Drueding Center

Child care - we take a two-generation approach and offer integrated services to support both parents and their children. While parents in our residential program focus on work, school, and/or emotional growth, their children are safe and cared for in our on-site, full-day child care center. Licensed to care for children ranging in ages from six weeks to 10 years, children of our former residents and from the local community also attend our center. In fy24, the program served a total of 86 children. We are committed to providing the highest quality, most enriching early childhood education program available, regardless of a family's financial circumstances. Our child care center is accredited by naeyc (national association for the education of young children) and has received 4a keystone stars (the highest possible designation) from the pennsylvania office of child development and early learning. Having both of these credentials places our center in the top 7% of early learning programs statewide. Features of the early childhood education program include: (1) five developmentally appropriate classrooms, including two phlprek classrooms with 25 children. They are staffed from 7:00 a.m. To 5:30 p.m. On weekdays, year-round (except major holidays). The creative curriculum is utilized in our infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms, under which our teachers monitor milestones for language, movement, social and cognitive development, (2) two modern playgrounds (one for infants/toddlers and one for children two years and older) provide multiple outdoor experiences daily, (3) a community garden adjacent to the playground serves as a site to learn to grow fruits and vegetables. This activity is fun for all ages while it also teaches a valuable science lesson, and (4) during inclement weather, a large multi-purpose room is available for exercise and playtimes. This room is also used for special events, parties, and other large gatherings.

Community services - the following services are provided: (1) housing assistance, (2) after care case management, (3) new neighbors permanent supportive housing program, and (4) blueprint case management program.(1) housing assistance - community services manages the drapp program for participants and assists with any whatever challenges they may face, every family views independent living as the ultimate goal and the leading measure of success. The drapp subsidy starts at up to $500 a month in year 1, $200 a month in year 2, $100 a month in year 3 and $50 in the final year. Support is provided to assist families adjust to the decreasing subsidy over four years so that participants are able to pay the full rent. The subsidy encourages a durable connection between the client and after care which is otherwise optional. It provides an additional layer of quality assurance by allowing staff to inspect the housing opportunity and corresponding documentation like the renter's license. The supportive services attached to drapp subsidy allows services to be client-centered, allowing the family to take the lead with problem-solving with minimal guidance or for cs staff to advocate on their behalf. Successful partnerships with landlords cultivates a solid network and builds drueding's reputation for future referrals.(2) after care case management - unlike many other transitional housing programs, drueding center is unique in providing support services for up to seven years once our families move into permanent housing. We've found that the sustained guidance and mentoring provided by after care services measurably increase the likelihood of lasting success for our families that have experienced homelessness. Drueding center's voluntary after care services include: (a) ongoing case management, including goal planning, budgeting, time management, life skills, and parenting skills; (b) referrals for job training, continuing education, childcare, and legal issues; (c) information about resources and programs in families' new communities; (d) referrals to other social service agencies when appropriate; (e) advocacy to assist with landlord disputes, subsidized housing, social security, child support, and mental health. In fy24, 94 families were served in after care and 93% who were able were working, in school or enrolled in a program. 90% of those in after care maintain permanent housing for one year. A total of 126 home visits, 122 office visits and an additional 475 contacts were made with families.(3) new neighbors permanent supportive housing program - eighteen families with at least one family member with a documented disability receive a rental subsidy, housing counseling and case management through contracts with hud and ohs. In fy24, there were 122 home visits, 34 office visits, and an additional 229 contacts with families.(4) blueprint case management program - this a collaborative project of the city of philadelphia and the philadelphia housing authority. Based on our track record and capacity to deliver excellent services, in 2010 the city of philadelphia's office of homeless services awarded drueding center a contract to provide case management for one year to an additional 125 formerly homeless families per year. In fy24, drueding center served a total of 132 families through 161 home visits, 62 office visits and an additional 800 contacts.