By Aftercare Critical Time Intervention Case Manager, Sara Barrett
As the first group of Aftercare families comes to a place of completing services, we are taking time to look back with each family and note the successes had since moving from interim housing to permanent housing.
Each family, at the beginning of services completes a Needs Assessment to rate their strengths and needs in the following categories: Basic Needs of housing, food, furniture, finances, clothing and transportation, Parent and Child needs of Education, Employment, Mental Health, Physical Health, Substance Abuse and Legal Concerns, and Family Relationships including adult to adult, parent to child, sibling and parent relationships. Child Safety Risk and Domestic Violence are also assessed.
Clients work with the Aftercare Worker to determine where they see their own family. Needs Assessments are completed consistently throughout the program to determine success, change and show areas of needed growth. Aftercare services are then tailored to meet the needs expressed on the Assessment.
Self-Assessment and reflection, I have seen, is sometimes a scary and difficult part of Aftercare for our clients. Many of them fear looking back through the time and are resistant at first to discuss the history of our service time together. They automatically assume failure for themselves.
As we sit and look at each of the small categories of need, making up the whole picture of their hard work in Aftercare, I slowly see them relax and a smile build across their faces.
100% of all of the families actively participating in Aftercare have seen improvements in all categories of assessed need during their time in the program. This is great news.
More importantly however, families are learning to recognize their own successes to be proud of and understand that growth does not just stop at obtaining a roof to live under; but it is a continual process.
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