Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> UP NEXT ON THE FORUM, THE TRAUMA OF CHILD *** ABUSE AND
HOW ONE FORM OF COMMUNICATION IS HELPING SOME VICTIMS SPEAK UP.
>>> APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS ONLINE HAS JUST BECOME A WHOLE
LOT EASIER. >>> AND A FREE ARTS PROGRAM FOR
CHILDREN AND TEENS TO KEEP THEM BUSY AND HAPPY ALL SUMMER LONG.
HUMAN SERVICES FORUM IS COMING RIGHT UP.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com >>> HI, I'M JAN CALLAGHAN.
WELCOME TO THE FORUM. IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO TALK
ABOUT *** ABUSE AND EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
*** ABUSE OF CHILDREN HAPPENS EVERY DAY.
AND WHAT ABOUT THE CHILD? FORENSIC INTERVIEWERS SUCH AS
MICHELE THAMES WITH CHKD'S CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM HAS TALKED
TO MANY CHILD VICTIMS REGARDING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND JOINS US
NOW WITH A SPECIAL COMPANION WHO HELPS HER WITH HER WORK.
WELCOME, MICHELE, TO THE SHOW. I THINK THAT THE WHOLE ISSUE OF
CHILD *** ABUSE IS SO DIFFICULT AND CLEARLY HAVING A
COMPANION HERE IS MAKING IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR US TO TALK.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. >> IT'S GOT TO BE HELPFUL IN
TERMS OF THE CHILD, SO WHO IS YOUR COMPANION HERE?
>> THIS IS PECOS, A FACILITY DOG THAT WORKS AT THE CHILD ABUSE
PROGRAM WITH ME. >> HE LOOKS VERY EXCITED TO BE
HERE. AND PECOS IS A VERY MELLOW DOG
AND HE DOES SERVE A PURPOSE AND THIS WORKS INTO THE WORK YOU DO
WITH CHILDREN, SO AS A FORENSIC INTERVIEWER, YOUR JOB IS TO DO
WHAT? >> AS A FORENSIC INTERVIEWER, I
DO INTERVIEWS ON BEHALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES
WHEN A CHILD ABUSE REPORT IS MADE, SO I TALK TO THE CHILD
WHEN THEY HAVE MADE AN OUTCRY OF ABUSE OR SOMEONE MAY HAVE
WITNESSED ABUSE, ON BEHALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIAL
SERVICES. >> AND CLEARLY A DIFFICULT AND
DELICATE JOB THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE TO PERFORM AND
PECOS CERTAINLY SERVES A VERY IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN THIS
PROCESS. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> FOR A LOT OF KIDS, HE DOES. IT'S A POTENTIALLY SCARY TIME
FOR CHILDREN AND FOR FAMILIES, AND SO THEY ARE NERVOUS ABOUT
COMING AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, AND SO WHEN THEY COME
AND THEY SEE PECOS, IT'S A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT.
HE JUST CHANGES THE WHOLE ENERGY FOR FAMILIES.
>> NOW, I CAN SEE YOU PROBABLY CALM DOWN QUITE A BIT BECAUSE HE
IS VERY, VERY MELLOW, AND IS TRAINED TO BE.
>> YES, YES. >> SO PECOS, YOU�-- HE SAYS I
HEAR MY NAME. DOES HE HELP YOU THROUGHOUT THE
INTERVIEW OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT JUST HELPS TO SET THINGS
UP? >> IT REALLY DEPENDS.
NOT EVERYONE IS A DOG LOVER AND SO I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO
DETERMINE WHICH CHILDREN WOULD BENEFIT FROM PECOS.
I ALWAYS TALK WITH FAMILIES BEFORE THE INTERVIEW AND AT THAT
POINT, I'LL ASK IF THEY THINK THEIR CHILD WOULD BE INTERESTED
IN WORKING WITH PECOS DURING THE INTERVIEW AND THEN I ASK THE
CHILDREN SEPARATELY. I ACTUALLY SHOW THEM A PICTURE
OF HIM BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN ARE AFRAID OF DOGS AND JUST THE
PRESENCE OF A DOG IS SCARY TO THEM, SO I'LL JUST SHOW A
PICTURE AND IF THEY'RE OKAY WITH IT, WE GO BACK AND MEET HIM.
