Monroe Harding Inc.
Programs
Budget
$418,897.87
Description
Monroe Harding's Supportive Housing is comprised of two programs: Independent Living (IL) and VOCA (Victims of Crime). Our Independent Living Program provides a comprehensive range of trauma-informed services to young adults, ages 18-21, aging out of the foster care system. IL service recipients who voluntarily consent to participate in Extension of Foster Care (EFC) programming after reaching the legal age of majority. Monroe Harding understands that a young adult turning 18 is not always prepared for life as an adult. This lack of preparedness is often tenfold for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system. We provide affordable and safe apartments in Nashville with skilled and caring professional staff, as well as a community for young adults. Independent Living services at Monroe Harding are partially funded by DCS' Extension of Foster Care (EFC) program. Service recipients are not charged for program participation; however, DCS regulations require that they
Program Successes
Cindy experienced physical &emotional abuse from an ex-boyfriend, a couple of miscarriages, & was asked to testify in court after having been a victim of an aggravated robbery. Through VOCA funding, she was provided free housing & utilities. Since Cindy was pregnant when she arrived, her time in the program was limited. The VOCA Case Manager worked with her to identify & apply for other housing options to prepare for the transition. Having a safe place to live & a more stable routine, she was able to obtain & maintain employment. The VOCA therapist worked with her to develop coping skills to lower anxiety, maintain sobriety, & gain self-confidence. While waiting for other housing options to become available, the therapist worked with Cindy & her grandmother to develop a positive relationship & overcome conflict for the grandmother to be a supportive, temporary housing option for her. Cindy was able to transition to her grandmother's home & had her baby without additional complications.
Beneficiaries
Unhoused individuals
Victims
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
The goals for clients of Monroe Harding's Supportive Housing Program include:
• Completing a secondary and/or post-secondary educational plan.
• Obtaining and maintaining employment.
• Achieving financial stability.
• Exiting the IL program to safe, stable, permanent housing.
• Reengage adolescent and young adult crime survivors in education and/or employment.
Program Success Monitored By
We engage service recipients in the assessment process to identify factors contributing to their disengagement; utilize peer support workers to increase clients' sense of being supported, secure, and safe; refer clients to appropriate programs/services to address the issues that have negatively impacted their level of engagement; assist service recipients in overcoming barriers to full participation in programs/services.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
$418,897.87
Description
Monroe Harding's Supportive Housing is comprised of two programs: Independent Living (IL) and VOCA (Victims of Crime). Our Independent Living Program provides a comprehensive range of trauma-informed services to young adults, ages 18-21, aging out of the foster care system. IL service recipients who voluntarily consent to participate in Extension of Foster Care (EFC) programming after reaching the legal age of majority. Monroe Harding understands that a young adult turning 18 is not always prepared for life as an adult. This lack of preparedness is often tenfold for young adults who have spent time in the foster care system. We provide affordable and safe apartments in Nashville with skilled and caring professional staff, as well as a community for young adults. Independent Living services at Monroe Harding are partially funded by DCS' Extension of Foster Care (EFC) program. Service recipients are not charged for program participation; however, DCS regulations require that they
Program Successes
Cindy experienced physical &emotional abuse from an ex-boyfriend, a couple of miscarriages, & was asked to testify in court after having been a victim of an aggravated robbery. Through VOCA funding, she was provided free housing & utilities. Since Cindy was pregnant when she arrived, her time in the program was limited. The VOCA Case Manager worked with her to identify & apply for other housing options to prepare for the transition. Having a safe place to live & a more stable routine, she was able to obtain & maintain employment. The VOCA therapist worked with her to develop coping skills to lower anxiety, maintain sobriety, & gain self-confidence. While waiting for other housing options to become available, the therapist worked with Cindy & her grandmother to develop a positive relationship & overcome conflict for the grandmother to be a supportive, temporary housing option for her. Cindy was able to transition to her grandmother's home & had her baby without additional complications.
Beneficiaries
Unhoused individuals
Victims
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
The goals for clients of Monroe Harding's Supportive Housing Program include:
• Completing a secondary and/or post-secondary educational plan.
• Obtaining and maintaining employment.
• Achieving financial stability.
• Exiting the IL program to safe, stable, permanent housing.
• Reengage adolescent and young adult crime survivors in education and/or employment.
Program Success Monitored By
We engage service recipients in the assessment process to identify factors contributing to their disengagement; utilize peer support workers to increase clients' sense of being supported, secure, and safe; refer clients to appropriate programs/services to address the issues that have negatively impacted their level of engagement; assist service recipients in overcoming barriers to full participation in programs/services.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
Budget
$497,177.00
Description
Since 2005, Monroe Harding's Youth Connections Resource Center (YC) has provided services for teens and young adults (ages 16-26) who are currently in or have aged out of state custody and other vulnerable young adults who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. They have typically lived in poverty, without adequate economic resources or sufficient support from their families and communities
YC is a drop-in center located in downtown Nashville. YC is one of only four designated community resource centers for current and former foster youth in the state of TN. For 14 years, YC offers employment preparedness and career development, secondary and post-secondary education support, financial education and matched savings program, basic needs assistance, and various life skills classes including sexual health education. Two new programs came onboard at YC recently: Works Wonders® and the Opportunity Now Re-engagement Hub at Monroe Harding.
Beneficiaries
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
Our goals are for:
28 or 70% of education program participants will graduate from high school, earn their HSE diploma, or earn a credential from a post-secondary education institution.
40 0r 80% of participants who enroll in Works Wonders® will complete the intervention program.
21 or 60% of participants will obtain employment
15 or 50% will maintain employment for a minimum of 3 months
55 or 90% of Opportunity Passport participants will establish bank accounts and contribute to their matched savings account.
