Christians In Action Inc

Programs: 1. Purpose, mission of this program: to operate exclusively for charitable and benevoltent purposes in providing services and shelter for abused and neglected children, to provide community education with the goal of preventing child abuse in the community. 2. Achievement of goals/objectives: shelter, food, clothing, supervision and a baseline medical has been provided for 135 unduplicated abused and neglected children. Volunteers have provided more than 1,500 volunteer hours for tutoring, enrichment activities, recreational, maintenance projects, and fundraising. 3. Collaboration: 135 children referred by the mississippi department of human services have been served by the program. 4. Evaluation: the program was monitored by the mississippi department of human services, city of jackson, the department of health, and evaluated by the agency to the following:- the total number of children served was 135, with 60% being part of a sibling group. There were 68 females and 67 males; 79 black, 54 white, 2 other; one child was under the age of 5. - there were 18 sexually abused, 24 physically abused, and 93 neglected; 25 cases of abuse were alcohol or drug related; 25 children were handicapped, presenting with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorder. - 125 children were transported to schools; there were 48 psychological evaluations and 110 medicals. Therapeutic counseling was provided 3 times a week, at age appropriate levels. - independent living skills training were provided for 95 teens, which included behavior management, money management, abstinence, and personal hygiene. - the number of referrals declined was 12, with either the shelter being filled to capacity or the child was not appropriate for shelter care. - 40 children were released to a higher level of care, 48 children were placed with relatives, 40 were placed in a foster home; 3 children achieved their permanency plan upon discharge; 7 children were reunified with parents; and 10 children re-entered the shelter following a previous discharge. - 104 children served by the program have been from hinds, madison and rankin counties, and 31 were from outside the 50 mile radius of their home. A total of 18 mississippi counties were served during the year. The services of christians in action assisted the mississippi department of human services in meeting the following guidelines:- children have been protected from further abuse and neglect;- children have been safely kept in their own homes;- families have achieved permanency;- their educational needs have been met;- physical and mental health needs have been met;- families have received skills which have enabled them to provide for their children's needs. 5. Units of service delivered and cost per unit:definition for a unit of service: 1 child spending 1 night=1 unit of service. 3,743 units of service were provided. 6. Significant developments:a. The project was again chosen for the mfuge volunteer program, and is also receiving volunteer tutoring services from the department of education. B. The agency partnered with joyce's hope home for girls for a united way proposal. C. The agency was awarded a grant from hisway, inc. For construction of a family services building. D. Additional grant funding from the department of health has purchased a vehicle, furnishings, and enabled the agency to upgrade its handicap parking accessibility.