Needs From: Volunteer East Tennessee

Catholic Charities of East TN has different programs that help people of all ages who may have a need for personal items. Our Children's Emergency Shelter (CES) is a safe haven for children removed from the home and awaiting long-term placement. Samaritan's Place provides shelter and emergency shelter to seniors who are experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. Columbus Home Assisting Parents (CHAP) provides home-based education and support services for crisis intervention, parenting skills, and case management. 

Contact person: Kelsee Gomillion, kgomillion@ccetn.org, 865-963-4720

Donations welcome:

Virtual Client Advocate/Mentor:  Advocate can set their own schedule.  Using the Bright Course Program, you will send lessons to clients, either to their phone or computer.  The Advocate can set a time with the client to call and review the lesson and discuss practical applications of the new skills. Clients can complete prenatal and parenting classes and receive a call from the Advocate once a week.  Clients will earn Baby Bucks so that they can shop in the baby store.  Clients can purchase items to be sent to their home or come into the baby store to shop. Advocate will enter case notes and lesson participation into a database after each call.

**Bilingual is helpful**

Center Client Advocate/Mentor:  Work one-on-one with clients.  Training for client is based on Bright Course Program.  Schedule a time for client to enroll in program, after enrolled, classes are scheduled based on client need.  For example, videos on pregnancy, parenting, life skills, etc.  After each class, lesson is reviewed with client and discussion of practical applications of the new skills in the client's life situation.  Clients earn Baby Bucks to enable them to shop in the baby store.  Clients can complete classes once a week.

*Bilingual volunteers would be an amazing addition for our clients*

Center Helper:  

     Organize donations, re-stock baby store, and occasionally help a client shop in the store

     General Office work; greeting clients, paperwork filing, and assisting with special projects

Data Entry Volunteer:  Pregnancy Help Center keeps all client information on a database.  Volunteers are needed to enter information for each client visit, class completed, baby bucks earned, and client needs.  

Volunteer can work from home or in the center

Columbus Home Assisting Parents (C.H.A.P.) is a home-based parent education and support service that provides parenting education, crisis intervention, and case management for families that are experiencing life stressors that impact parenting abilities. C.H.A.P. services are provided free of charge to parents.  By working to increase parents’ skills and coping abilities, the goal of C.H.A.P. is to ensure the safety and well-being of children in the home.

Additionally, the C.H.A.P. caseworker assists families in locating and utilizing other services in the community with the goal of empowering the family so that they can recognize issues as they arise and find their own positive solutions. Individuals and agencies are encouraged to share CHAP’s information with families but as services are considered voluntary, the family must self-refer.

Duration of services varies, based on the family's specific needs, but usually lasts between three and six months.
In operation since 1985, C.H.A.P. is funded in part by the state and is a licensed child abuse prevention agency. Services are provided at no cost to families, and the program operates under the auspices of Title VI.

Volunteer need: assist clients with transporting furniture on an as needed basis.  Many clients do not have access to a truck and are unable to carry furniture without assistance.

Samaritan Place provides shelter and support for seniors in crisis. It is one of a handful of such programs in the United States where a complete continuum of care from emergency to independent housing, is offered for this population. Because homelessness issues are different for seniors than for their younger counterparts, Samaritan Place provides not only shelter and nourishment, but intensive case management focused on that population’s unique needs.

Samaritan Place offers emergency,  transitional, and permanent housing services, which allow the guest and his/her case worker the time needed for appropriate evaluation and arrangement of the best possible living situation and supportive services. Through our permanent supportive housing program, we are able to offer housing to some seniors who would not be able to maintain independent housing without some additional supports.
 
Samaritan Place focuses on the core outcomes of increased control, decreased vulnerability, access to resources, and an improved support network. Our overarching goal is to help ensure that each guest is able to live in the most independent environment possible that still ensures his or her safety.

Seniors come to Samaritan Place through traditional homeless shelters, hospitals, Adult Protective Services, and other community resources. Basic eligibility criteria are: age 60 and older; not a threat to self or others; ambulatory; and able to manage daily activities with minimal assistance.

Volunteer needs: Share your talents - play an instrument, sing, magic tricks; Put on an event - Luau, Prom night, bingo/games, movie night, be creative and share your event; Direct care support - laundry, kitchen prep, cleaning; Companions - just listen, talk, share memories, be there.

Columbus Home Children’s Shelter and Assessment Center (CESAC) provides 24 hour/365 days per year shelter for children from birth to 17 years of age who have been removed from the home by authorities due to allegations of abuse, neglect or other endangerment.  Duration of stay may be as long as 10 days. Children receive safe, loving care while authorities work to place them with appropriate kin or in foster care.

Volunteers are needed to interact, care for and provide activities to engage the children.  There are requirements that must be met to be able to work with the children.