For over 60 years, United Way has provided a social safety net for vulnerable people in Portage County by funding a system of community services through 35 programs provided by 20 agencies--along with allocating over $100,000 in special funding each year to meet emerging needs.
The Achievement Center serves Portage County children ages birth to three who are experiencing developmental delay or disability in communication, cognitive, social/emotional or motor development. Screenings and evaluation of developmental skills are provided free of charge. Services are provided in the child's natural environment and can include: physical, occupational and speech therapies, educational services, service coordination and parent support.
Portage County Advocates for the developmentally disabled (ADD) provides information and support to disabled persons and promotes increased awareness of the needs of the disabled. Through its Community Partners Program, it initiates and supports one-to-one relationships between disabled adults and community volunteers. As community partners, volunteers are companions at community events and activities. They act as role models, lend a hand, and offer emotional support - they are friends. Program expanded in 2003 to SPASH students. Ten special education students are paired with peers for friendship and support in transitioning from school to work and independent living.
AGING & DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER OF PORTAGE COUNTY
Lincoln Center
1519 Water Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Located at the Lincoln Center, the Holly Shoppe is a retail outlet open to the public. All handicrafts are made by Portage County residents age 55 and over.
The Holly Shoppe provides older adults the opportunity to supplement their incomes from sales of handiwork created at home. In doing so they are able to stay active and productive with meaningful endeavors. Through volunteer opportunities, available within the program, participants maintain active social involvement with the community. This participation increases their self-esteem and enhances their social activity.
The Aging & Disability Resource Center Nutrition Program delivers meals to homebound elderly in Portage County. This service is coordinated with congregate noon meal sites at seven county locations. Meals are delivered by volunteers and Aging & Disability Center bus drivers. A medical provider referral is necessary. The meal delivery not only provides well-balanced nutritious meals but also an important daily check on the well-being of the recipient.
Aging & Disability Center Adult Day Care is a supervised day program for isolated, medically frail, cognitively impaired or physically disabled elderly people. The program offers an enjoyable, social and therapeutic environment for up to 40 participants daily, while providing respite and support for caregivers.
American Red Cross (ARC) Blood Services conducts 65 days of blood drives each year. ARC is mandated to ensure adequate and stable blood supply, and nationally it provides 50% of the blood supply. It helps publicize the need for blood donations and for increasing numbers of donors.
Emergency Services
American Red Cross Emergency Services assists area residents to prevent and prepare for emergencies through educational presentations and disaster related classes. It provides short term immediate response to area disaster victims with food, clothing and shelter. Through a worldwide communication network, it can transmit emergency messages between family members and armed services members as well as between family members in times of disaster.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Portage County works to improve the lives of children from predominantly single-parent families. They match children (ages 6-17) in one of four match combinations:
Big Brother/Little Brother
Big Sister/Little Sister
Married Couple/Little Brother
Cross gender matches (Big Sister/Little Brother)
Volunteers and children are professionally screened and matched with a child based on common interests, personalities, preferences and special needs of the child. The adults serve as the child's friend, mentor and companion.
The organization also provides a monthly newsletter, group activities, and consistent casework support for each match.
School Based Mentoring
School based mentoring is a program that seeks to avoid transportation and volunteer barriers while collaborating with school systems to help meet educational needs of children served by BBBS. Matched volunteers and children meet at the child’s school for friendship and mentoring activities. This program operates match programs in many elementary schools and in the junior high.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PORTAGE COUNTY, INC. (Pending Membership)
Boys & Girls Club offers clubhouses in central Stevens Point, Junction City, Amherst and Plover offering informal programming for children generally between upper elementary through early high school age, with some variation among club sites. Programming provides youth development and guidance in five core areas: character and leadership development; arts; sports, fitness and recreation; health and life skills; and education and career development; delivered in a safe and friendly location staffed by caring adult professionals. The clubs are open after school and during the summer, a $10 annual membership fee is charged.
Boy Scouts provide Portage County youth with three comprehensive youth development programs in order to develop character, citizenship, and mental and physical fitness: 1) In Cub Scouting, boys ages 6 to 10 take part in a home and family oriented program. 2) In Boy Scouting, boys ages 11 to 18 take part in vigorous outdoor activities. 3) In Venturing, young women and men ages 14 to 20 develop self-confidence and skills for serving others.
