Collaborative Descriptions

Funding directed toward partnerships that focus on successful outcomes in the areas of education, income and health; and target which ways to keep our communities strong today and into the future.

Income

Personal Empowerment for Achieving Real Lasting Security (PEARLS)
Personal Empowerment for Achieving Real Lasting Security (PEARLS) will help transform the lives of victims of domestic violence. Partners will work hand-in-hand with one another to support survivors of violence in Marion County as they move from crisis to safety and shelter; and ultimately to security as they rebuild their lives free of violence. By surrounding families with seamless services and support, the PEARLS project promotes health, stability and self-sufficiency for victims of violence within our community.

Yamhill Regional Food Bank
As evidenced by the growing number of Yamhill County households experiencing hunger and food insecurity, a safety net is needed. This partnership will work toward facilitated discussion and the development of a community-acceptable action plan with regard to food, education and local agriculture. The goal is to build a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system; thereby reducing hunger insecurity for residents of Yamhill County.

Marion County Reentry Initiative
Marion County Reentry Initiative uses Steps to Employment Project (STEP) to assist in the attainment of employment for adult ex-offenders and those who are under supervision of the Marion County Sheriff’s office. Stable employment is critical to a successful transition into the community. STEP is implemented through a collaboration of nonprofit, higher education, and government agencies using a multi-systemic service model to increase employability and employment of individuals re-entering the community after serving time in a corrections facility. Ex-offenders benefit from employment mentoring, job coaching, access to coordinated employment and basic needs resources, on-the-job training opportunities, employment search and case management, and employment readiness support.

Summer Youth Employment Project
Project builds a bridge to the adult world of work for youth with disabilities who might otherwise have no access to employment opportunities. As youth with disabilities enter the workforce, they are able to escape the “poverty trap” brought about by reliance on social services. They also support their community through payroll taxes and support local businesses whenever they purchase goods and services with their earned wages. Eliminating the constant threat and some-time reality of poverty for people with disabilities in Marion & Polk Counties.

Education

Churches as Neighborhood (‘CaN’ Centers)
Build safer and healthier neighborhoods as churches move from “congregation cocoons” to Neighborhood Centers. The Churches as Neighbors (CaN) will produce lasting changes in Salem-Keizer by expanding five current CaN sites and launching two new sites to serve at-risk youth, families and neighborhoods. A central focus will be increasing developmental assets in children and youth; however, the overall outcome will be higher health and well-being for all residents in the neighborhoods with a CaN Center. Since its inception, the CaN Center Collaboration has serviced more than 7,000 at-risk youth and their families with after-school programs, English language classes, homework clubs, an overnight shelter, foster-family support, community gardens, block parties, health fairs and other asset-building activities.

Fostering Hope & Community Homes for Children
Fostering Hope holds great promise for safely reducing the need for foster care, preventing child maltreatment, and helping children break the cycle of generation poverty. Currently operating in Salem and McMinnville, Fostering Hope builds a comprehensive model of family-centered supports provided in a foster child’s own neighborhood. Vulnerable families find the services and support they need to raise children well and keep families together.

Peacebuilding Project
Family and juvenile victim/offender mediation—proving a safe, comfortable setting where family members learn to communicate with each other more effectively to resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully. The use of mediation to help resolve family conflict can introduce clients to a more positive style of communication. Positive results can be achieved for the family through focused training in conflict resolution, thereby improving the quality of family life and potentially the quality of community dialogue. Partners will work to increase public awareness of mediation services for youth and families; and increase availability and access to quality family and juvenile/victim offender mediation services. Partners will also work toward helping to create a more effective “culture of communication” that will lead to healthier family dynamics and safer neighborhoods in Yamhill County.

Health

Bringing Health & Hope to our Community
Salem Free Medical Clinic (SFMC) seeks to assist in the health and well-being of all patients. Through the mobilization of hundreds of medically-qualified volunteers working in collaboration with numerous nonprofits and faith-based organizations, this clinic provides life-saving health care services to the communities most vulnerable residents. SFMC will continue to expand its services to increase outcomes in the community with the goal to increase availability and access to free health, dental and mental health care for 6,000 patients per year.

Health & Dental Services Center
Health and dental prevention and treatment for vulnerable school children who are not enrolled in Healthy Kids or the Oregon Health Plan programs. The Health & Dental Services Center has four objectives:  1) to increase oral health education among children and families, 2) to increase prevention services available to uninsured children, 3) to reduce decay among uninsured children in need, and 4) to make dental care accessible to uninsured children.

Rural Community Mental Healthcare Management
Project will focus on providing outpatient mental health care prevention, treatment and services contributing to long-term, positive outcomes for the growing indigent population in rural Yamhill County, and the St. Paul area who are afflicted by poverty, substance abuse, mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders. Until recently, there have been few options for those we need mental health services, or regular medications, without the means to pay such. The project goal is outcomes that result in a healthy, vibrant, thriving community with improved quality of life for all residents.