Community Social Workers

Neighbor to Neighbor's Community Social Workers provide supportive services to participants who are facing a multitude of barriers that keep them from reaching family stability.

In addition, Community Social Workers provide short-term crisis intervention and ongoing case management upon referral from school districts and workforce centers.

As needed, services will be provided in the following areas:

• assessment of strengths and weaknesses
• identification of resources for housing,transportation, childcare, food and clothing
• budgeting and other life management skills
• parenting skills and family relationships
• health care services including mental health

The Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative and community foundations provide funding for the Community Social Workers program

Employment Support Program

Neighbor to Neighbor's Employment Program provides community social services to persons in suburban Ramsey County.

Our customers are jobseekers, persons who are looking for a better job and those who are seeking a healthy personal and family life. Neighbor to Neighbor staff at the Work Resource Hubs provide crisis intervention, counseling, and resource connections. The Coordinator, Customer Service Facilitator and Community Social Workers work on a team with government and non-government services to provide seamless and comprehensive services.

The community social worker may provide support and guidance in the following areas:

• assessment of strengths and possible barriers
• assistance with searching for housing, transportation, and childcare
• budgeting
• parenting skills and family relationships
• accessing food and clothing
• access to resources for job readiness

Services offered at the Work Resource Hub at Fairview Community Center include:

• Connections meetings by Women Achieving New Directions
• Workshops on topics such as: Career Decision-Making Parenting in Times of Change Meet the Employer Job Search on the Internet
• Car Care Saturday
• Workshops by SMRLS (Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services)

For further information, please call the Directory of Family Programs at: (651) 407-0990, Ext. 216.

Funded by: The Community Employment Partnership and community donations.

Family Connections Program

The Family Connections Program provides intensive counseling and life management training to strengthen families and to prevent the abuse and neglect of children.

Life management training refers to skills which enable parents to better cope with day-to-day living.

To enable parents to better cope, training is provided in the following areas:

• Finance and budgeting
• Communication skills
• Health and nutrition
• Child development
• Conflict resolution

A licensed social worker visits families weekly and additional meetings are held with the child protection workers.

Funding for the Family Connections Program is provided through Ramsey County and the United Way.

Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative

The purpose of the Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative is to serve children by improving the formal and informal support systems they rely on for wellness, learning, safety, and security. Collaborative members work to meet the needs of children and families in the community and make changes within the service system and community to better meet those needs.

The Collaborative is composed of people from public and private social services, education, local government, and community residents. Funding the development of programs which enhance the goals of the collaborative are dispensed by the Joint Powers Board based on meeting established criteria. As a supportive member of this collaborative. Neighbor to Neighbor works with others in the community to bring about the goals the collaborative.

For further information about the collaborative, please call the Director of Family Porgrams at (651) 407-0990, Ext. 216 or (651) 604-3517.