Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver in partnership with Governor Hogan are working to assist area families in an enormous and meaningful way. The Governor’s Office for Children has awarded funding for local programs designed to support those in need of help with the various challenges they face.
The County is deeply committed to these initiatives geared towards providing opportunities for underprivileged persons, particularly youth needing vocational/job training as well as families dealing with parental incarceration and homelessness. Therefore, this partnership provides key plans for our focus in this fiscal year.
The total Wicomico funding is $764,487 for an entire series of programs listed below.
Junior Achievement Fellows (JA), awarded $138,800, has a focus on career and life skills training for youth ages 18-24. It provides a 12-week job placement program while providing a possibility of full-time opportunities at the conclusion. It includes an extensive mentoring program from area business leaders that helps these young adults learn the necessary skills to obtain and retain gainful employment in today’s tough job market.
Navigation, awarded $115,000, is geared towards coordinating existing resources for families in poverty and/or homeless. The program provides solutions for families and children faced with extreme poverty situations such as homelessness and affords them the opportunity to learn and fully utilize services and resources available to them.
Safe Haven, awarded $71,500, concentrates on families with inmate member. It has been shown when one or both parents are absent due to incarceration, it has grave impact on the children in these families; therefore, this program provides coping and life skills to handle this emotional and physically challenging situation. The program has four main components which encompasses the following: 1) home visits, 2) advocacy and referrals, 3) support groups for children, teens and caregivers, and 4) facilitating child’s communication with parent inmates. While Wicomico has received this funding, the vendor has not been awarded until after August 9, 2017.
Summer Youth Employment, awarded $55,900, is designed to help recipients gain summer employment while also providing career coaching for 10 weeks. The focus is to keep teens off the streets and providing a productive use of their off-months from school.
Other programs receiving funds from the above amount includes:
Board Supplies was awarded $176, 265.
Family Education/Parenting and Teens, awarded $103,522, is a program dealing with parent education courses for parents transitioning out of detention centers.
Out of School Time, awarded $40,000, is a center-based afterschool program, which includes transportation, dinners and mentoring opportunities.
Re-Entry Mediation, awarded $63,500, is a program inside the jail for incarcerated parent and parent at home to complete co-parenting planning prior to transitioning from jail back to the home.
Wicomico is enthusiastic about providing these services and life/career coaching to families in need because it not only helps the individuals, it further fosters a better community for all County residents.
