Thursday’s Child Goals for Fiscal Year 2005-06 (3/1/05 – 2/28/06)

Measuring Agency Effectiveness: Goals & Accomplishments

Ryan White Title 1 funded Programs

1. Housing Assistance:

Program activities: An intake and needs assessment is performed to research the clients’ accessibility to other resources, the urgency of the emergency situation that initiated the request, and the likelihood of the client being able to maintain independent housing. Clients are representative of the HIV/AIDS population throughout Nassau & Suffolk counties; demographic information is kept on file. Under this Program, money is utilized to assist clients with their current months rent if they fall behind; their first months rent if they move to a new residence; and moving expenses for a new residence within Nassau & Suffolk counties.

Fiscal 2005/06 Goal: provide Housing Assistance to 120 individuals.

Actual number of clients served: 158.

Assessment: Thursday’s Child met and exceeded planned objectives for the Housing Assistance Program.

2. Emergency Financial Assistance:

Program activities: An intake and needs assessment is performed to research the clients’ accessibility to other resources, the urgency of the emergency situation that initiated the request, and the likelihood of the client being able to maintain independent housing. Clients are representative of the HIV/AIDS population throughout Nassau & Suffolk counties; demographic information is kept on file. Under this Program, money is utilized to provide emergency payments to avoid disruption of utility services such as electric, heat, and telephone providers; food cards are purchased and distributed to clients so that they may provide fresh, nutritious meals to help maintain their health.

Fiscal 2005/06 Goals: provide Emergency Financial Assistance to 636 individuals (540 food cards; 96 utility assist).

Actual number of clients served: 641 (549 food cards; 92 utility payments).

Assessment: Thursday’s Child met and exceeded overall Program objectives. Utility payments were slightly under expectations, due primarily to an unprecedented increase in the Department of Social Services ‘HEAP’ (Home Energy Assistance Program). The response to changing the food assistance program from vouchers to gift cards was highly praised by clients, as vouchers carry pejorative connotations; gift cards increased client access to fresh foods in a more dignified manner.

3. Personal Hygiene Packages:

Program activities: An intake and needs assessment is performed to research the clients’ accessibility to other resources, the urgency of the emergency situation that initiated the request, and the likelihood of the client being able to maintain independent housing. Clients are representative of the HIV/AIDS population throughout Nassau & Suffolk counties; demographic information is kept on file. Under this very popular Program, money is used to provide clients with personal hygiene packages. As traditional government Programs such as Food Stamps do not allow for these items purchase, Thursday’s Child pre-packages many household items necessary for clients’ personal and home cleanliness with the goal of maintaining health and dignity. Packages include, but are not limited to, items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, paper goods, and laundry items: package size is determined by a pre-set dollar value to spend per package, per person.

Fiscal 2006/06 Goals: Provide 180 personal hygiene packages, valued between $10 & $15 each.

Actual number of packages served: 258.

Assessment: Thursday’s Child far exceeded its expectations for the Personal Hygiene Program. This agency gratefully received extra funding for this Program, allowing for its large expansion.