The Family Crisis Center operates 24-hour crisis counseling and shelter to the victims of domestic violence in Portage County. The Center offers support groups to help families plan long-term strategies to eliminate the violence and its causes. The Center also provides short-term crisis intervention and a shelter for runaway youth and youths in crisis.
Ministry Dental Center
c/o CAP Services, Karl Pnazek, President and CEO
Phone:
Fax:
(715) 343-7500
Director: Cherrie Marti
Ministry Dental Center, located at 3504 Maria Dr. in Stevens Point, is a dental clinic designed to serve patients with Badgercare or Medicaid health coverage. Because reimbursement rates for Medicaid and Badgercare are substantially lower than prevailing fees charged by dentists, low income persons often have great difficulty accessing dental care. This results in a high proportion of severe oral health problems in this population. This clinic has two FTE dentists and 2 dental hygienists. The Center provides services to Medicaid and Badgercare recipients who reside in Portage, Wood, Southern Marathon and western Waupaca counties. The Center currently has a one year waiting list for appointments. The clinic is operated by Ministry Health Care, and is a cooperative partnership of Ministry Health Care, CAP Services, Inc. and Delta Dental of Wisconsin.
The Refugee Project works to identify ongoing needs of the Hmong community; educate the community about Hmong history and culture; educate the Hmong about American culture and values to assist in their integration into the community including assistance with obtaining citizenship; and to provide 24 hour interpretation services to area agencies. The Project also provides programming to strengthen Hmong families through education, prevention training, and intervention services aimed at reducing domestic violence.
Skills Enhancement
1608 West River Drive
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Phone:
Fax:
(715) 343-7100
(715) 343-7175
Coordinator: Mary Patoka
Direct Phone:
(715) 343-7104
This project is designed to provide part-time educational and skills training opportunities for individuals working in low-wage jobs. The goal of the program is wage and career advancement above the poverty level. Participants are encouraged to take one or two classes a semester that increase their vocational skills. Financial assistance is available for tuition, books, child care and transportation.
Children's Service Society of Wisconsin’s Child and Family Counseling Program provides counseling services to all residents of Portage County on a sliding fee basis. Individual counseling is available for help with academic or behavioral school problems, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, problems due to divorce or separation, parent-child conflicts, and physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. The Bereaved Parents Support Group meets the third Monday of each month. Services are available in English and Spanish.
Community Industries Corporation offers services to enhance opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community life as valued workers, neighbors and family members.
Respite
The Respite Program provides coordination of the process to recruit, screen and train respite care providers for families of developmentally disabled household members. Respite care providers provide care and companionship within the home to provide relief to family members providing regular care. The program is flexible to meet the needs of individual families.
Supported Employment
Supported Employment Program helps Portage County residents with a disability find secure jobs in stimulating and integrated work environments that may allow opportunity for advancement, better wages and benefits. Participants work with job coaches to determine work interests, identify job supports needed, explore job options and even try out certain jobs. Families or caregivers may give information to help set job goals. A job search is initiated, and when a participant is hired in a local business, assistance is provided to employee and employer to make the job a success.
Adult Day Services
Adult Day Services helps people with moderate to severe disabilities develop adult routines, interact with community members, participate in activities and events within the community, hold part time jobs and volunteer. The program activities reduce isolation of participants, provide respite to caregivers, and allow the community at large to interact with this special group of people.
EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST WISCONSIN
Epilepsy education and awareness provides both public and professional education to aid recognition of different types of seizures, appropriate seizure first aid, epilepsy treatment options, and promotion of greater understanding and acceptance of persons with this condition. Educational opportunities include K-12 classroom programs, and annual Conference on Advances in Epilepsy Treatment, a quarterly newsletter, and a comprehensive lending library of print and audio/visual materials.
Direct Client Services
Direct client services promote health, independence and opportunity for children and adults with seizure disorders to improve self sufficiency and quality of life. Case management, support groups, and information and referral are some of the ways Direct Client Services achieves its aims.
FAMILY CONNECTIONS IN PORTAGE COUNTY, INC.
(previously Mental Health Association)
Parent to Parent is a family mentoring program that recognizes that every parent needs and deserves support in the very difficult, yet rewarding job of raising children. Through this program, parents of children (newborns to 5 years of age) are matched with volunteers who provide encouragement, support, tips on parenting, and information on everything from nutrition and health needs to discipline, and community resources.