WHEN HE WAS IN THE INTERVIEW WITH CHILDREN, THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT HE DOES. HE LAYS THERE AND SLEEPS WHILE
THEY TALK. HE DOESN'T REALLY ENGAGE OR
DISTRACT CHILDREN, WHICH IS REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE WHEN I'M
TALKING WITH KIDS, I'M GETTING ALL OF THE ELEMENTS OF A CRIME,
SO I NEED THEIR FULL ATTENTION, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE
CHILDREN SO YOU WANT TO MAKE IT A CALM ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM.
>> OKAY. SO PECOS SERVES AS AN
ICE-BREAKER FOR A LOT OF THESE KIDS.
>> A LOT OF KIDS. A LOT OF KIDS LOVE ANIMALS, IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL, SO HE IS REALLY A GOOD
TOPIC FOR US TO TALK ABOUT. THEY WANT TO KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM,
WHAT HE LIKES TO EAT, HOW OLD HE IS, WHERE HE LIVES, AND THEY
LIKE TO TELL ME ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS TOO.
>> GREAT. SO THAT CAN EASE YOU INTO�--
>> ABSOLUTELY. >>�-- ESTABLISHING SOME RAPPORT.
>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY. >> STARTING WITH QUESTIONS IS
NOT ALWAYS A GOOD THING, AND THERE MIGHT BE CHILDREN, TOO,
THAT DON'T REALLY SAY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THE DOG.
THERE'S NO INTERACTION WITH THE KIDS DURING THE INTERVIEW?
>> IT'S BEEN REALLY INTERESTING. I HAD VISIONS OF CHILDREN
HOLDING ON TO HIM AND SPILLING THEIR�-- SPILLING THEIR STORY TO
ME, BUT A LOT OF KIDS ARE VERY ASTUTE WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED AND I'VE NOTICED THAT SOMETIMES THEY WILL REACH OVER
TO PET HIM. AS FAR AS HIM, I'VE NOTICED THAT
WHEN CHILDREN CRY, THAT TENDS TO DO SOMETHING TO HIM AND HE WILL
MOVE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THEM, AND THAT'S HAPPENED TO ME
A COUPLE TIMES. >> YOU HAVE A MEMORABLE MOMENT
WHEN THAT HAS HAPPENED? >> NOT SO MUCH A�-- NOT A SAD
ONE, BUT I HAVE KIND OF A NEAT ONE.
I WAS TALKING WITH A YOUNG CHILD AND THE WAY THAT HE WAS SITTING,
HE WAS JUST KIND OF SITTING THERE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, HE WAS
TALKING TO ME, BUT HE WAS MOVING AROUND AND HE SEEM TO GET A
LITTLE BORED, BUT HE WAS STILL TALKING, AND SO HE JUST KIND OF
FLOPPED DOWN. SO HE WAS LAYING THERE, AND AS
HE WAS TALKING, PECOS JUST INCHED HIS WAY OVER TO HIM AND
BY THE TIME THE INTERVIEW WAS DONE, PECOS' HEAD WAS IN THE
CROOK OF HIS NECK AND HE WAS JUST TALKING AWAY ABOUT ALL
THESE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO HIM.
>> WOW, WOW. >> THAT'S MY FAVORITE.
>> WELL, THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. SO HE GOES THROUGH PRETTY
EXPENSIVE TRAINING IN ORDER TO GET TO THIS POINT?
>> I CANNOT TAKE ANY CREDIT FOR HOW WELL TRAINED HE IS.
HE WAS TRAINED BY PUPPY RAISERS FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF
HIS LIFE AND THEN PROFESSIONAL DOG TRAINERS AT CANINE
COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE. THEY TRAIN THE DOGS FOR SIX TO
NINE MONTHS AND AT THAT POINT, THEY DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF WORK
THE DOG WILL DO, AND SO PECOS MADE IT THROUGH THAT TRAINING
AND THEN I HAD TO APPLY TO GET A DOG LIKE HIM AND I ACTUALLY HAD
TO BE TRAINED IN NEW YORK FOR TWO WEEKS.
>> OKAY. SO YOU HAD TO BE TRAINED AS
WELL. >> YES.
