Transitional Housing
Partner Arms 1, 2, 3
THC operates 40 units of transitional housing in three Partner Arms transitional housing facilities, two in the Georgia Avenue corridor of Ward 4 and one in the Ward 7 Ft. Dupont neighborhood that serve an aggregate of 60 families and over 150 children each year. THC provides stable housing and wraparound supportive services to each family in the program that transitions families to permanent housing after a two year period. Upon entry into the Partner Arms program, all families participate in a comprehensive psycho-social assessment to determine the immediate and longer-term needs of the participant and their family. Case Managers identify key issues; participants identify and set specific short and long term goals for their two years at Partner Arms. This initial assessment is followed by regular re-assessments every three months.
Case Management, Counseling and Therapy Services: THC’s supportive services are designed to assure that residents receive services, provided on a non-sectarian basis which is targeted to the following areas:
Development of family decision-making skills
Job readiness, job search and interview, job maintenance and advancement skills
Independent living skills (budgeting, spending, household care)
Community living skills (participation, cooperation, pride, awareness, decision making, advocacy, action)
Increased competence, confidence, and self-esteem
Youth services programs: child advocacy, counseling and therapy, substance abuse prevention and youth enrichment
Mental Health services and counseling, on site, on a case-by-case, as needed basis
Substance Abuse Counseling and Prevention: All Partner Arms residents are required to be drug-free and THC offers intensive substance abuse counseling and prevention group sessions. In addition, all residents are required to undergo random drug testing during their time of residence at Partner Arms. THCs Substance Abuse counseling staff is fully certified and participates regularly is continuing education on the latest trends in substance abuse.
Healthy Habits: THC’s newest Family Wellness program, will educate our clients about ways to improve their health and provide an integrated continuum of care – including primary care, mental health services, chronic disease management and substance abuse treatment for our clients. Families will receive an initial health and wellness assessment and an action plan, be referred to specialists and receive follow-up care. In addition, informational workshops and exercise/health/wellness activities will be planned for all adults and children. The nurse/program coordinators will be able to identify serious health issues that are addressed through referrals to external health providers, increase case manager‘s health and wellness knowledge of their clients, increase medication management and decrease health-related crises that affect employment and transition to permanent housing.
“Healthy Habits adds another critical component to the comprehensive wraparound services for THC clients,” states Executive Director Polly Donaldson. “These health and wellness services will be integrated with THC’s existing supportive services in life and family skills, employment, substance abuse and mental health counseling, youth enrichment and child advocacy,” continued Donaldson. “THC is committed to helping families in need make and sustain the transformational change necessary to maintain independence and self-sufficiency. Improved health and wellness positively impacts families’ ability to obtain and maintain employment, exit from transitional housing to permanent housing, and proactively care for themselves and their children,” Donaldson said.
Employment Services: The goal of THC’s employment services is to assist residents in obtaining and retaining quality employment through identifying their interests, talents and skill levels. THC’s Employment Coordinator, Karen McNeal, along with THC’s case managers will obtain an individual comprehensive assessment to ensure residents are mentally and physically ready for employment. Additionally, educational goals will be assessed. Adult Basic Education testing will be provided to assess literacy issues. Residents who do not have a GED will be assessed for placement. Ms. McNeal continues to work with various groups and agencies that provide job readiness, job search and interview opportunities, job maintenance, and advancement skill-building through individual consultations, outside and other group workshops.
“Empowering families to think ‘outside the box‘ and challenge themselves to their full potential is the most rewarding part of my job! I am encouraged by the expressions of our clients when they discover the gifts and talents they have inside,” stated Ms. McNeal.
Ms. McNeal has reached out to a wide array of organizations whose services will be a great benefit to THC clients. These organizations include: Wider Opportunities for Women, Dress for Success, Suited for Change, Jobs Have Priority, Jubilee Jobs, University of District of Columbia Workforce Development Program, DOES One Stop Career Center, Greater Goodwill of Washington and CHIMES.
Life Skills Workshops: THC program supportive services initiated a series of knowledge and skills-building workshops for Partner Arms participants including a popular Women’s Wellness Workshop that addressed areas such as health, parenting, nutrition, employment, and credit counseling.
Funding: THC’s Partner Arms, Housing with Care and Youth and Family Enrichment programs are funded by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, the DC Department of Human Services, the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness, private and corporate foundations, THC’s Episcopal and Lutheran Church networks, and individual donors who support THC‘s programs.