The Family Resource Center (FRC) is a family focused organization that provides child centered activities, resources, education and support for all families in Portage County. The FRCs build on family strengths to promote stable and healthy families. The FRCs offer weekly playgroups, single-session workshops and multi-session parenting classes, family fun events, a warmline and a lending library of books, tapes, games, videos and equipment. All of the programs are free of charge with child care if needed.
Girl Scouting systematically prepares girls to become leaders of their own lives, and in our communities, through research and learning theory-based programs designed specifically for girls. Includes Daisy Girl Scouts (age 5), Brownies (ages 6-8), Juniors (ages 9-11), Cadettes (ages 12-14), and Seniors (ages 15-17). Programs give girls opportunities to improve their physical and emotional/mental well-being, while acquiring valuable knowledge and life skills in careers, science & technology, the arts, sports & recreation, the outdoors, and more.
INTERFAITH VOLUNTEER CAREGIVERS OF PORTAGE COUNTY
1100 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 301 Stevens Point, WI 54481
Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers (IVC) is a faith-based organization whose volunteers put their faith into action by offering a variety of services to all Portage County residents who have a need and have no other support system available. Services include transportation, grocery shopping/errands, friendly visiting and companionship, letter writing, reading, newspaper on tape, and a senior home repair program. In addition, IVC volunteers perform minor repairs in seniors' homes for Portage County residents 62 years of age and over.
Meals on Wheels provides home-delivered meals to the homebound frail, chronically ill, convalescent elderly, or disabled persons in Stevens Point. Monday through Friday, volunteers deliver hot noon meals which are prepared at area health care institutions. Special diets are available with a physician’s order.
Other services provided by the staff include nutrition education, assessment visits, and referrals to other agencies as needed.
The Child Passenger Safety Association ensures the right of every child to protection from injury or death while being transported in a motor vehicle. They provide education programs on car seat and seat belt safety. In addition to the car seat rental program, they offer specialized car seats for infants and toddlers with disabling conditions. They also have information on bicycle helmets and other child safety concerns.
The Literacy Council offers free, confidential one-to-one tutoring to adults who need help with reading, writing, and basic math skills, or English as a second language. Tutors are volunteers between the ages of 16 and 80. Tutor training, teaching materials and monitoring/supervision are provided . Tutor/learner matches take into account: tutor skills, learner needs and scheduling challenges. Tutors and learners meet about 2 hours per week in pubic places at mutually agreed upon times. Eight week blocks of beginning and intermediate English language classes with childcare are also offered in the spring and fall (check for times and locations). The Literacy Council cooperates with Midstate Technical College, Portage County Library, and many other agencies.
The Salvation Army is a national religious and charitable organization whose primary focus of services is to aid low income people. In Stevens Point the Salvation Army Hope Center assists needy families and individuals with shelter, food, clothing and other emergency needs.
The Volunteer Center of Portage County acts as a central referral source, recruiting and screening volunteers for placement in agencies throughout the county. In addition to matching volunteers with organizations and individual need, the Volunteer Center coordinates annual projects such as Make a Difference Day and Project Fresh Start. The Center also works with local businesses, schools and community organizations to promote the value of giving through service.
The purpose of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all people. United Way funds four specific YMCA programs:
Scholarship Assistance:
This program allows at-risk youth and adults from low income households to join the YMCA on a sliding scale fee basis. This program supports families in hardship situations. No one is turned away from the YMCA due to inability to pay the fees.
Special Populations
The YMCA offers Special Populations programs to people with varying disabilities. Special Olympics sports, swimming lessons, exercise programs, and more. An inclusion philosophy is utilized whenever possible.
Youth & Teen Program
A variety of programs for teens are offered. Teens can participate without being a YMCA member. The popular Saturday night Y program is open to teens every Saturday night throughout the school year at the YMCA facility from 7 to 11 p.m. Youth in Government, Teen Leader Club, Youth Activity Center and Teen Adventure programming are other programs offered.
Child Care Youth Scholarship Program
Scholarship funds are awarded on a sliding scale fee basis to low income and at risk families participating in before and after school child care, preschool programs, and summer adventure programs so they benefit from quality, affordable and accessible child care.