>> BOTH OF YOU DID, YES. WELL, PECOS IS WONDERFUL JUST TO
HAVE HERE, SO I CAN IMAGINE IF A CHILD IS REALLY, REALLY LIKES
ANIMALS, THIS MUST BE JUST A HUGE COMFORT.
>> IT IS. IT HAS BEEN�-- THERE'S BEEN A
LOT OF THINGS THAT WERE KIND OF UNEXPECTED.
HE DOES THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS WITH ME, BUT HE ALSO GOES INTO
THE NON-ACUTE MEDICAL EXAMS AND FOR SOME CHILDREN, THAT CAN BE
ANXIETY PROVOKING AS WELL, SO HE GOES INTO THOSE.
HE HAS A THERAPY CASELOAD, SO WHEN KIDS COME TO SEE ME AND
THEY'RE REFERRED FOR THERAPY SERVICES, THE KIDS ARE ABLE TO
SEE HIM ON A WEEKLY BASIS, WHICH IS KIND OF NEAT, AND HE ATTENDS
A LOT OF MEETINGS. AND SO WHEN YOU'VE GOT LAW
ENFORCEMENT OR SOCIAL SERVICES, PROSECUTORS, DOCTORS, NURSES,
PEOPLE IN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS THAT ARE JUST STRESSED
OUT ABOUT THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE DO, GETTING TO HANG OUT WITH
A DOG FOR A FEW MINUTES IS A REALLY GOOD BREAK IN THE DAY.
>> WELL, I KNOW THAT HE'S QUIET NOW, BUT HE DOES HAVE A WAIVE
LETTING YOU KNOW HE'S�-- A WAY OF LETTING YOU KNOW HE'S AROUND
DURING AN INTERVIEW BECAUSE THINGS CAN BE QUITE INTENSE, BUT
HIS JOB IS NOT TO GET THINGS STIRRED UP, SO HE OFTEN WILL
JUST DRIFT OFF? >> HE USUALLY SLEEPS DURING THE
INTERVIEWS AND HE SNORES AS WELL.
WHICH IS KIND OF FUNNY. I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT IT IN
THE BEGINNING BECAUSE ALL OF THE FORENSIC INTERVIEWS ARE VIDEO
RECORDED, SO I COULD POTENTIALLY, TWO YEARS LATER, I
CAN HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHAT I DID. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, KIDS
LAUGH ABOUT IT. I THINK THAT CHILDREN THINK�--
AND I FEEL THIS WAY TOO, IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE WHERE A DOG IS
COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO FALL ASLEEP AND BE IN SUCH A DEEP
SLEEP THAT HE'S SNORING, IT MIGHT BE AN OKAY PLACE FOR ME TO
BE TOO. >> AND IT IS AN UNEXPECTED THING
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY TELLS YOU THAT HE IS
VERY RELAXED. >> EXACTLY.
>> AND THAT DOES TEND TO RELAX EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.
>> IT DOES. >> SO I THINK EVERYBODY COULD
USE A PECOS IN A CERTAIN SENSE, BUT WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY
TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO KIDS AND GET THEM TO SHARE WHAT'S SO
IMPORTANT, AND IT'S SUCH A TRAUMATIC SITUATION AT THE SAME
TIME. >> IT CAN BE VERY TOUGH.
IT CAN BE VERY STUFF FOR SOME CHILDREN.
>> THIS MAKES IT GOOD FOR YOU TOO.
THIS MUST MAKE YOUR JOB, WHEN YOU ARE USING PECOS�--
>> I'M VERY MUCH A BELIEVER IN THE BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND
ANIMALS. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ANIMALS IN MY
LIFE. WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING IN
CHILD ADVOCACY, I HAD A CRAZY PUPPY THAT HAD NO TRAINING
WHATSOEVER, AND MY BOSS LET ME BRING MY DOG TO WORK, AND THAT'S
WHEN I SAW WHAT DOGS CAN DO WITH KIDS.
AND SO THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO AND SO I'VE JUST KIND OF MOVED
FORWARD AND LEARNED A LOT AND NOW I HAVE THIS REALLY GREAT
TRAINED DOG. >> YES.
>> THAT I KNOW HOW HE WILL REACT AROUND CHILDREN.
SO I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE WHEN I'M WITH HIM.
>> YES. WELL, NOW, IT FEELS GREAT TO
HAVE HIM AROUND. MOST PEOPLE HERE HAVE RESPONDED
TO HIM WELL AND HE DOESN'T REALLY CARE RIGHT NOW.
