WCCP Logo
In this issue...
  • Hopewell Express Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
  • Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Funding Received

    • Kids

    Mission

    Working together to improve the lives of children and families in Washington County

    Vision

    All Washington County children will be born and raised in a safe, healthy and nurturing environment to become healthy and responsible adults

    Partnerships E-Newsletter
    Volume: 9 Issue: 10
    		 December 2007

    Dear Stakeholders,

    We are happy to announce the addition of Katie Yoder to the Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) staff. She will serve as the Senior Office Associate. Katie comes to our office from the County's Permits & Inspections Department. Her administrative experience and interest in health and human services will be a great asset. Please note Katie's email address and phone number.

    Sincerely,

    Stephanie Stone, WCCP Director


    Hopewell Express Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

    The Hopewell Express ribbon cutting ceremony was held on December 7, 2007 at The Home Depot Distribution Center. Dave Engle, Director of Washington County Department of Social Services and Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families Board Chair, was the Master of Ceremonies. Community partners enjoyed a great celebration of the program. To date, 56 individuals have registered to use the Hopewell Express with 15 of those employed by Hopewell employers. The average starting wage is $10.72 per hour for this successful effort thus far. In addition, a total of 19 children, of the riders' households, may be potentially eligible for TCA if they did not have employment to support their families.

    __________________________________________

    Hopewell Express is a free transportation program to assist individuals who are seeking employment or who are already working at distribution centers located in the Hunters Green Business Center. Hunters Green Business Center (Business Center) is located in Hopewell Valley, north of Interstate 70, along Hopewell Road and Route 63. The Business Center encompasses 631 acres and is home to over 20 businesses and distribution centers including FedEx Ground, Home Depot Direct, Lenox, Pavestone Company, PetSmart, Staples, Tractor Supply, and many others.

    Hopewell Express provides transportation from downtown Hagerstown. This service operates on a first-come, first-serve basis with preference given to pre-registered riders. Transportation through Hopewell Express is available to the general public and requires no application or registration. Registered riders are issued an identification sticker for placement on the back of their employer issued ID badge.

    Maryland Affordable Housing Trust Funding Received

    The Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) has been awarded $61,063.00 from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust for the Washington County Bridge Program. The Bridge Program, a collaborative effort between the WCCP, the Washington County Community Action Council, Inc. (CAC), St. John's Shelter, the Salvation Army, and REACH, Inc., will provide transitional housing and supportive services to 20 participants for up to 90 days. The collaborating shelters will identify participants for the Program.

    A full-time case manager, employed by CAC, will provide intensive case management services to program participants aimed at providing each family with the skills, tools and financial means to assist them in becoming self-sufficient. Specifically, the case manager will refer family members to such needed services as employment readiness training, education, income assistance, housing subsidy programs, childcare, transportation, budgeting/financial literacy and food. It is anticipated that the case manager will meet with the participant one time per week at a minimum.

    The Program will offer a matching savings plan for security deposits, which will better prepare the participants financially for the transition from homelessness to renting a home in the community. The tenant will provide 25% of the total security deposit and the program will fund 75%. Any additional funds needed for first month's rent will be accomplished through assistance from community organizations (i.e., Department of Social Services, CAC, REACH, Inc., etc.). The tenant will leave the transitional housing phase of the Program with enough funds for the required security deposit and first month's rent.

    Following placement in a rental unit, the case manager will remain with the participant for a one-year period. In addition, the participants will be able to continue a matching savings plan for such goals as an automobile, education or homeownership through the CAC Individual Development Account Program.

    For more information, please contact Tom Kline, WCCP Project Coordinator.

    About Us

    The Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) is a State of Maryland Local Management Board (LMB) Initiative. Local Management Boards in each jurisdiction promote an interagency, collaborative approach to serving children that involves all stakeholders, parents and families in the process. This collaborative effort ensures a more effective system of care for youth and families across a continuum of services from prevention to intervention to aftercare.

    Local Management Boards represent no single perspective but, rather, convene a community's public and private partners to address the needs of the "whole child" through collaboration, coordination, community and capacity- building. Fundamentally, LMBs bring communities together to better serve children and their families. Local Management Boards not only focus on services for children with intensive needs but focus on services for all children in their jurisdictions. Local Management Boards do not provide direct service - instead, they work through partnerships with local and regional providers to maximize and leverage resources for positive results for children in every jurisdiction in Maryland.

    Tel: 240-313-2090
     
    -
    -

    WCCP Board Members

    • Scott Beal, Washington County Department of Juvenile Services
    • Carolyn Brooks, Washington County CSAFE, Secretary
    • Patricia Campbell, Community Representative
    • David Engle, Washington County Department of Social Services, Chair
    • Jenny Fleming, United Way of Washington County
    • Samuel Key, Community Representative
    • Mark Lannon, Community Representative
    • Melicent Malchenson, Community Representative, Treasurer
    • Anne Martin, Community Representative
    • Kim Mills, Community Representative
    • Dr. Elizabeth Morgan, Washington County Public Schools
    • Paul Pittman, Community Representative, Vice-Chair
    • Karen Post, Western Regional Developmental Disabilities Administration
    • Marshall Rock, Washington County Mental Health Authority, Inc. (Core Service Agency)
    • Donna Rudy, Community Representative
    • Norma Sappington, Washington County Circuit Court
    • Chief Arthur Smith, Hagerstown Police Department
    • Mindy Sorensen, Community Representative
    • Earl Stoner, Washington County Health Department
    • Charles Strong, Washington County State's Attorney
    • Erin Teach, Community Representative

    Ex-Officio Members
    • James Kercheval, Washington County Commissioner
    • Robert McKee, State Delegate

    WCCP Staff
    • Stephanie Stone, Director
    • Melissa Nearchos, Senior Project Coordinator
    • Paula Fisher, Project Coordinator
    • Tom Kline, Project Coordinator
    • Kathy Saxman, Project Coordinator
    • Linda Widmyer, Project Coordinator
    • Bob Jones, Fiscal Specialist
    • Katie Yoder, Senior Office Associate

    		-
    -

    Forward email

    This email was sent to tmkline@washco-md.net, by tmkline@washco-md.net

    Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families | 33 West Washington Street | Suite 210 | Hagerstown | MD | 21740