BLUE WATER CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING INC
1042 GRISWOLD STREET, PORT HURON, MI 48060 www.bwcil.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: INDEPENDENT LIVING IS THE RIGHT OF ALL PEOPLE TO MAKE INFORMED CHOICES, TO HAVE PERSIONAL CONTROL OVER THEIR OWN LIVES, AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES OF WORK, SCHOOL, HOME, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY. BWCIL IS A NON-PROFIT, CONSUMER-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT ADVOCATES, INFORMS, AND SUPPORTS PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. BWCIL IS RUN BY AND FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FIVE COUNTIES OF MICHIGAN'S THUMB.

PROJECT HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) 258 VETERAN FAMILIES RECEIVED CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES THROUGH THE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES GRANT. OF THOSE, 160 WERE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE TEMPORARY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (TFA), 79 RECEIVED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN A HOME OF THEIR OWN, 81 RECEIVED TFA TO MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT HOUSING. THERE WERE 159 FAMILIES THAT WERE SCREENED BUT NOT ENROLLED INTO THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT MEET ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (FOR EXAMPLE, OWNED THEIR HOME, INCOME WAS TOO HIGH, OR WERE NOT EXPERIENCING A HOUSING CRISIS). YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED (YOU) PROGRAM BWCILS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED (YOU) PROGRAM PROVIDES GED TUTORING, FUNDING FOR STUDENTS TESTS, AS WELL AS PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT, POSTSECONDARY, AND TRAINING SERVICES TO YOUTH AGED 16 24. ONE PARTICULAR YOUTH WORKED VERY HARD TO INCREASE HER SKILLS AND ATTAIN HER GED. AFTER COMPLETING HER GED, BWCIL WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR HER TO BECOME A CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT (CNA), INCLUDING SCRUBS, SHOES, AND OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING. SHE RECEIVED A JOB OFFER AT REGENCY ON THE LAKE IN FORT GRATIOT UPON COMPLETION. TRANSITION PROGRAM: BWCIL WORKS WITH STUDENTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF VITAL INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS REQUIRED TO TRANSITION INTO LIFE AFTER HIGH-SCHOOL. DURING A SESSION I FACILITATED ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, A STUDENT EXPLAINED THAT SHE WAS LOOKING INTO ATTENDING SAINT CLAIR COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN FALL. WE DISCUSSED THE APPLICATION PROCESS, FASFA, LOANS, AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING COLLEGE. SHE TOOK THE PAPER APPLICATION HOME TO COMPLETE WITH HER FAMILY. AT THE END OF OUR CLASSES, SHE INFORMED ME THAT SHE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE SCHOOL AND IS PLANNING TO ATTEND IN FALL. EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR : BWCIL WORKS WITH ADULT CONSUMERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOFT SKILLS/EMPLOYMENT READINESS SKILLS. WITH ONE OF MY CONSUMERS, WE CREATED A PROFESSIONAL RESUME FOR HER TO DISTRIBUTE TO EMPLOYERS, AN ACCOUNT ON INDEED.COM, AND APPLIED TO MANY JOBS TOGETHER IN THE OFFICE. WE DISCUSSED THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS IN AN INTERVIEW, COMMUNICATION, BUDGETING, AND BEHAVIOR IN THE WORKPLACE. UPON COMPLETION OF OUR SERVICES, SHE DID AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB WITH A MOCK INTERVIEW. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER COMPETING SERVICES, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW SHE WAS CALLED BACK FOR AN INTERVIEW FOR A CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITION. BWCIL WORKS WITH ADULT CONSUMERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOFT SKILLS/EMPLOYMENT READINESS SKILLS. ONE CONSUMER WAS AUTHORIZED TO WORK ON SOFT SKILLS; INCLUDING CONFLICT RESOLUTION, COPING MECHANISMS IN TIMES OF STRESS, GOAL-SETTING, AND BEHAVIOR IN THE WORKPLACE. WE MET SEVERAL TIMES TO DISCUSS AND WORK ON THESE TOPICS. TOGETHER, WE WORKED ON HOW TO ACT IN THE WORKPLACE WHEN UNDER STRESSFUL SITUATIONS. I CREATED FLASHCARDS FOR HIM WITH SCENARIOS THAT MAY OCCUR IN THE FIELD OF RETAIL, AND TOGETHER WE DISCUSSED POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. WE RECITED THESE SCENARIOS/RESPONSES MULTIPLE TIMES UNTIL HE FELT COMFORTABLE. IN ADDITION, WE DISCUSSED DIFFERENT COPING SKILLS HE COULD USE WHEN AT HOME. HE DISCOVERED THAT BREATHING EXERCISES MAY BE HELPFUL FOR HIM. UPON COMPLETION OF ALL OF OUR SERVICES, HIS GRANDMOTHER (WHO ATTENDED THE FIRST APPOINTMENT, TOO) CAME IN FOR AN EVALUATION WITH ME AND SAID SHE HAS SEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN HIS ATTITUDE AND BEHAVIOR

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