>> NO, HE'S ACTUALLY SNORING JUST A FEW SECONDS AGO.
>> OH, WAS HE? >> I COULD FEEL HIM, YEAH.
>> YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT TO LISTEN FOR.
I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THERE'S THIS OPPORTUNITY.
WE KNOW, AGAIN, IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS,
EVEN PUBLICLY TO ADDRESS IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE DOORS
WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED, IT'S SO
IMPORTANT FOR THE FUTURE OF A CHILD TO HAVE A WONDERFUL ANIMAL
LIKE THIS THAT CAN HELP. >> I AGREE.
>> THANK YOU FOR BRINGING PECOS ON BOARD AND�--
>> SURE. >>�-- PECOS, THANK YOU FOR BEING
HERE. "YOU'RE WELCOME, JAN."
THANK YOU. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL
HAVE THE LATEST ON APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS ONLINE AND NEW
FACILITY YOU CAN USE IF YOU DON'T OWN A COMPUTER.
DON'T GO AWAY. \M\M
>>> FOR THOSE DEALING WITH THE DAILY STRUGGLES OF CARING FOR A
LOVED ONE, WE HEAR YOU. THAT'S WHY AARP CREATED A
COMMUNITY WITH EXPERTS AND OTHER CAREGIVERS TO HELP US BETTER
CARE FOR OURSELVES AND THE ONES WE LOVE.
>>> IN THE FALL OF 2012, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL
SERVICES LAUNCHED COMMONHELP, WHICH GIVES CITIZENS THE OPTION
OF APPLYING ONLINE FOR THE MOST COMMON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS. AND NOW NORFOLK HUMAN SERVICES
HAS OPENED A COMMONHELP COMPUTER LAB LOCATED IN THE WORKFORCE
DEVELOPMENT CENTER. IT'S NEAR WARDS CORNER.
SHAVON LOWERY HELPS FOLKS NAVIGATE THE PROGRAM AND SHE
JOINS US ALONG WITH ELIGIBILITY SUPERVISOR DANA DOZIER.
AND BOTH OF THEM CAN FILL US IN ON WHAT COMMONHELP IS AND WHERE
YOU CAN GO FOR HELP AND HOW IT HELPS PEOPLE WHO MAY BE UNABLE
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS ONLINE PORTAL AT HOME.
SO WELCOME TO THE SHOW. >> THANK YOU.
>> AND WE WERE TALKING JUST BEFORE WE CAME ON ABOUT HOW THE
STRIDES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE TECHNOLOGICALLY IN SOCIAL
SERVICES AND THAT ARENA HAS BEEN HUGE, AND LAST FALL IS WHEN THEY
PUBLICLY UNVEILED THIS NEWPORT TAL, AS THEY CALL IT, CALLED
COMMONHELP. DANA, THE IDEA BEHIND COMMONHELP
IS TO SPEED THINGS UP, CLEARLY. >> YES.
IT ALLOWS OUR CUSTOMERS TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS ONLINE.
THEY CAN DO IT AT HOME, THEY CAN DO IT AT THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES
USING THE COMPUTERS THERE, OR THEY CAN COME TO OUR COMMONHELP
LAB. IT'S VERY BASIC STEPS AND IT'S
SORT OF LIKE IF YOU BANK ONLINE, YOU WOULD SET UP A PASSWORD AND
USE THE LOG-ON AND YOU JUST FOLLOW THROUGH EACH STEP AND
EACH QUESTION THROUGH THE PAGES, AND YOU SELECT WHICH PROGRAM
YOU'RE APPLYING FOR. >> OKAY.
>> YOU CAN APPLY FOR SNAP BENEFITS, MEDICAID, AND CHILD
CARE. >> OKAY.
SO THOSE FOUR PROGRAMS ARE PRETTY COMMON PROGRAMS, THEY'RE
THE ONES THAT THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS MIGHT APPLY FOR.
WHAT ABOUT MEDICAID? IS THAT ALSO�--
>> THAT'S ONE OF THEM. WE ALSO HAVE INTRODUCED A
PROGRAM THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR WHILE IT'S IN SEASON.
