Sioux Empire United Way - YourGiftinAction

Learn what your investment in Sioux Empire United Way is doing throughout the year here. Every month we will update the information with how your gift is making a difference in each of our 12 impact areas.

July - Emergency Services Impact Area
Sioux Falls Area CASA provides an adult advocate to abused and neglected children who are in the court system. During the month of June CASA volunteers provided advocacy services for 176 children in Minnehaha and Lincoln counties of South Dakota. Unfortunately there were 60 children on our waiting list not benefiting from the advocacy services of a CASA volunteer due to us not having enough volunteers.

The Family Visitation Center provides a safe place for non-custodial parents to visit with their children. During the month of June Family Visitation Center served 107 families (167 adults and 154 children). During the month of June, 199 supervised visitations took place and 126 safe exchanges were monitored by FVC staff. With the end of our fiscal year the FVC saw a 13% increase in hours of visitation and exchange services provided. As part of their ongoing efforts to keep children connected to families FVC also provides transportation services to children in the care of Department of Social Services to scheduled visitations. On average 6870 miles a month are traveled across eastern South Dakota.

Last month Rape and Domestic Abuse Center provided services to over 170 individuals through three Sioux Empire United Way funded programs. The Family Violence Project, an educational program for individuals that have used violence helped 66 adults maximize victim safety and offender accountability. 12 teens who have used abuse against others also participated in an educational course during June through the Teen Violence Project. Survivor Empowerment Program provided 65 domestic violence survivors and 40 sexual assault survivors with therapy, advocacy, safety planning, and more. RDAC also strives to educate the public about domestic violence and sexual assault and during June they were able to present to 30 people on healthy relationships and hold 1 outreach event.

Native American Scholars match Native youth with adult role models. Currently, there are 22, including six new matches that were made during the month of May. In addition to participating in community activities, matches are encouraged to participate in cultural-specific events. Native American Scholars began by serving students at Whittier Middle School and Lincoln High School. The program has since expanded to accept students throughout the Sioux Falls School District between the ages of 7 and 18 years old. The program works closely with other Native American youth organizations, including Native American Connections at the middle and high schools, and Native Reads, held at the Multi-Cultural Center. Native American Scholars is in much need of male volunteers. About a dozen boys are consistently on the waiting list for a Big Brother and some have been waiting several months to be matched with the right mentor.

The Twelfth Annual Festival of Cultures will be held in Falls Park on Saturday, June 21, 2008. The festival begins at 11:00 a.m. with the Mayor’s Parade of Flags and highlights a variety of local performing groups plus Andes-style music from Ecuador Manta, local favorite Urban Blues, and winding out the night with klezmer music favorite, Yid Vicious. The annual event will also feature ethnic crafts and booth displays, hands-on cultural activities, the seventh annual “Celebrate Diversity Awards” and workshops for children at the Kids World and Family Stage. The event is free to the public. Free parking and shuttle services will be available downtown in Sioux Falls and north of Falls Park, near the Farmer’s Market. Additional details are provided on the attached media information sheet. For further information about the Festival of Cultures or to volunteer, please contact the Multi-cultural Center of Sioux Falls at 367-7400.

May - Disabilities Impact Area
In the last year over 50 adult readers have been provided a tutor and assistance to help them achieve their reading and writing goals through the Sioux Falls Area Literacy Council.

Last year, 1097 children were provided speech and language screenings, evaluations and therapy at USD Scottish Rite Children's Clinic. Research indicates that 10% of the population suffers from a communication disorder. Early education and treatment of speech and language disorders is important to help the children succeed in school and life. These youth are helped in the following areas:
• speech articulation
• language (receptive and expressive)
• fluency (stuttering)
• voice
• oral motor/feeding
• pure tone hearing screenings
• impedance screenings

DakotAbilties Alternative Services provided an average of 51 adults with disabilities the opportunity to participate in various community programs each week during the month of April.

In the month of April, 75 people participated in Employment Services, 121 people participated in Supported Living Services, and 12 people participated in Rural Outreach. The story below gives some details on how the Rural Outreach Program started as well as a story from one of the participants of the program.

Nine years ago this March, South Dakota Achieve “tuned in” as one young lady expressed a desire to return to her home community, live in her own apartment, and get a job. She had a dream! It was a tall order because Achieve had not provided rural outreach support until that point. But, it was the beginning of a very exciting adventure to provide support to those who choose to remain in their home communities. Developing a relationship in which an individual feels comfortable enough to express their dreams or goals takes time but it produces the very best results. Everyone who participates in the program has a team of supporters who will work to help the action take place. Within five months five more people had signed on to receive similar services.

Outreach services have grown to a current total of twelve participating individuals. The communities served are Freeman, Menno, Viborg, Hurley, Parker, Canton, and Menno. Needs being met are as varied as people can be. There are many health issues, parenting issues, people struggling with paperwork on a daily basis, and also social/interpersonal relationships needs.

Mary is a true representative of someone who has used the program to her benefit. She just takes joy in living and learning! Anyone who has ever come to Mary’s home for a visit comes away uplifted, grateful, and much happier! She radiates a spirit of optimism. Mary’s life has not always been so productive. As a young girl Mary struggled to make sense of school. It just didn’t. She dropped out of grade school and helped at home on the farm. She later married and had five children. She was very unaware of her rights and felt as if people looked down on her. The turning point came one Christmas when staff and Mary were discussing the Christmas greetings that she had been receiving. Mary stated that she wished she could thank people. Staff’s answer was, “Well, you can! Send out some Christmas cards.” Mary was shocked. She didn’t know that SHE could do that. After that experience Mary started to take an active interest in being more productive with her life.

