Neighborhoods Show Positive Results From ChangeMakers and Puentes Collaborative Initiatives
The following agencies participated in the ChangeMakers and PCI programs:
Tampa Jewish Family Services;
Child Abuse Council;
Catholic Charities;
Hilsborouogh County Schools:
K-12 Non-Traditional Programs,
Psychological Services,
A-TOSS, and Exceptional Student Education;
Department of Juvenile Justice;
Hispanic Service Council;
Family Services Association;
Children’s Board of Hillsborough County;
Northside Mental Heath Center - FASST;
Mental Health Center, Inc - FASST/ECEP;
St. Joseph’s South Florida Baptist Hospital FOCUS;
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health;
Neighborhoods United,
Neighborhood Service Center;
and Tampa Housing Authority.
Under the umbrella of the Tampa Hillsborough Integrated Network for Kids (THINK) project, The EQUIPO: Puentes Parents and ChangeMaker’s of Neighborhoods United groups have been busy with numerous training activities. Designed to bring together formal and informal helpers of children with serious emotional disturbances and their families, the EQUIPO/ChangeMakers are working to create avenues to encourage neighborhood-based care. One of the avenues is relying on informal/natural helpers – people living within the neighborhood who naturally provide emotional and moral support to other families in need. Since they are in a better position to establish links with families, these informal helpers work closely with formal service providers.
To date, 67 formal and informal service providers have participated in training activities, which consisted of 35 Natural Helper/Informal Providers from the CHANGE-Makers and Puentes Initiatives, and 32 Formal Service Providers, including therapists, clinical directors, program managers, community facilitators, counselors, family advocates, family support coordinators, psychologists, community organizers, community outreach workers, probation officers, community lliaisons, and substance abuse counselors.
Angela Gomez and Chamaine Moss recently conducted an EQUIPO Puentes Partnership Training, which included 18 participants representing both formal and informal service providers. In addition to the EQUIPO Partnership Training, 20 Informal Service Providers have also participated in an Affective Leadership training. "Doris," one of the participants, remarked, "I have learned to value myself, how to take care of personal issues alone. I have been proactive in caring for my kids and have learned more about community resources." "Luz," another participant, stated, "I have loved the trainings. It has been a wonderful time of self-development for me. I have learned how to work with people and am committed to continue to learn more about community resources."
Most recently, a training was conducted with over 50 FASST team members from Mental Health Center,Inc., Northside Mental Health Center, the Children’s Home Society, and Hillsborough County Schools. The informal service providers also helped to facilitate the training as participants worked on developing Individualized Family Support and Service Plans.