Organizations Affecting the Lives of Children and Families in My Community

               One of the organizations that I chose for this week’s blog assignment is Community Care Center. Community Care was organized to specifically serve the people of my small town. This group helps families pay utility bills, provides clothing and small household items, and runs a food pantry. At the beginning of the school year, children from low income homes can get school supplies. The center also provides the fixings for Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas presents to these families. During the summer, they offer a program which feeds the children who were receiving free lunches during the school year. They do a terrific job of rallying the businesses, churches, and community members in general to provide the items and funds necessary to offer these services to needy families. Having these services available relieves some of the ongoing stress that needy families face on a daily basis, which allows for a more secure environment for their children.

                The second organization I chose is called Ohio Benefit Bank, this organization serves as a stepping stone to needed benefits. People who work with the Benefit Bank can help others apply for state benefits, fill out tax forms, apply for FAFSA, apply for veteran benefits, or apply for medical insurance. For those who are unsure of what benefits they may qualify for, they have a tool that helps figure it out. Although the Benefit Bank duplicates much of what can be accomplished at Jobs and Family Services, it is housed in various areas around the county, and can be accessed online, making it easier to apply for services. The services that are rendered at the Benefit Bank are much different from what is offered at Community Care, but the results are just as important to families. Community Care deals with immediate needs whereas the Benefit Bank deals with more long-term needs.

                The third organization is a group of lawyers specializing in representing families of special needs individuals called the Special Needs Alliance. This is a national group of lawyers who volunteer their time to advocate for special needs people. Besides helping to change laws that would benefit these individuals, they also advise families on topics such as: qualifying and applying for benefits, creating special needs trusts, availability of local supports, special education, guardianships, and powers of attorney. I chose this group because I know a family that is currently in need of their services. This family recently had their disability revoked for their daughter because the bureaucrat in charge of their case had never heard of their daughter’s condition - even though they provided all sorts of documentation from doctors. Now the government not only doesn’t want to pay for her nurse, but they also want the family to reimburse past disability payments. Did I mention the girl is 13 years old and has been receiving benefits since birth? Anyway, I think that this sort of situation would be something that this group would be able to handle for the family.

                A current job opening that I found in my area is an adjunct teaching position at a community college in Early Childhood Education. My many years of experience in the field combined with my upcoming degree in Early Childhood Education – Teaching Adults would make me highly qualified for this job.