>> SO ENERGY ASSISTANCE, GOOD THING TO KNOW SINCE COOLING
ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED BEGINNING THE 15th
ONLINE, MY UNDERSTANDING, AND THE 17th IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME
IN AND FILL OUT AN APPLICATION, SO YOU STILL HAVE AN OPTION, BUT
THIS ALLOWS PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY START APPLYING SOONER AND I DID
RECEIVE AN INQUIRY FROM SOMEBODY YESTERDAY ABOUT THAT VERY THING.
AND SO MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SATURDAYS DON'T
MEAN ANYTHING TO THE COMPUTER PROGRAM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S
JUST ANOTHER DAY, IT'S ANOTHER PERSON APPLYING.
SO THAT OPENS UP A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY
NOT BE ABLE TO DO THINGS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, BUT IF THEY DO
HAVE TIME DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, THEY CAN
COME OVER TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER AND THERE IS
A ROOM WITHIN THE CENTER THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO.
NOW, YOU OVERSEE BASICALLY WHAT GOES ON IN THAT ROOM, SO WHAT
DOES THE ROOM CONSIST OF? >> WELL, WE'RE OUTFITTED WITH 23
COMPUTERS. THEY WILL COME IN AND SIGN IN,
LET US KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO APPLY FOR.
WE ASSIST THEM IF THEY NEED HELP WITH APPLYING.
SOMETIMES CUSTOMERS HAVE QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND SOMETHING IN THE APPLICATION, SO WE CAN HELP
CLARIFY SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE REGARDING
WHAT THEY'RE APPLYING FOR. >> OKAY.
>> WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS THAT IT PUTS�-- IT PUTS THEIR
INFORMATION AT THEIR OWN HANDS, SO FOR OUR CUSTOMERS, THEY CAN
HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER SOME PART OF THE PROCESS OF APPLYING FOR
ASSISTANCE, SO IT'S JUST A SELF-HELP.
>> GREAT. SO THEY'RE LEARNING NOT ONLY�--
WELL, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO PUT IN THINGS THEMSELVES, WHICH IS
EMPOWERING, BUT ALSO�-- >> YES.
>>�-- MAYBE LEARNING A LITTLE BIT MORE IF THEY'RE NOT AS
COMFORTABLE IN FRONT OF COMPUTERS AND THEY'RE LEARNING
AND TRYING TO GET MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT PROCESS,
THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT GOING, WOW, I LEARNED SOMETHING
DIFFERENT. >> AND NOT ONLY CAN THEY APPLY
FOR PROGRAMS. THEY CAN ALSO REPORT CHANGES.
>> MEANING WHAT? >> FOR EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE A
CHANGE IN INCOME, A CHANGE IN MEMBERS OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD, SAY
THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER OR ADDRESS IS CHANGED.
THEY CAN SIGN INTO THE SYSTEM, ONCE THEY HAVE AN ACCOUNT, THEY
CAN SIGN INTO THE SYSTEM ANYTIME ANYWHERE AS LONG AS THEY HAVE
INTERNET AND REPORT THE CHANGES TO WE CAN BE UPDATED WITH ALL
THE INFORMATION WE HAVE ON FILE. >> THE APPLICATION PROCESS IS
AVAILABLE THERE, SO YOU JUST FILL IT OUT ONLINE AND THEN
SUBMIT IT? IS THAT THE WAY IT WORKS?
>> YES, YES, AND ONE GOOD THING ABOUT SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION
ONLINE IS THEY WILL BE ASSIGNED A TRACKING NUMBER AND THAT IS
LIKE A RECEIPT TO VERIFY THAT THEIR APPLICATION DID GO INTO
OUR SYSTEM, SO THERE'S NO QUESTION AS TO WHEN WE GOT IT,
WHETHER WE GOT IT OR NOT. IF THEY LIKE, THEY CAN GO TO A
PUBLIC LIBRARY OR IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A PRINTER, THEY CAN
ALSO PRINT OUT THE APPLICATION AS WELL.
>> SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING THEY CAN TAKE WITH THEM.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL COMFORTABLE WITH HAVING THAT
PIECE OF PAPER. AND THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO GO
IN AND CHECK ON THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION�--
>> YES. >>�-- IS NICE BECAUSE THEY CAN
DO THAT THEMSELVES. THEY DON'T HAVE TO CALL SOMEBODY
OR GO IN SOME PLACE AND SAY�-- ASK SOMEONE, THEY CAN GET THEIR
ANSWER PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATELY ONCE THEY GO IN.
