Wed, 12/13/2017
Ouachita Children's Center
339 Charteroak
Hot Springs
Arkansas
71901
po box 1180, Hot Springs, AR 71902
501-623-5591
occnet.org
71-0497616
Part II
Emergency Shelter Program
The goal of the Ouachita Children’s Center Shelter Program is to provide a safe and secure environment to youth in need. Emergency Shelter care includes provision of basic needs, nurturing environment, and staff who model social skills and appropriate behaviors for youth to follow. Our vision is that every child regardless of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, culture or religion, is valuable and has the right to a safe environment that promotes mutual respect and trust. Children need an environment where they can grow and develop problem solving, decision making, and life skills, and learn to be accountable for their behavior.
$20,000.00
$14,000.00
Health & Safety
The Ouachita Children’s Center is a non – profit, child advocacy organization providing emergency shelter and quality services for youth and families, empowering them to achieve lifelong success.
Ouachita Children’s Center is a children’s shelter providing services to youth in Arkansas from a variety of circumstances. Services include; children’s shelter services for youth referred in the community.
Youth who enter the program at many times are faced with great loss. Some youth do not have shoes or clothes to take with them when they leave the home while other youth from meth houses have clothes that must be destroyed and therefore they are brought to Ouachita Children’s Center without their belongings. The Department of Human Services takes at least 1 week to refurnish clothing for these children, leaving Ouachita Children’s Center to provide for youth until these needs are met. In addition to clothing needs, some youth are without medical benefits when they enter the program at Ouachita Children’s Center and are many times in need of necessary medications prescribed by their physician, with no means of paying for the prescription. Ouachita Children’s’ Center must then provide funds to pay for these medications to enable youth be successful in their daily living and meet their medical, mental and physician needs as necessary.
Many youths are removed from their homes and placed in foster care during the time of their birthday or remain in foster care during their birthday. These youth are provided a gift and Birthday Party to enable them to have some since of normalcy during the time they are at Ouachita Children’s Center.
Many youths are removed from their homes and placed in foster care during the time of their birthday or remain in foster care during their birthday. These youth are provided a gift and Birthday Party to enable them to have some since of normalcy during the time they are at Ouachita Children’s Center.
Emergency Shelter Services
The average dollar amount of funds received for care of one shelter youth who is placed at Ouachita Children’s Center is $109.00 per night while the average cost to care for one child is $160.00 per night, leaving a remaining balance of $51.00.
.26 cents per night enables Ouachita Children’s Center to provide the added necessities of basic needs for children served in the OCC shelter.
Funding will be used specifically to help offer additional cost of caring for youth placed in the emergency shelter for added necessities of basic needs.
Youth placed at Ouachita Children's Center many times do not arrive with clothing due to being removed from meth homes by the Depart of Children and Family Services. Some have no insurance to pay for necessary medications. Some youth have never celebrated a Birthday, Christmas or other holiday due to poverty. While youth are at Ouachita Children's Center, they are provided regular meals and a home with caring staff who provide a safe, stable environment for these children to live in for the time they are at the emergency shelter.
Yes. The program is sustainable by use of state contracts, community support and other grant funding and has been providing emergency shelter services to youth for the past 40 years.
The program will enable Arkansas youth who are in care at Ouachita Children's Center to be provided shelter, clothing food and other needs while in the shelter. Additional funds will pay for the remainder of cost not covered by state funding and will enable OCC to purchase shoes, clothes, medications or other needs necessary to care for the youth.
Yes, Will be used as matched for the – Administration for Children and families, run away homeless youth basic center grant.
Ouachita Children’s Center works collaboratively to provide services for youth in the community in partnership with Hometown Health Project Hope, SWAPP (Southwest Arkansas Partnership for Homeless), and community groups.
Ouachita Children’s Center is partnered with groups around the community including; OAYC (Ouachita Area Youth Council), SWAP (Southwest Arkansas Partnership for Homeless), SAM team (Sex Abuse Management Team), Suicide Prevention Allies, Garland County Human Trafficking, and SOC (System of Caring)
Part III
Resources utilities include a facility with housing ability for 20 youth, case management and direct care staff as well as director and maintenance staff. Volunteers, monetary donations, tangible donations of items needed such as personal care items, holiday gifts and gift cards. Grants utilized for building repair and remodel.