To this day, she remains like a sponge about learning. She loves it. She has learned how to manage her checkbook and she eagerly looks forward to seeing if staff might make a mistake! She has had health issues to deal with and has learned to eat more nutritiously. In that process she has lost about 30 pounds. She wanted to regain a relationship with two grown daughters and she has done that. They adore the mother that they didn’t know for so many years. Mary lives in her own house. She is very interested in the world around her and votes in every election. Mary is tickled to think that she has a right to do that! Mary loves to socialize and is always ready for a trip to the bowling alley, the movies, or out to eat. She meticulously works on her flower bed, her lawn, and just generally keeping things look nice around her home. Mary continues to have dreams and goals to work on. She believes in pressing on. In Mary’s words, “You keep on learning all the time. All you have to do is want to and have someone help you work things out, and then work hard!”

April - Counseling Impact Area
Last month, Lutheran Social Services' Consumer Credit Counseling Service provided 216 counseling sessions to 332 new clients. The sessions include initial financial counseling evaluations, bankruptcy appointments, and housing related issues. Along with the 332 new clients, 555 existing clients were provided follow-up and review appointments through the Debt Management Program. Consumer Credit Counseling also conducted 10 educational seminars that served 70 participants across the area. For information on free money management seminars offered through Consumer Credit Counseling, click here.

294 individuals were provided with mental health counseling through Lutheran Social Services during March. These individuals are provided private, confidential counseling sessions to address everything from marriage problems, to family issues, to depression, and more.

478 youth and 622 adults received counseling through Volunteers of America-Dakotas LifeMarks program during March. Clients receive counseling for depression and anxiety, grief and loss, challenging behaviors, and crisis situations. LifeMarks also offers help with alcohol and drug addictions as well as physical, sexual and emotional abuse issues.

March - Child Care Impact Area
United Day Care served 81 children in the month of February. It was an exciting month for the children as they had Valentine Parties and the school age children had several days off from school. Many of the families are on Child Care Assistance and/or receive free or reduced lunches through the school system.

Childcare HELP!Line Center provided 185 child care referrals to families during February. Among those calls were 126 infant calls, 78 toddler calls, 44 preschool calls, and 23 school age calls. Families are provided referrals based on cost, location, availability, provider qualifications, and more. In additions to referrals families receive a guide book about selecting quality care for their children. The top three reasons February callers chose to change providers were unhappy with quality, relocated, and work.

Over 400 children were provided child care by YWCA at their two locations during the month of February. Child care is provided to children 4 weeks to 12 years old. 287 children received care at YWCA Avera South and 152 children attended YWCA Avera Downtown. 25% of the children at the South location and 72% of the children at the Downtown location utilize a sliding fee scale or Child Care Assistance.

During February, nearly 250 children received care at four of Volunteers of America, Dakotas childcare sites. An additional 15 children received crisis care at two sites. Crisis care is provided to children whose families have an immediate need for child care, but are not able to pay. Parent conferences were held at all sites last month, along with fun family events like carnivals, scavenger hunts, and distributing books. One center celebrated Dental Awareness week by having a guest dental hygienist show the children how to brush their teeth. Additionally, last month two teen parents graduated high school while participating with their child in the Teen Parent Program at Joe Foss School. A majority of the families who utilize child care through Volunteers of America, Dakotas are on a sliding fee scale or receive Child Care Assistance.

February - Basic Needs Impact Area
During the month of January 78 families received financial assistance totaling over $8900 through Community Outreach. Financial assistance is used to help keep utilities on, provide assistance for a rent deposit, or other one time needs. On average families receive $260 in assistance. An additional 178 people received information and referrals through the program. Due to a limited budget, during January 97 financial requests were unmet.

32 previously homeless families had a home through Heartland House in January. Among the families were 64 children. The families participate in case management, finding employment, finishing their education, and taking additional classes on finances, stress management, health and fitness, and other topics. The average length the family participates in the Heartland House program is 16 months. One participant graduated from the program in January. There are currently 9 families on the waiting list to be enrolled in the program.

One Family Self-Sufficiency participant graduated from the program in January. After participating in the program for less than two years, she and her family no longer receive food stamps or Medicaid, and are in the process of purchasing their first home. There were 83 participants in Family Self-Sufficiency in January. The program provides participants workshops and speakers on interviewing, employment, building confidence, relationships, parenting, and homeownership. Clients can also participate in family fun events and utilize free evening childcare. They are also provided moral support, assistance to increase their earning potential, and resources and referrals to other agencies.

January - After School Impact Area
December is always a huge month for Liberty Center with Christmas break being about 2 weeks long. The Liberty Center closes down their 4 school sites and all of the students meet at the main location. During Christmas break, care and activities were provided to 18-25 kids each day. The kids enjoyed swimming, and trips to the Second Chance Animal Rescue, roller skating rink, and All American Gymnastics. Liberty Center also provided a Friday night Respite night on December 7 to 12 families, staying open until 9 p.m. and taking the kids to the USF Light Show. This allowed the parents to finish (or start) their Christmas shopping or just go out on a date.

The Dell Rapids Community Haven is open each day school from 7:00 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. and again from 3:43 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Participants got to have in December, their activities included: crafts, food fun, around the world, games in the gym, birthdays, and playing on the snowy playground. The students also had a visitor from the local Garden Club. On the last day of school before Christmas break, everyone had fun at a Christmas party including snow play, hot chocolate, gift opening and a fun Christmas movie! Ninety-five unduplicated kids were served during the month of December in the before and after school program.

The average daily attendance at the 5 Sioux Falls sites for the YMCA Middle School After School program was 389 during December. The program operates at Edison, Memorial, Patrick Henry, Axtell Park, and Whittier Middle Schools. The students participate in games, crafts, trivia, and can use the gym space and computer labs. During December the students also had a Christmas party. At the end of the day, students are provided a bus ride to get home safely.

Your Gift in Action