark serves youth who have run away; are in danger of being homeless; or are experiencing a crisis. Youth stay up to 21 days and receive counseling, support services, and aftercare services at no charge. The goal is to unite and strengthen families or help homeless youth find alternative safe and stable housing. In 2014, the ark shelter served 246 runaway and homeless youth and provided 3,277 days of care. The ark scl program helps homeless youth ages 16-21 to find housing, complete their education, and find employment. In 2014, the provided 2,130 hours of counseling and case management services and 7,074 days of housing assistance to 50 youth. The ark outreach program helps homeless youth on the streets; offers free education and prevention workships in schools and other organizations and helps promote the ark services. In 2014, staff made 291 presentations, and provided 596 hours of crisis intervention services to 3,639 youth. Through community support, assistance in the form of household items valued at 8,278, were distributed to eligible youth served through these programs.
caring network serves pregnant and parenting young women and their familites in kalamazoo county. The goals are to ensure healthy pregnancies and babies and to help develop healthy parenting behaviors. Services are provided at no charge to clients and include case management; in-home visits; referrals; pregnancy and parenting classes; portpartum depression screening; infant mortality screening and education; family literacy programs; material items; adoptions counseling and transitional housing. In 2014, caring network provided 2,177 sessions of case management to 115 women; provided supportive services to 539 women. 45 post adoption contacts were made and 4 cases were opened. Caring network also provides supportive in-home services to families in kalamazoo, cass and st. Joseph counties, through a partnership with the state of michigan department of human services. Through community support, assistance in the form of clothing, furniture, household items, car seats, cribs, diapers, and holiday gift baskets values at 59,419 were given to eligible clients.
the bridges program provides high quality outpatient mental counseling for individuals, couples, families, and children. Bridges helps clients resolve issues relating to depression; anger management; marital or relationship conflicts; grief, loss, gender identity and other life transitions, to improve their quality of life. Bridges served a total of 240 clients, providing 710 therapy sessions. Bridges accepts many insurances, including medicaid and medicare and serves many non-insured and low income clients.
barago manor (otsego senior apartments) in otsego provides affordable and safe living for adults age 62 or older and/or mobility-impaired adults there are 48 one-bedroom units. Amenities include a community center and laundry facilities on each floor. Staffing includes a service coordinator and a maintenance manager. In 2014, 54 adults were provided with 17,422 days of residence. The heating assistance program, offered in collaboration with the diocese of kalamazoo, helps low-income families and individuals with their winter heating bills. In 2014, 64,085 passed through our agency from the diocese of kalamazoo and was disbursed to 286 families (895 people) in the nine county region of the diocese. This program is administered each year by volunteers.