By the end of the funding period, funds will be delegated to offset additional expenses for caring for community youth who are in the shelter. Many youths who are placed at Ouachita Children’s Center have never celebrated a Birthday or Christmas. Some are placed with none of their personal belongings such as clothing or shoes due to coming out of meth homes, while others are placed without the necessary medications due to lack of funds or no insurance. Funds will be used to provide such items to children and youth in the shelter who are in need to ensure proper care and living environment are in place for youth.
Youth who are in the shelter are eligible to receive assistance with clothing, shoes, medications and other needs. Youth are provided with cake and a party for their birthday as well as a gift. Many youth have never had a birthday celebration and truly enjoy the experience. With the funds youth also have the opportunity to celebrate other holidays such as Christmas or Thanksgiving as well as special outings where youth are granted the opportunity to participate in educational events such as Cirque du Soleil where youth got to see a performing arts when many have never seen a performance outside of school.
Shelter served 235 youth at 5192 nights per year.
Specific information tested to determine outcome achievements of each client served includes; Behavioral Point/Level System and the Self-esteem scale. The behavior system is a 4 level system based on the client’s daily progress while in the emergency shelter program. Youth are admitted on level Bronze with the opportunity to move up to levels Silver or Gold, remain on Bronze or drop to clear within five days after admission based on their behavior. Youth remain on the level system for the remainder of three weeks minimum and up to 90 days based on their progress. Youth successfully complete the program after three weeks on level Silver or Gold.
The self-esteem scale is a questioner given to youth at the time of their admission and a final time at discharge. The outcomes are determined based on youth’s progress based on a youth’s self – esteem when they arrive and after participating in the program.
Methods used for collecting information to determine if the program outcome objectives are accomplished include; the Behavior Point/Level system, Self-esteem scale, Observations, Satisfactory Survey at the time of discharge.
"Recently, we had a conversation with a young man who used to be at our emergency shelter in Hot Springs. The conversation turned to running away and our staff asked if he had ever run away from OCC (it happens sometimes). He replied, "No! I would never run away from OCC! It was like home, the food was good, and I trusted everyone there. I felt like they loved, me." Later on, he also shared that he has run away from his family so many times over the past two years, he had lost count."
Part IV
The request is used for the differnet between with the contract pays vs actual cost as determined by Jordan Woosley, outside auditing firm.
As a 501-c3 organization, Ouachita Children’s Center, Inc. (OCC) is incorporated with a governing body and is legally authorized to conduct business in the state of Arkansas. OCC is guided by a governing body made up of 15 members who, although they may not reflect the demographics of our community, do possess the skills, knowledge, and expertise representative of our community and serves as the link between the organization and the public. The governing body sets the tone of responsible management by ensuring that all policies and performances uphold public trust and serve as a link between OCC and the public. The OCC Board includes various community leaders in fields of expertise to include:
• Governance expertise that includes leadership and policy development skills
• Relevant business experience with youth and the criminal justice field
• Financial and accounting expertise
• Knowledge of consumer issues and trends
• Familiarity with and access to community leaders, political representatives, and other local organizations
• Reflect public recognition and respect (one board member was recently named Woman of the Year)
• A commitment and ability to fundraise and connect the organization to potential resources
The governing body exhibits the leadership and policy development skills to provide the best overall management of the organization as a whole. OCC board members are knowledgeable of consumer issues and trends, members advocate for the agency and promote fund raising activities within the community.
The board met for 6 regular meetings and 1 retreat during the last 12 months.
- Were you able to pay all regular operational expenses within 60 days of the due date?
- Have you been able to maintain your 501 (c) 3 Tax Exempt Status?
Sarah Rivera
Part V
Part VI
January 6 Yule Ball Fund Raising Gala
January 20 Christmas in January – house party towel shower for occ
Jan 26 Resolve to be Healthy – health fair for Clark County
Feb 2-3 Home Show – exhibitor
March 10 Spring Fling – community carnival focusing on safe choices in Clark County
April 12 Trash Bag Walk – fund raiser focusing on suitcases and funds for OCC
January 20 Christmas in January – house party towel shower for occ
Jan 26 Resolve to be Healthy – health fair for Clark County
Feb 2-3 Home Show – exhibitor
March 10 Spring Fling – community carnival focusing on safe choices in Clark County
April 12 Trash Bag Walk – fund raiser focusing on suitcases and funds for OCC
2019 Yule Ball tentatively set for January 12 at St. Luke’s
Part VII
Gift Cards