CLIENT SUCCESSES

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the efforts of NORWESCAP is to learn about a few of the 30,000 low income clients that we serve each year, their struggles and their successes.

Economic and Employment Building
The Family Loan Program that can assist working families with a small loan to help an individual remain employed can demonstrate the success of the program through the achievements of participants.  One client contacted the program after putting herself through the process of becoming a licensed realtor.  She wanted to pursue this career and demonstrated her ability through her dedication and follow through in obtaining her real estate license.  However, she did not have a vehicle or the ability to receive a loan through a traditional approach and not having a vehicle was seriously impacting her ability to earn money.  The loan committee approved her loan application and she quickly was able to get a client base back on track.  She actually paid the loan off this loan six months early as her earning potential was higher than we even anticipated when we assisted her develop her monthly budget.  She is climbing her way out of poverty and her earnings have steadily increased since she became a licensed realtor.  We are proud that we were able to play a small part in her success.

Child and Family Development
NORWESCAP has been providing Head Start services since 1965.  Each year the program measures milestones that children achieve and celebrate how so many of the children and families thrive throughout their time at Head Start.  Real success is often realized later when former Head Start children come to work for the program or share their positive memories of being at the Head Start Centers.  One individual that is a Head Start alumnus is truly a success story. She attended the summer Head Start program at Merriam Avenue School during the 1970’s. She went all through Newton Schools and received her RN degree form Morris County College.  She applied for and received an employment offer at a local hospital working in the Pediatric department.  She has authored and designed two booklets, one on seizures and the other on asthma.  These booklets assist nurses and doctors in educating children to better understand and manage their illness.  This former Head Start child also received recognition and won an award for “Excellence in Direct Care Delivery in a Clinical Setting” in the State of New Jersey because of these two booklets.  She has also been given an opportunity to present information on her work at a national symposium. 

Housing
The work that NORWESCAP completes on a day to day basis in the housing area vary greatly.  Affordable housing is often secured for individuals that would have been homeless if not for the services of the agency.  Other times, home repair or weatherization are able to ensure that a household is running efficiently and safely.  Recently, the safety concerns of an elderly Hopatcong Boro reminded us of the dangers that can exist in some homes.  A widow was referred to NORWESCAP by her Physician who thought her ongoing seasonal respiratory problems could be attributed to poor indoor air quality.  Our evaluation identified the following safety concerns: (1) the chimney did not have a clay thimble and the smoke pipe passed through a combustible wall which is a major fire and carbon monoxide problem; (2) the flue tile was cracked and crumbled which is a secondary fire and carbon monoxide problem; and (3) the chimney was two feet short of the proper height which caused improper draft.  Utilizing Safe Housing and Weatherization funds, we rectified all of the above and thoroughly cleaned the warm air furnace finding remnants of the dead animal in the smoke pipe.  The heating system is now firing at 80% efficiency.  The draft is excellent and the air quality is healthy and conditioned.

Information and Outreach
One late fall day, an employee from the county contacted First Call for Help(FCFH)/2-1-1 staff for assistance with a client.  The county worker had an inquiry from a Warren County family of six that was in dire straits.  The main income provider in the family was injured on his labor job.  The family received one check early in the month for disability rendering them ineligible for county services.  It was the last disability check and there was no other income.  The other adult in the household was battling stage four colon cancer.  The youngest of the four children was two years old and they had no fuel oil and no money to pay for an oil delivery.

FCFH immediately began to make inquiries.  The agency was able to provide $180 in funding toward an oil delivery and a local church provided another $150.  Once their immediate basic need was provided (oil for heating), the call specialist then reached out to others in the faith community to assist this family.  A local pastor took up a collection at her church and funds were procured to purchase shoes for the children, diapers for the youngest and a $200.00 gas card as the wife must make daily trips to the hospital for medication.  They also provided a $200.00 Wal-Mart gift card and another gift card to a supermarket.  FCFH staff also ensured that the family had gifts and food for the holidays.

This is remarkable as the public sector who could not assist, reached out to NORWESCAP which networked with the faith based community to provide for the needs of this vulnerable family keeping the family housed with their basic needs met during their desperate time of need.

Volunteer Services
“You don’t’ know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” is the saying that one of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program members has lived.  Her prognosis did not include being alive at age 48 to tell the story.  A tragic accident eight years ago left the volunteer paralyzed from the neck down and ultimately resulted in her permanent disability.  Resounding words for encouragement, coupled with her determination to regain these vital functions, sparked a fierce battle within to overcome her restrictive inflictions.  Perseverance miraculously overcame her debilitative state and a very lucky and grateful lady emerged.

Since her experience, Sue says she can appreciate the pain that others feel and can truly relate to certain situations, such as a person struggling to use a walker to take one small step or an upset hospital patient whose meal sits before her with no one in sight to feed her. 

Sue feels compelled to help others and finds joy in doing so.  Her primary focus is on those with health issues, both mental and physical, as well as the elderly.  She sits on various boards for planning and human services giving back to the community and learning of new resources to share with those in the community.

Sue is also involved in our Friendly Visitor, Money Management Assistance, Meals at Home and Adopt-a-Family Programs.  Her contributions to RSVP have been numerous and we are very grateful for her generous gifts of time, humor and devotion as are all the people whose lives have been touched by this volunteer.

Nutrition and Health
During the course of a certification WIC Nutritionist Jenny Roesch measured the height and weight of a three and a half year old boy and noticed that he had gained 8 pounds in a 6 month period.    This is an extreme weight gain for a child this age.  Using a growth chart she was able to show his mother that his weight was much too high for his height. 

The Nutritionist collected information about the child’s diet and activity level as well as general health information.  She then counseled the mother on the appropriate diet and portion sizes for a 3 year old.  The child was still using a bottle and consuming inappropriately large quantities of milk and juice.  The Nutritionist taught the mother how to wean her son from the bottle and explained that this was contributing to his weight gain by enabling him to consume a large amount of calories.  She also explained the importance of physical activity in the maintenance of a healthy weight. 

When the mother and child returned for the boy’s 4 year old certification the child had only gained 1 pound in 6 months.  The mother thanked Jenny and was very proud that she was able to improve her child’s diet.