>> YES. AND ALSO, IF SO SOME REASON THEY
NEED TO CONTACT THEIR WORKER, IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR WORKER'S
INFORMATION, THEY CAN SIGN IN ONLINE AND GET THE CONTACT
INFORMATION FOR THEIR WORKER AS WELL.
>> REALLY? >> AND KEEP ABREAST OF WHEN THEY
NEED TO DO RENEWALS. >> AND THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION
WAS RENEWALS, BECAUSE THINGS LIKE MEDICAID FOR INSTANCE HAVE
TO GO THROUGH A RENEWAL PROCESS. IS THAT TRUE FOR OTHER PROGRAMS
TOO? >> YES, SNAP AND THE ASSISTANCE,
THEY ALSO HAVE A RENEWAL EACH YEAR OR EVERY SIX MONTHS
DEPENDING ON THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD, SO ONCE THEY DO THE
RENEWAL ONLINE THROUGH COMMONHELP, THE WORKER FINISHES
THE FINAL PROCESS OF THE RENEWAL PROCESS AND SENDS THEM A
NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL. >> HOW DOES THIS HELP THE
WORKER? DOES IT MAKE THE WORK A
LITTLE�-- I KNOW THE LEARNING CURVE, YOU'VE GOT TO TRAIN
PEOPLE TO LEARN HOW TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT CHANGES THE WAY THEY
DO THEIR WORK. >> IT DOES.
>> WELL, IT'S SOMETHING NEW TO THE WORKERS RIGHT NOW, SO�--
ACTUALLY, IT SPEEDS UP THE PROCESS AS FAR AS RENEWALS AND
INTAKE APPLICATIONS. BUT WHILE YOU KIND OF LOSE THAT
ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMER A LITTLE BIT.
HOWEVER, THEY DO HAVE SOME CONTACT WITH THE CUSTOMER IF
THEY NEED TO CONTACT THEIR WORKER, THERE'S STILL TELEPHONE
CONTACT OR WALK-IN CONTACT, BUT I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD
PROGRAM. LIKE SHAVON SAID, IT GIVES THE
CUSTOMERS�-- IT PUTS IN THEIR HANDS AND GIVES�-- HELPS THEM,
YOU KNOW, WITH THAT PROCESS AND BEING RESPONSIBLE AND ALSO WITH
LEARNING THE NEW TECHNIQUES OF USING THE COMPUTER, WHICH A LOT
OF THEM ARE NOT USED TO. >> YES.
>> SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
>> THAT'S GREAT. SO EVERYBODY WINS AND THERE'S
STILL THE CHOICE OF COMING IN AND FILLING OUT AN APPLICATION
OR DOWNLOADING ONE AND�-- >> RIGHT.
>>�-- FILLING IT OUT AND BRINGING IT IN OR MAILING IT IN
OR FAXING IT IN. YOU CAN STILL CALL THE NUMBER
FOR INFORMATION. ALL THOSE THINGS ARE STILL
THERE. THIS IS AN OPTION, BUT I THINK
THE FUTURE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE
OF THE THING THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE. >> RIGHT.
>> THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU'RE
THERE AND YOU SEE IT HAPPENING. >> RIGHT.
>> THANKS FOR JOINING US. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >>> STILL TO COME, FREE SUMMER
ARTS PROGRAMS FOR THE KIDS. WE'LL HAVE DETAILS ON TWO
FANTASTIC PROGRAMS WHEN WE RETURN.
>>> WADE BORN IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI, WAS FASCINATED BY
ANYTHING WITH WHEELS AND A MOTOR.
THE ODDS OF HIM WINNING BOTH THE DAYTONA 500 AND THE BRICKYARD
400 IN THE SAME YEAR? ONE IN 195�MILLION.
THE ODDS OF A CHILD BEING DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM, ONE IN
88. I'M JAMIE McMURRAY AND MY NIECE
HAS AUTISM. LEARN MORE AT AUTISM
SPEAKS.ORG/SIGNS. >>> IMAGINE YOUR CHILD SPENDING
SUMMER BREAK IMMERSED IN MUSIC, PAINTING, DANCING OR DRAMA,
MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, AT NO COST TO YOU.
