Promoting Personal Independence and Community Involvement:
United Way assists vulnerable populations.
“People with disabilities are just like everyone else,” the
head of a local sheltered workshop program likes to say. “Except
that,” she adds, “they tend to have better work attitudes.” In
the St. Joseph area, those with disabilities have opportunities to
hold meaningful jobs, thanks to sheltered and supported employment
programs. For adults whose disabilities do not allow them to
function in a job structure, there are socialization, recreation,
and volunteer activities available.
United Way also supports a number of services for the elderly: nutrition
sites, mobile meals, and in-home assistance. Not only do in-home
services usually offer a better alternative from the viewpoint of
elderly clients, but avoiding premature placement in nursing homes
is also more cost-effective.
- 168 adults with disabilities worked at meaningful jobs, thanks to sheltered and supported employment programs.
- 26,753 meals were served at senior nutrition sites. 102,713 mobile meals were delivered to homebound elderly. A total of 931 elderly clients benefited from the two nutrition programs.
- 96% of the 312 clients receiving in-home services were able to stay in their homes, avoiding premature placement in nursing homes.
- 425 individuals completed a budget counseling program.
- All of the 53 adults with disabilities participating in a basic development program learned a new skill related to personal hygiene, health and safety, and/or social interaction.
- Case management has increasingly become a part of addressing homelessness. In the largest shelter program in the community, for example, every person staying longer than the three-day emergency status meets with a social worker to develop a personal plan for achieving self-sufficiency.
