Shield NC

Defense Against Trafficking

SGFA May 17, 2022 Meeting Minutes

by

Missed the May Meeting? Here are the minutes.

Service Groups and Faith Alliance

May 17, 2022

Meeting Minutes

Homelessness in Apex and Cary

Attendees:

Nicole Bernard, Niki Miller, Elliot Brooks (Street Outreach Specialist with Triangle Family Services), Jim Ahler, Kerry Crespo, Nancy Hagan, Danica Coleman, Spencer Bradford, Tom Klatt, Kim Adcock, Karen Morant, Deb Vinci, Ofc Kenneth Ragland, Chief Jason Armstrong

Announcements:

Nicole Bernard welcomed attendees and announced Stephanie Moore LCSW was the sponsor for today’s meeting. Nicole reminded attendees of the Annual Shield Gala coming up June 3 and invited all to join.

The SGFA is continuing to focus on Foster Care Awareness. We petitioned the Town of Apex to proclaim May as Foster Care Awareness Month. The proclamation was issued by mayor and the town council for month of May in Apex on April 26. Shield has also partnered with the Wake County Child Welfare (Foster Care Recruitment) to organize a Door Hanger Campaign. On three different days, volunteers with hang foster care information on homes in the area. So far 500 door hangers have been place. The next campaign dates are May 21st and May 25th.

Speaker Elliot Brooks:

Nicole introduced Elliot Brooks, Street Outreach Specialist for Triangle Family Services, who presented information regarding homelessness in Apex and Cary. Elliot’s outreach efforts focus on encampments in western wake currently and will be moving into HS and FV as able. Unsheltered homelessness is main focus.

What?

Triangle Family Services works with unsheltered individuals and emergency shelters if no case management. It is high access service with no financial or behavioral barriers. No one is excluded for these reasons. Mobile access: we meet people where they are. In their camps or abandoned buildings or McDonalds, etc.

Why?

Lowers barriers and creates access for people

Many homeless individuals have experienced a high level of trauma

Provide food, water, hygiene supplies, SNAP sign up or EBT or Medicaid; housing navigation and referrals

Engage people who resist other forms of help – offer support and positive alternatives

Why help?

Homeless individuals are often perceived as not wanting help. A few people want to be homeless, but most don’t. Refusal of help is a product of trauma. Learned helplessness because they are too afraid. Dehumanizing which doesn’t allow them any agency in our society.

NC507 Structure: everyone enters by the same door via Access Hub and they are referred to the right place for their specific need. Elliot gets referrals from the Access Hub.

Looking at Apex and Cary:

Cary: The most recent Point In Time survey found 48 homeless individuals, which is large number for area and does not include those living in cars or sleeping on someone’s sofa. More camping with warm weather. Real number is likely 70-100 homeless individuals. Some are visible but many are not.

Apex: No one located during the most recent Point In Time survey – they are well-hidden, living in cars or “couch surfing”.

Some differences: easier to get services in Cary; Cary is closer to Raleigh; get around via bus; Cary has many hotels for emergency shelters. Apex is close to Jordan Lake providing legal camping.

Apex homeless don’t engage due to difficulty getting around and don’t qualify for service

True Number is unknown

Strategies for Helping:

· Work at changing public perception (often seen as lazy or bad people)

a) Community Service Events help connection

b) Inform congregation about white flag events

c) Host events where people can learn more about homelessness

· Fund raisers to get supplies

a) Transportation, Lyft card, gas cards

b) Security Deposit assistance

c) Survival supplies, tents, tarps

· Actively filling existing service gaps

(Dorcas, St Johns are great examples of how to do this.)

a) White flag emergency shelters

b) Support services like meals or free clinics, mobile shower truck

c) Free overnight parking shelters for individuals living in cars

Elliott Brooks Contact Information:

ebrooks@tfsnc.org

919-501-8504

Q&A

Jim shared that his wife who pastors at his church has seen several folks emerge for assistance. Do you need to see the person for point in time count or survey churches? Elliot responded that it must be in person as a snapshot of point in time.

Spencer asked who organizes team for Point In Time survey in Apex. Access Hub was used last time and Elliot shared contact: jvolkel@partnershipwake.org

Niki asked Kerry to share what they are doing at their church (Cary Church):

Opened up Convoy of Hope; offering hot meals on 4th Saturday 11-1:00; grocery bags distributed by team of 10-12; restarted food bank 1st and 2nd Saturday; wanting to reconnect with community; Bread of Life at Moore Square every 3rd Saturday for clothing and non-perishable groceries. For the last 3 months they have been going to homes for released prisoners – want them to come to facility going forward; has met with schools. Contact: Kerry Crespo-Asst Pastor Kerry.crespo@cary.church

Nancy – low barrier goals have fallen off during COVID. Has had experience with Point In Time count and interested in making connections with Elliot to assist with location of individuals.

Nicole – How do we know where people are during extreme weather? Reviewed options and determined it was best to get them to Raleigh. If proven need, Elliot offered it should be done in the area so transportation does not become an issue.

