Help When No Other Option Exists - with Yamhill County Service Integration Teams

Episode originally published on 3/15/2023

What do you do when you need some help but you've run out of options? The Service Integration Teams (SITs) website explains it best:

Sometimes people need a little extra help paying rent, or help with a heat bill in a cold winter month. An urgent prescription or medical bill can derail a budget. The SITs can address issues like an urgent prescription or medical bill. They also help local food banks and other local non-profits when there are not enough supplies like personal hygiene products, clothing and toiletries.

Needs are varied and unique for each community

Each community might need something different or unique. SITs review requests when no other options are available, or when the full expense can’t be covered. Requests typically average no more than $300. Funds are for a one-time crisis in one of the following categories:

• Basic Needs: Food, clothing and personal items

• Community Development: Community events and activities

• Education: Classes, tuition, fees, literacy programs for adults or children

• Extra-Curricular: Fees, materials or clothing needed to participate in extracurricular activity

• Health: Prescriptions, co-pays, rides to medical and dental appointments, etc.

• Supplies: Goods or equipment to carry out activities or programs

• Urgent Needs: Emergency housing or utility assistance

• Youth Development: Leadership/learning opportunities not part of regular school programs

  Source: https://yamhillcco.org/community-programs/service-integration-teams/

This episode is brought to you by The Joyful Roberts Group, a local family-run real estate team led by Daniel Roberts. To learn more about the Living in Newberg YouTube Channel, click the link above.

Supporting at-risk Families - with A Family Place

By the time a child is 5 years old, their brain is nearly 80% developed. A Family Place works with families to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children to grow up and have healthy brain development.

There are so many ways A Family Place supports families in our community and this episode shares several stories of families whose lives have been forever changed by this organization.

Links mentioned in episode:

Meet Will & Geneva

https://www.familyplacerelief.org/

Episode originally published on 3/1/2022

Helping Community Members Become Self-Sufficient - with YCAP

Laverne Pitts, Development Director at YCAP, shares how Yamhill Community Action Partnership is helping people in need become sulf-sufficient.

Helping Communities Thrive - with United Way

Liz Schrader, Chief Development Officer for United Way of the Mid-Willamette Valley, shares about United Way’s mission to unite people and communities with resources so they have opportunities to thrive. She also shares how United Way is getting involved in Newberg and Yamhill county and what that might look like in the coming year.

Creating Successful Communities - with Chehalem Park and Recreation District

Don Clements, superintendent of Chehalem Park and Recreation District (CPRD), shares how CPRD has used social capital to help Newberg be a successful community.

What makes CPRD so great and what is the impact they have had on our community? Tune in to hear about past and upcoming projects, CPRD’s mission, and the crucial role CPRD plays in helping children become contributing members of society.

How Newberg Schools are Making Education Relevant - with Joe Morelock

A week before Dr Joe Morelock was fired by the Newberg School board, he shared some of the successes and challenges faced by Newberg Schools, as well as hope for the future.

While there is endless controversy surrounding Newberg’s School District, Joe notes that this is a distraction from all of the good things happening in each school. In this episode Joe shares about how the teachers and staff stepped up to the plate during the pandemic, how students are coping and recovering, his vision for the future of education, and many other topics.

Please leave your thoughts and comments below!

Supporting a Thriving Business Community—With Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce

What is the role of a Chamber of Commerce in helping a business community thrive? In this episode, Executive Director Scott Parker shares how he plans to lead the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce in serving the businesses in our community.

In August 2021, the Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce welcomed Scott Parker as its new Executive Director. Scott brings years of nonprofit experience and business collaboration to his new role and is excited to serve our city. He was a much-loved personality (https://www.notclowns.com/scott-parker) in his previous city and is quickly becoming a beloved member of Newberg as well.

Compassionate Justice through Community Court—with Judge Larry Blake

Judge Larry Blake shares how Community Court transforms lives by connecting certain individuals who have committed minor crimes with service organizations rather than issuing fines or jail time.

From City of Newberg’s Website:

The City of Newberg, the Newberg Municipal Court, and the Newberg-Dundee Police Department in partnership with local non-profits, is launching a new program to offer non-criminal resolutions to community members facing charges. This new program provides help to low-level offenders who struggle with housing, mental health problems, and addiction while matching participants up with resources from local non-profit agencies.

In line with the Newberg City Council’s goal to improve customer service and improve access to equitable resources, the new program aims to improve the quality of life of participants as well as the residents of Newberg. Participants who successfully complete the program will have their criminal charge dismissed and outstanding fines reduced or waived. Individuals will only be eligible if their offense was non-violent, committed within the City of Newberg, and they do not have a violent criminal history. Every participant will be asked to complete an assessment and will be given a court case plan that includes providers that participants can access for different resources. Resource providers concentrate on housing, drug/alcohol treatment, health care, mental health, and food and essential resources, while also providing a connection for veteran services, education, identification, and transportation. 

The Community Court system has been successful in other communities in Oregon including Eugene and Sweet Home. Municipal Court Judge Larry Blake was instrumental in creating a community court in Sweet Home and wants to replicate this success in Newberg. Judge Larry Blake said of the Community Court program, “I believe the citizens of Newberg would be better served by providing services to some individuals appearing before the court rather than pursuing criminal sanctions. Individuals with mental health issues, drug and alcohol issues, and housing issues will appear in Community Court and have providers in court to assist them in accessing services that will serve them in the future. The goal of Community Court is to dismiss minor criminal charges and waive fees & fines for individuals that are struggling to survive in today’s environment.

https://www.newbergoregon.gov/finance/page/newberg-community-court-program-offers-non-criminal-resolutions

A Different Approach to Fighting Poverty - with Love INC

Yvette Heryford, Executive Director of Newberg’s Love INC, shares how Love INC mobilizes local churches to care for our city.

Love in the name of Christ. This is what Love INC is all about. In a time where talk is cheap, Love INC is on a mission to help churches become what Jesus originally intended them to be. While many organizations focus just on tangible needs, Love INC recognizes that poverty is primarily a heart issue that goes beyond physical well-being. Yvette shares how this understanding is crucial if we are to truly make a difference.