12 or 22% of OP participants will purchase an asset.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
$497,177.00
Description
Since 2005, Monroe Harding's Youth Connections Resource Center (YC) has provided services for teens and young adults (ages 16-26) who are currently in or have aged out of state custody and other vulnerable young adults who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. They have typically lived in poverty, without adequate economic resources or sufficient support from their families and communities
YC is a drop-in center located in downtown Nashville. YC is one of only four designated community resource centers for current and former foster youth in the state of TN. For 14 years, YC offers employment preparedness and career development, secondary and post-secondary education support, financial education and matched savings program, basic needs assistance, and various life skills classes including sexual health education. Two new programs came onboard at YC recently: Works Wonders® and the Opportunity Now Re-engagement Hub at Monroe Harding.
Beneficiaries
At-Risk Populations
Long-term Success
Our goals are for:
28 or 70% of education program participants will graduate from high school, earn their HSE diploma, or earn a credential from a post-secondary education institution.
40 0r 80% of participants who enroll in Works Wonders® will complete the intervention program.
21 or 60% of participants will obtain employment
15 or 50% will maintain employment for a minimum of 3 months
55 or 90% of Opportunity Passport participants will establish bank accounts and contribute to their matched savings account.
12 or 22% of OP participants will purchase an asset.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
Budget
$2,203,578.00
Description
Monroe Harding's Foster Care program provides children and teens (up to 19 years of age) with a safe, nurturing environment while their birth parents improve their ability to care for their children. Our goal is for the children to achieve permanency through reunification, kinship care, or adoption. Monroe Harding provides 24/7 support for our foster families with trained and compassionate staff who will be able to assist with everyday life, as well as emergencies and crises. Using trauma-informed care best practices, we provide wraparound support with individualized case management focusing on the needs of the foster youth in the home. Monroe Harding has ongoing training support to help families feel confident in parenting children who have experienced trauma due to abuse or neglect.
Program Successes
Jayden came from a birth home in which the adults around him were abusing drugs and committing crimes. At 11 years of age, when he entered a Monroe Harding foster home, Jayden was wise beyond his years in 'street smarts.' By age 13, much had changed in Jayden's life. He learned the value of teamwork. He became a member of the football team at his middle school. Jayden began to enjoy church services, too. He was reluctant to go to church at first, but the youth pastor became a mentor for him. Jayden grew into the respectful, happy, successful, and confident young man he was meant to be.
Beneficiaries
Families
At-Risk Populations
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years)
Long-term Success
The goals of Monroe Harding's Foster Care program service recipients include:
• Achieving permanency-through reunification, relative placement, or adoption-in a timely manner.
• Processing past traumas and decreasing the negative impact of past abuse and/or neglect on their lives.
• Developing life skills, making educational progress and participating in enriching experiences.
Program Success Monitored By
Monroe Harding's Foster Care program is evaluated by COA under that accrediting body's Foster and Kinship Care standards, as well as a portion of COA's Adoption Services standards which apply to agencies that provide foster-to-adopt programming.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
$2,203,578.00
Description
Monroe Harding's Foster Care program provides children and teens (up to 19 years of age) with a safe, nurturing environment while their birth parents improve their ability to care for their children. Our goal is for the children to achieve permanency through reunification, kinship care, or adoption. Monroe Harding provides 24/7 support for our foster families with trained and compassionate staff who will be able to assist with everyday life, as well as emergencies and crises. Using trauma-informed care best practices, we provide wraparound support with individualized case management focusing on the needs of the foster youth in the home. Monroe Harding has ongoing training support to help families feel confident in parenting children who have experienced trauma due to abuse or neglect.
Program Successes
Jayden came from a birth home in which the adults around him were abusing drugs and committing crimes. At 11 years of age, when he entered a Monroe Harding foster home, Jayden was wise beyond his years in 'street smarts.' By age 13, much had changed in Jayden's life. He learned the value of teamwork. He became a member of the football team at his middle school. Jayden began to enjoy church services, too. He was reluctant to go to church at first, but the youth pastor became a mentor for him. Jayden grew into the respectful, happy, successful, and confident young man he was meant to be.
Beneficiaries
Families
At-Risk Populations
Children and Youth (0 - 19 years)
Long-term Success
The goals of Monroe Harding's Foster Care program service recipients include:
• Achieving permanency-through reunification, relative placement, or adoption-in a timely manner.
• Processing past traumas and decreasing the negative impact of past abuse and/or neglect on their lives.
• Developing life skills, making educational progress and participating in enriching experiences.
Program Success Monitored By
Monroe Harding's Foster Care program is evaluated by COA under that accrediting body's Foster and Kinship Care standards, as well as a portion of COA's Adoption Services standards which apply to agencies that provide foster-to-adopt programming.
Program Areas Served
Middle Tennessee
CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments
| Monroe Harding's greatest challenges are: 1. Diversifying, expanding and sustaining our programs and services to meet the needs of over 9,000 Tennessee children in foster care and over 9,300 Opportunity Youth in the greater Nashville area. 2. Increasing community awareness about our programs, services and impact, and the needs of foster children and other vulnerable young adults. 3. Expanding our funding resources. We are steadily Monroe Harding's capacity and building a sustainable business model that affords us the flexibility to expand and to contract based on need. With a 130-year legacy of caring for foster children and teens in state custody, we enjoy a wide and diverse network of partners, a solid relationship with the Department of Children's Services, and a deep covenant relationship with Presbyterian Churches. While these relationships are vital to the work we do through volunteers, financial support, state contracts, etc., Monroe Harding is increasing its visibility within the broader community. One of our greatest challenges remains getting our message out. Only through community awareness will we be able to recruit more foster parents, find solid and stable adult relationships for our older youth, and raise the financial and volunteer resources necessary to grow our programs and services to meet the need. |
