Mission: One Can Help provides at-risk children in crisis with the specific resources they urgently need to improve their lives- right now.
We do this by partnering with court-appointed attorneys and social workers who believe this assistance can really help their client and who know that this assistance is not available elsewhere.
Because we work directly with these professionals, we are uniquely positioned to provide this assistance efficiently, effectively and quickly.
Results: Our impact study is not complete, but is already finding out that we are extremely effective at reducing childhood stress, helping to keep families together, and improving educational and vocational goals.
Here are examples of what we provide and why:
[Camps and after school activities: So kids can be inspired and supervised.
Transportation passes: So unemployed parents can find jobs or travel to visit their kids placed in treatment programs across the state.
Educational Supports: Laptops, internet access, school supplies, sports or musical equipment- so kids in homeless shelters, foster care or impoverished homes, can have the same educational opportunities as their better situated classmates.
Housing-related supports: Emergency funding for late utility bills, storage during homelessness, rental assistance to avoid eviction or keep families together.
Basic needs: emergency food, clothing, furniture, and medical supports children and families can’t otherwise get.
Target demographics: provide the critical recourses that at-risk children and families living in poverty urgently need to improve their lives and reach higher, which are not otherwise available.
Direct beneficiaries per year: approx 500 children and families
Geographic areas served: Massachusetts
Programs: Helping juvenile court and social service systems work more effectively by providing the specific resource a child or family needs right now, that will really make a big difference for them.
One Can Help provides the missing resources at-risk and foster children urgently need to remedy court concerns, improve difficult lives and build better futures which are not available elsewhere. OCH fills the chasm in juvenile court that leaves vulnerable children and families without adequate access to basic resources which many of us take for granted and can make a positive difference. It is difficult to take positive steps forward, or participate in the types of opportunities that might enhance future prospects when poverty barriers stand in the way.
One Can Help (OCH) was created by juvenile court attorneys and social workers who identified an innovative way to to provide individualized needs, quickly, effectively and responsibly to this very vulnerable and easily overlooked population.
OCH has provided assistance to approximately 5,000 under-served children and families since 2006. In 2016, after receiving numerous requests from juvenile court attorneys, social workers and judges who wanted OCH to serve their community too because nothing similar existed and the lack of resources was a statewide issue, OCH began serving all of Massachusetts.
Juvenile Court Professionals recognize the significance of the work of OCH:
“Our clients benefit in so many ways from this assistance and it wouldn't be possible without OCH. And on a selfish note from the social worker side of things, they make the process so incredibly simple and fast to minimize the hurdle even more. I truly do not know what I'd do without them and am forever grateful!” Social worker
“I know places to go for food or second-hand clothing or furniture. But I don’t know anywhere else to go that listens to what the individual needs and gets exactly that. Often our poorest children and families have nowhere else to turn and this assistance can make such a difference to them- and makes it possible for the professionals trying to help them, to do so!” Attorney
Writer
Professional with expertise in this field
09/18/2018
Rating: 5
09/18/2018
One Can Help provides the missing resources at-risk and foster children, and their underserved families need, which they can't get elsewhere. It has an innovative model for providing individualized needs.
This targeted assistance has been shown to improve lives, keep more families together, reduce the need for foster care, decrease homelessness and help our juvenile court and child welfare systems be more supportive, effective and equitable.