GAIL EASLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CRISPUS ATTUCKS CULTURAL
CENTER, HAS A LOT TO SHARE ABOUT CAMP RISE AND THE SUMMER ARTS
PROGRAM THAT WILL KEEP THE TWEENS AND TEENS IN YOUR LIFE
OCCUPIED AND YOU BREATHING EASIER.
SO I MEAN, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS AND A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY FOR PARENTS TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN THRIVE IN A
POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
>> ABSOLUTELY! >> HEY, THAT'S GREAT.
>> YES, WE'RE IN OUR SIXTH YEAR FOR CAMP RISE AND THIS IS A
SUMMER DAY CAMP FOR PRETEENS THAT TURNS THEM ON TO DANCE, AND
IT ALSO GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPECT DANCE AS
A PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, JUST AS A SPORT THAT REQUIRES SKILLS.
STUDENTS WILL ALSO ENJOY LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AS WELL. >> GREAT.
THIS IS GOING ON THROUGH�-- BEGINNING WHEN?
>> THIS WILL START JUNE 24th THROUGH JULY THE 12th.
AND 9:00 TO 4:00. WE OFFER ALL THE DANCE WEAR FOR
FREE, THREE CLASSES A DAY, BALLET, MODERN, WEST AFRICAN, AS
WELL AS CREATIVE WRITING AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CLASSES AND
THE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY THE FUN PART BECAUSE THIS
GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR
COMMUNITY AND THEIR LIVES AND THEN WE CORRELATE THE WORLD AND
THE COMMUNITY WITH THEM AND FIGURE OUT A PLACE FOR THEM IN
ALL OF THAT. >> OH, WONDERFUL.
AND WE'VE GOT SOME PICTURES UP HERE JUST SHOWING YOU SOME OF
THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS CAMP RISE HAS.
ONE IS VIDEOGRAPHY, A CHILD WITH A COMPUTER.
>> YES, THEY HAVE A TECHNOLOGY CENTER.
>> CHILDREN BEING COACHED IN DANCING AND THE AFRICAN DANCE
AND THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE. AND THIS IS JUST CAMP RISE AND
THIS IS ONE GROUP AND PRETEENS. >> YES, WE HAVE 80 PRETEENS
PAGES 11 TO 14. >> AND THERE'S A SUMMER ARTS
PROGRAM THAT�-- WE'RE GETTING A JUMBLE OF THINGS HERE, BUT WE
HAVE THE DANCE FROM CAMP RISE? >> ACTUALLY, THIS IS OUR ATTUCKS
THEATER DANCE COMPANY AND MOST OF THESE STUDENTS STARTED IN
CAMP RISE. >> REALLY?
>> YES, CAMP RISE AS GATEWAY EXPERIENCE FOR STUDENTS THAT
MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS
TAKE THEM THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND EVENTUALLY THEIR SKILLS WILL
IMPROVE AND INCREASE AND IF THEY HAVE A FASHION AND DESIRE TO
DANCE FURTHER, WE ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE ATTUCKS
THEATER DANCE COMPANY. >> THAT IS REALLY NEAT SO GIVES
THEM A LOT�-- GIVES THEM A PLACE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR
ENERGY THAT'S POSITIVE FOR THEM AND HOPEFULLY POSITIVE FOR THOSE
AROUND THEM. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO THE SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM IS TAKING PLACE SHORTLY AFTER THE
CAMP RISE BEGINS. >> CORRECT.
THAT WILL TAKE PLACE JULY 15th THROUGH AUGUST THE 9th AND WE'LL
HAVE A HUGE PRESENTATION ON STAGE ON AUGUST THE 10th.
ALL OF OUR CAMPS CULMINATE WITH AN ART EXHIBIT OR PRESENTATION
FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 18.
THE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN
THE ARTS. THESE ARE INTENSIVE, YOU KNOW,
WORKSHOPS TAUGHT BY PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS THAT USE MATH,
SCIENCE, HISTORY, WRITING AND HEALTH AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
WITH CORRELATIONS TO THE VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING.
>> WOW, THAT'S ALL ROLLED INTO ONE, AND THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME.
