Where does the time go?
Five years ago, Community of Hope opened our doors at The Commons at Stanton Square and joined a collaborative effort with the Horning Family Foundation and Martha’s Table to ensure a place where children and families thrive. As we look back at our time in the Fort Stanton neighborhood, we see how our efforts collide to build happier and healthier communities. We have developed a comprehensive range of programs to support families in the neighborhood including:
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The Baby and Me program is a neighborhood-based approach to providing connection to care coordination, healthcare, resources, and community to pregnant parents and infants.
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Homelessness prevention interventions in a community with one of the highest rates of families accessing the homelessness services system.
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Long-term stability and case management for 13 families living at the Trio apartments, next door to the campus. Read Sherri, a Trio resident’s story here.
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Emotional wellness counseling for children and families in our beautiful and calm counseling rooms.
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Integrated school-based emotional wellness services at nearby Ketcham and Moten elementary schools.
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Collaboration with Martha’s Table for easy access to food resources and other services outside of Community of Hope for our patients and clients.
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On-site, monthly well-child checks for children at Martha’s Table’s learning center provided by a Community of Hope nurse practitioner.
Voices from The Commons:
“Being connected helped me change my life and provide better for my sons. My PCC (perinatal care coordinator) helped me get into a new place with a backyard. Even when my baby wasn’t gaining weight, she went to all my pediatrician visits and was there with us through it all,” says Kirsten Williams, mom of 5 and Baby and Me participant.
“One of the major components of Homelessness Prevention is being able to connect families to needed resources, such as emotional wellness, educational resources, and food. Having our program at The Commons has been extremely convenient for our clients because they are able to easily access the resources that are also available at Martha’s Table such as has clothing and food resources,” says, Stephanie Hawthorne, Director of Homelessness Prevention Program.
“Mental health disorders in children are more common than we might think! The CDC estimates that 20 million American children, or approximately 1 in 5 kids, suffers from an emotional, behavioral, or mental health disorder. Unfortunately, the CDC also estimates that only 20% of these children receive treatment. It’s important that we work together to break down the barriers that prevent our children from receiving the help they need, and providing access to mental health services in schools is a great place to start!” says Jim Voelzke, Associate Director of Pediatric Emotional Wellness.
“The Commons has been a place where Community of Hope can go deep in a multi-level partnership and be flexible to the community’s needs, the pandemic, and whatever comes. We are grateful for this beautiful place that is a hub of many of our other key services in Ward 8,” says Kelly Sweeney McShane, President and CEO.