White flag shelter point of contact is Travis at St Johns travisc@stjohnsmcc.org

What items need to be collected that may be priority? Things to keep folks cool, Gatorade, tents, tarps, trash bags to stay dry, bug spray, deodorant, powder. Anything to stay dry and comfortable. Good quality sleeping bag is important no matter the weather. Can openers, dry shampoo, coolers.

Karen asked about disconnection from services needed outside Raleigh. How do we leverage our resources to fill the gaps? Raleigh has resources that those outside that area don’t. Image and stigma need to be overcome. Change conversation and provide high access, low barrier assistance.

Word of mouth changes opinions and helps clients learn about positive experiences. Is there a need to create a Community Care Center? Elliot shared that Day Centers have a big stigma and it is hard to create. Although, Day Centers can help provide the homeless with a vision for what life can be.

“Unite Us” platform used by the state to connect needs and resources.

SGFA April, 19 2022 Minutes

by

If you missed the April, 19 2022 meeting, here are the minutes.

SGFA April 19,2022

Service Groups and Faith Alliance April 19, 2022
Meeting Minutes Strategies for Keeping Children Safe

Nicole Bernard, Niki Miller, Laura Goulian, Ofc KennethRagland, Elliot Brooks, Kim Adcock, Spencer Bradford, Tom Klatt, Danica Coleman, Karen Morant, Deb Vinci

Introduction

Welcome from Nicole and thanked Lew Wilson Art for sponsorship. This Friday 1-2 April 22, APD is holding Child Abuse awareness event.

April 26, Apex town council will be presenting a proclamation to Shield deeming May Foster Care Awareness month. Encourage community to support foster care.

New Life church has gathered items for foster families and will be delivering April 30. Providence Church has small groups collecting items as well including luggage as a primary need that helps negate shame in use of plastic bags for belongings.

Planning event for May to honor foster families postponed to June. Looking for event space. Let Niki know if you can assist. (niki@shieldnc.org)

Looking for volunteers to help canvas neighborhoods to place door hangers regarding needs for foster children, May 10, May 21 and May 25. Email Nicole if you are interested. (nicole@shieldnc.org)

Notes

Laura Goulian introduced Safe Child and April is Child Abuse Prevention month. She agreed on the value of the great project to provide luggage.

Safe Child is an Agency in Wake County that exists to educate and empower parents and caregivers and allows a more positive impact for children. Multi-pronged approach; community outreach, parent education and funny tummy program.

Protecting children – the first line of defense is a safe nurturing environment. Understand their unique role in their children’s lives can help provide positive safe place.

Parenting groups – Safe Child receives referrals through the court system & social services. Your organization or church can also refer individuals. Self-referral is also welcomed and encouraged. There is no cost.

Programs provide focus for Mothers, Fathers and Spanish speaking. Helpful to understand child development to have realistic expectations for children. Conflict resolution and control are addressed.

Help Mothers become confident caregivers, how a negative relationship can impact a child, ie an unmarried male. How domestic violence impacts children.

Online access has been a more frequently used point of contact.

Funny tummy program – delivered this to all Wake County schools for first and second graders.

· Help children understand what they feel. Learn to determine what is not appropriate and how to respond.

· Also now offered in private and charter schools due to new grant. Looking for other schools that want to partner with Safe Child to bring this program to them.

Moms supporting Moms to help parents be the most protective adults for their children.

· Works with women with new babies (often first child) to find community and mitigate isolation, sharing the challenges and joys of this experience.

· Also specialized group that deals with post partum mood disorders or anxiety which is the most common and hard to talk about. Lead by Mom that has experienced this and assists with eliminating negative feelings for Mothers.

Safe Child Advocacy Center – forensic investigation run by law enforcement and medical professionals. Set up center to tell story one time to trained interview and then that is used as needed.

General Comments

Good education point is domestic violence and how to talk about it. Suspicion and concern require a soft approach. Controlling or coercive partner may not be recognized by abused.

Safe Child does not address services for the child, but focus is on support for the parents to create a best environment. They use language that is inclusive. Child development education includes underlying acceptance of who children are including gender identity.

Laura shared the calendar of events for Safe Child at info@safechildnc.org

Circle of Security program is a great program they love to bring to the community if interested (see website).

lgoulian@safechildnc.org, Intake Coordinator 919-232-5664

Q&A

Who can they contact for Moms supporting Moms: Laura Goulian is the intake coordinator for any help that is needed as a single point of contact for direction. Clients from courts or social services which often goes back to a domestic violence core issue.

Advocacy Center referral is done when there is an open investigation.

Elliot (TFS) asked how their services compare to DOS does (26-week intervention for battery). Safe Child is 11-week program that works best after DOS. It makes them more self-aware and accountable. (BIT vs. Anger Management program)

Do you have any needs?
Volunteer coordinator, Claudia Cortina-Czap

Resilient screening is available to help adults understand how to eliminate stress for children