Webster's Dictionary defines community as "ownership or participation in common." But what about those who don't have ownership or can't participate? Community SOS is an online magazine that explores social service issues in south central Indiana and examines how local efforts respond to them.
Therapy dogs part of a growing trend
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Whether it's relying on dogs to open a channel of conversation or to allow young readers the chance to read to a canine pal, the dog and human interaction process is getting a new "leash" on life in Bloomington. Reporter Kara Lasher looks at Very Important Paws, a Monroe County Humane Association program dedicated to the idea that dogs can support all kinds of therapies.
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Manufacturing job losses in south central Indiana resulted in displaced workers, many of whom had no skills or training to pursue other jobs. A network of several organizations is set to help those people identify job goals and develop skills to qualify for them. Katie Sims explores the HIRE program.
Agencies vie for shrinking funds
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Non-profit agencies and low-income neighborhoods in Bloomington increasingly rely on the funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the city’s Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND). Yet, the slice of the federal money pie available is getting smaller by the year. Jessica Gall explains the situation.
Escaping welfare still packed with hurdles
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Ten years after federal welfare reforms focused on moving people from welfare to work, some people face barriers that make it difficult to get and keep a job, according to a 2006 report from the University of Chicago. Reporter Kit Newkirk describes the challenges recipients and program administrators are dealing with in the Bloomington area.
Learning English critical for new students
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In Monroe County Community School Corporation, the number of limited English students has increased from 78 in 1992 to 353 in 2005. Since 1998, the number of LEP students statewide has more than tripled, according to the Indiana Department of Education. Reporter Amy Paul looks at the challenges for students and their teachers.
2-1-1 offers new call for help
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The United Way of Monroe County partnered with the Area 10 Agency on Aging to bring 2-1-1, a telephone information and referral system connecting those in need to social service agencies, to Monroe and Owen Counties. A free call from any phone, 2-1-1 links callers to live operators 24 hours a day who have access to databases of agencies’ services, locations, hours and contact information. Reporter Jennifer Salts shows how the program works and the agencies' ideas about how it will affect their services.
CPR means reading rescue for second graders
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To most, CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure that is performed when a person's breathing or heartbeat has stopped. However, this CPR is different for Monroe County students. CPR stands for Community Partners in Reading. Reporter Lauren Williams tells about this program through MCCSC’s Elementary Education system that helps second-grade students who struggle with their reading skills.
SCCAP tries to recover from turmoil
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Reporter Ryan Cole examines what happens when a social service agency experiences internal dissention. For over 40 years, SCCAP has provided assistance to low income residents of Monroe County. However, changes in the organization’s leadership and priorities have stood this local social service provider on its head and divided its current and former staff, leadership and clients.
Jill's House groundbreaking marks end of long campaign
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After several years of planning and fundraising, supporters broke ground in November for Jill’s House, a facility that will house out-of-town cancer patients seeking treatment at the Midwest Proton Radiotherapy Institute in Bloomington. The memory of Jill Behrman, a19 year-old IU student murdered in May 2000, and Steve Howard, son of Peg and Bud Howard who died of cancer at 19, has been the heart of this mission since it began in 2001. Reporter Tom Fecarotta looks into the long process and what it will mean to patients.
College students represent volunteer force
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Is it better for 1,000 people to volunteer one hour or for 50 people to volunteer 20 hours? College students comprise a significant number of volunteers in the United States, but many participate in "episodic volunteering" and don't sign on for the longterm. Reporter Ken Kingery examines what this means for Bloomington's social service agencies and how it affects student volunteers.
Shalom Center faces burdens as cold temperatures arrive
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As the temperatures continue to drop, many social service agencies across Indiana are feeling the pinch. Local community centers are no exception. With the winter season now well under way, the Shalom Community Center faces new obstacles. Reporter Jessica Moman describes how the center, one of Bloomington's heavily used shelters, is preparing for winter.
