Centerpoint Programs:
Centerpoint™ Community Services is a central point of entry for the region’s human services network, often referred to as a “clearing house” as it administers a regional database of resource providers and their services to the community. Centerpoint enjoys a rich history of cultivating coordinated and collaborative services throughout the community. Established in 1987, Centerpoint strives to build relationships between the providers of services and their customers, and those citizens in need across an eleven parish community of northwest Louisiana.
Centerpoint operates a number of programs of service developed out of needs-based, demonstrated evidence annually collected through a gaps in services analysis reflecting those services in greatest demand and identifying those providers with the capacity to meet those needs, as well as new service development when necessary within the systems of care for our regional collaborative:
Pathways Project: Case managers perform an in depth interview and assessment of homeless clients to determine their needs, strength and weaknesses. Referrals for shelter, food and clothing are made immediately as needed and the case manager negotiates a service plan with the client to lay out a goal-oriented roadmap in a sequence that must be accomplished before they can become self-sufficient. Referrals to other service agencies are made as needs are identified, such as food stamps, mental health counseling and addictions counseling/treatment. The case manager works with the client until all goals are met and the individual and case manager agree that the client is ready to be on their own
Annual FREE Tax Preparation and E-Filing (VITA) is a Northwest Louisiana Asset Building Coalition member engaged in promoting the FREE access to eligible Earned Income Credits that benefit citizens to take advantage of those tax benefits due them without encumbering themselves unnecessarily toward achieving maximum return of their income tax investment.
Project Intranet is responsible for the administration and propagation of ServicePoint™, a Consumer Management Information System, which tracks and manages client data throughout the Northwest Louisiana area. Many area social service agencies and other homeless, substance abuse, mental health, public and private service providers, use this database. Sharing information within a secured, privacy conscience system benefits the client and the member providers by eliminating duplication of services and managing the services for the client through case management. Project Intranet fulfills a congressional mandate that HUD provides an unduplicated count of the homeless and their needs at the local level. Statewide integration of the nine regional MIS projects was completed in the 2011 federal fiscal year.
2-1-1 Connections is a free access to health and human services by telephone (DIAL 2-1-1), walk-in, or online at our web site, www.centerpt.org. Centerpoint 2-1-1 helps make a critical connection between individuals and families in need, and the appropriate community-based organizations and government services. 2-1-1 makes it possible for people in need to navigate the complex and ever-growing maze of human service agencies and programs. By making services easier to access, 2-1-1 encourages prevention and fosters self-sufficiency.
Many of the programs Centerpoint refers to require various levels of eligibility regarding economic need and circumstances, with evidence of potential homelessness. Access to these programs statewide is acheived through dialing the 3-digt dialing code of “2-1-1”. Integration of all six 2-1-1 Call Centers utiliziing VoiceOverIP (VOIP) was completed in 2008. This integration enables seamless coordination across the state during life’s daily challenges or crisies, as well as disasters and other emergency events.
Housing First – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funding opporutnities annually for communities to assist individuals and families who are currently living at or below the poverty level, and are struggling with meeting their household costs. 2-1-1 coordinates these funds when available with the other public or private funds available throughout our region in an effort to prioritize “Housing First”. Homelessness is not a choice and every effort to prevent such as an outcome is the focus of this program. When someone finds themselves beyond HOPE and are already homeless, our efforts are to assist in rapidly rehousing them within a case managed program that aides in their return to independence. We are able to assist based upon federal eligibilty regulations with housing rent, mortgage and utility assistance, to help these households return to self-suffiency. This is not a “give-away” program, but a cooperative rehabilitation program intended on achievement of self-sufficiency and independent living within our community.