>> THEY HAVE A GREAT TIME AND IN OUR COMMITMENT TO KEEP THE ARTS
ACCESSIBLE TO ANYONE WHO HAS THE DESIRE AND PASSION TO LEARN, 98%
OF OUR STUDENTS RECEIVE TUITION-FREE SCHOLARSHIPS.
>> OKAY. SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A REALLY
WONDERFUL DEAL AND THERE'S STILL TIME TO APPLY FOR THESE.
>> YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE HOPE THAT WE HEAR FROM
EVERYBODY, EITHER VIA EMAIL OR WE HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE THE
APPLICATION IS AVAILABLE AND YOU CAN APPLY ONLINE, AND THEN WE
WILL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU WITH THE REST OF THE REGISTRATION
PROCESS. >> I SEE THAT THROUGH SOME OF
THE PICTURES SHOWING FOR THE SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM, WE HAVE A
FELLOW PLAYING GUITAR, A GIRL SINGING, PLAYING FOLK MUSIC, AND
SOME CHILDREN PLAYING VIOLINS AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE
GOING ON THERE, AND THIS IS FOR, AGAIN, THE AGE RANGE FOR THE
SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM IS? >> THE SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM AGE
RANGES BETWEEN 6 AND 18. >> THAT'S A BIG RANGE, SO YOU
HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF KIDS DOING DIFFERENT THINGS?
OR DO THEY DO THEM ALL TOGETHER? >> WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT
GROUPS. THE CHILDREN'S CENTER FOR AGES 6
TO 11, THE YOUTH PROGRAM FOR AGES 11 TO 13, AND AGE 11 TO 18
IS A YOUTH CENTER, SO THEY'RE ALL SEPARATED.
WE'RE IN A 30,000-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING AT THE ATTUCKS THEATER,
SO IT'S A WONDERFUL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.
WE HAVE GREAT SPACES AND I INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME DOWN
AND JOIN US THIS SUMMER. >> AND HERE'S ONE OF OUR OWN
BALLERINAS HERE, AND A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY TOO.
>> VERY MUCH, YES. >> JUST GORGEOUS, AND PARENTS,
IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS, LISTEN UP BECAUSE IT'S REALLY,
REALLY WORTH YOUR TIME TO LOOK INTO IT AND I THINK YOUR
CHILDREN WILL COME OUT EXCITED AND KEPT BUSY BECAUSE THIS IS
DAY-LONG AND VERY INTENSIVE. YOU KNOW, I JUST�-- IT MAKES ME
TIRED JUST TO THINK ABOUT IT. >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE INVITE YOU
TO COME ALONG AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AND NOT
ONLY DO WE HAVE THINGS FOR CHILDREN, WE ALSO HAVE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTS AS WELL IN THE EVENING.
>> OH, PRAY TELL, YOU MUST TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS.
>> OH, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL ARRAY OF
OFFERINGS FROM STEEL PAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEARN HOW�-- YOU
DON'T HAVE TO READ MUSIC, BUT YOU CAN LEARN THEM BY SOUND AND
TONE. WE ALSO HAVE WEST AFRICAN
DRUMMING AND WEST AFRICAN DANCE. WE HAVE PLAYWRITING SO IF
THERE'S ANY PARENTS OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE DESIRE TO LEARN
MORE ABOUT THESE, WE CERTAINLY HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
>> SO THE ATTUCKS IS REALLY FOR EVERYONE.
>> IT IS, IT IS, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF OUR NATIONAL ARTS AND
HUMANITIES YOUTH PROGRAM AWARD THAT WE RECENTLY RECEIVED AT THE
WHITE HOUSE. >> WONDERFUL ACCOLADES FOR A JOB
WELL DONE AND SOMETHING THAT REACHES SO MANY.
>> YES. >> THANK YOU FOR SHARING WHAT
YOU CAN. THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION, I
WISH WE SO SHOW MORE AND TELL MORE, BUT YOU HAVE TO CALL THE
NUMBERS ON THE SCREEN AND FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD
ENROLLED AND APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP AND IF YOU'RE A
PARENT, HOW YOU TOO CAN GET INVOLVED.
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> THANKS SO MUCH, GAIL.
APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU.
>>> THAT ABOUT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF THE HUMAN SERVICES
FORUM. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT
TIME. TAKE CARE.
CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC
www.captionassociates.com