The Salvation Army
Homeless Services Department
Assessment Programs
|
The Salvation Army
|
|
| Home | Locations | Services | Links | Jobs |
|
Background
Triage Shelter The 21-day assessment model’s mission is to assess the needs
of homeless women and to develop a service plan to move clients to
appropriate transitional settings, treatment programs or back to the
community. Once initial eligibility is determined, the
client receives a bed and is then assisted by a caseworker to delineate
a 21-day service plan. This
plan may include goals to attend substance abuse support groups, orientation
and long-term placement after 21-days. On-Site Programs and Services v
Triage
Program v
Medical
Services and Psychiatric Services v
Recreational Activities
v
Health and Wellness
Workshops v
Motivational Workshops
v
Token
Economy Medical Psychiatric and Services Medical Services are provided by the Floating Hospital and
are available 6 days per week. The
client is offered TB testing, physical examinations, voluntary HIV
testing and referrals to medical facilities as required. Psychiatric evaluations are conducted on-site and are designed
to provide screening, assessment and specialized case management for
those clients with mental illness. Token Economy The Token Economy program of JWTRS is a motivational incentive
program designed to reinforce positive behaviors of residents of the
shelter. In our experience,
we have found that this program has served a number of purposes and
has created positive relationships and responsibilities for both staff
and clients. The Token Economy program awards “points” to clients for engaging
in the assessment process. These
points are input into our computerized tracking system and can then
be accumulated and used to purchase items from the Token Economy store.
Positive behaviors include, but are not limited to: workshop
participation, attending appointments, completing the psychosocial
evaluation and completing the psychiatric evaluation. It also deducts points for certain negative behaviors. Points may be deducted for such negative behaviors
as smoking in the facility, entering unauthorized areas without permission
or verbal abuse. Background
For example, victims of domestic violence may need special
placement and counseling services; substance abusers may require detox
and placement in a treatment program and those with mental illness
require supportive housing. Other
clients may be placed in vocational and employment programs when eligible. The women arriving at Franklin come from a variety of
experiences. Some are recent
immigrants, abandoned by family upon their arrival in New York. Others are dealing with drug and alcohol abuse
issues, while other have spent years working as prostitutes in the
Bronx and other New York Boroughs.
Many of our women have been abused either at the hand of their
romantic partner, drug dealers and family members.
It is not uncommon for the homeless women in our shelter to
have faced sexual abuse or trauma at some point prior to intake. The Triage and Referral ProcessThe goal of the Triage & Referral Shelter is to first assess
the needs of homeless women and then develop a service plan that will
help move clients to appropriate transitional settings, treatment
programs or independent living. Once
initial eligibility is determined, the client receives a bed and is
assigned a caseworker. Together,
the client and caseworker work to complete a 14-day milestone plan,
which includes completing a psychosocial assessment, meeting with
the psychiatric and medical teams and applying for any necessary entitlements. When possible, the caseworker encourages his/her client
to move in with a family member or to return to her last residence. If these options are no available, the caseworker
works with the client to plan an appropriate placement. Our goal is to place all clients in long-term
settings within 21-days. ServicesDuring those 21 days, when placements are pending, Franklin offers
the women a series of day-to-day activities including support groups,
independent living workshop and recreational activities. In the past, the women have visited television
talk shows, baseball games and jazz and gospel concerts. The facility provides craft workshops, games,
and athletic equipment for those interested in such activities. More specifically, the facility offers the
following services: Incentive
Programs
The Token Economy program of Franklin Triage and Referral
Shelter is a motivational incentive program designed to reinforce
positive behaviors of shelter residents. The program awards “points”
to clients for engaging in the assessment process.
For example, points may be given to clients who participate
in workshops, attend their appointments, complete their psychosocial
evaluation and complete their psychiatric evaluation.
They may also been given for clients meeting curfew, maintaining
a clean living space and mentoring new clients. The House Managers maintain a computerized record of
point accumulation, and once enough points are accrued, clients are
able to “purchase” items from the Token Economy store.
The Economy program not only rewards positive behaviors but
also deducts points for certain negative behaviors.
Client may lose Token Economy points for smoking in the facility,
entering unauthorized areas, or verbally abusing staff and/or clients. We have found that this program serves a number
of purposes from establishing clear expectations to creating positive
relationships between staff and clients. The items for the Token Store are purchased with funds
from the program budget and from donations received by private donors.
Current items include: Medical
Service
Provided
in-house by Bronx Lebanon Hospital six days per week. Clients are
offered TB testing, physical examinations, pregnancy tests, voluntary
HIV testing and referrals to medical facilities. Psychiatric
Evaluations
Conducted on site and provide screening, assessment and specialized
case management for mentally ill clients. Workshops
Domestic Violence, Budgeting Fundamentals, Health and Well-Being,
AA/NA, Motivational, Life Skills and Independent Living Recreation
Ping-Pong and pool tournaments, air hockey, darts, board games,
movie field trips, theater trips, Good Morning America, Birthday celebrations,
baseball games, bingo, arts and crafts. Supportive ServicesCounseling, assessment, referral and Faith Sharing workshops,
non-denominational religious services, field trips to church services.
|
