THAT IDENTIFIES NEEDS AND PROVIDES FREE ON-SITE SERVICES, Jenni - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE CCCDC IS A PARTNERSHIP OF MULTIPLE AGENCIES AND CHURCHES THAT IDENTIFIES NEEDS AND PROVIDES FREE ON-SITE SERVICES, REFERRALS AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE THE TOTAL WELL-BEING OF THE HOMELESS, VULNERABLE, AND DESTITUTE.

Jenni Irwin and Jamie Hill

OVERVIEW OF CHEROKEE COUNTY

Fun Facts

• Largest county in square miles in

NC

• 27,178 residents
• 2 hours from anywhere
• Can get to a Florida beach

faster than our own

• Only 5 miles from Murphy we

have the Possum Drop – happens on New Years – PETA sued

• Eric Rudolph – Olympic park

bomber is from Murphy and was caught here – one of his hideouts was overlooking the High School

• The Cherokee County Sheriff’s

Office reports that in 3 years, 7,444 people have been arrested and charged with 3,814 misdemeanors and 1,774 felonies, so nearly 1/3 of the population is involved with the Criminal Justice System.

• The Cherokee County DSS tells us

that 95% of kids in foster care are placed as a result of drug abuse.

• 59.3% of grandparents are raising

their grandchildren

• Just over 65% of total students

receive a free/reduced lunch, with some campuses experiencing over 90%.

• CDC identified us as in the top 5 in

NC for an HIV outbreak

• In 2017 President Trump, reiterated

the CDCs findings in declaring Cherokee County, NC has the “worst drug problem” in North Carolina.

• The NC Injury and Violence

Prevention Branch reports that from 1999-2016, the annual drug deaths show a rate of 40.9 (per 100,000 residents), which is nearly three times the state rate.

NOT SO FUN FACTS

• Sheriff led – Sheriff’s Story
• Vision - One stop shop, provide participants with a sense of worth, showers,

meals, services

• Non-judgemental support
• Reach homeless, tent-city
• Provide resources
• Eager volunteers

Reason for Action: We will see a decrease in hep C cases because of increase of treatment and services, decrease in criminal behavior because the participant is getting resources, decrease in hospitalizations/emergency room visits due to increase of treatment and services in the day use program, and hopefully in the long run an increase in further/long term substance use treatment for the participant.

WHY START A COMMUNITY DAY CENTER

1ST MONTH – WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE

❖ Focus was data collection ❖ Open 2 days – Mondays and Wednesday ❖ Churches provided meals ❖ Showers being used ❖ Many people donated to church ❖ Church added dispensers

Successes of 1st Month

• 1. Hep C testing
• 2. NC works – employment
• 3. Spoke with and reached around 10 people

a day

• 4. 4 came in for showers

Measures of Success:

• 1. Volunteer hours
• 2. Services participants would be interested in

for future expansion

• 3. # of people that receive a meal/Shower
• 4. # of people who used the services

(Agencies create a tally and provide to coordinator)

❑Not reaching homeless ❑Mostly senior citizens and individuals that have exhausted other services ❑Church members - not happy ❑Lack of volunteers

After 3 months – we noticed…..

MORPHED AKA RE- EVALUATED

Where are we Now?

Kimberly Ivie Craig was arrested for POSSESS METHAMPHETAMINE, MAINTAIN PLACE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, and POSSESS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. Craig was placed on a $10,000.00 unsecure bond and has a January 27th, 2016 Cherokee County District Court date. “Just a kind and gentle warning to all the other motorists and pedestrians that might be on the road.. guess who is a fully insured licensed driver? Uh-huh.. that's right.” – Kim Ivie

• A. Referral system – detainees and agency referrals (Reach, MPD, Appalachian

Counseling, etc)

• B. Journey Fellowship – opening AGAIN in September – Wednesdays – serving walk-

ins, and referrals from other agencies, meal available, wrap arounds services, showers available at Murphy First, assistance with laundry

• C. Sit down with Day center

representative and begin referral process

Pastor Pat Garrett and family