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CHS Current Projects
For over 40 years, the Center for Human Services (CHS) and its for-profit affiliate, University Research Co., LLC (URC) have focused on improving the quality of and access to health, social, and education and vocational services in the U.S. and abroad. Founded in 1968, the Center for Human Services (CHS) is the non-profit 501(c)3 affiliate of the Maryland based University Research Co., LLC. CHS seeks to improve the quality of life, access to social and health services, and the educational and vocational achievements of under-served populations throughout the United States and abroad. CHS provides technical expertise and innovative training, always honoring and respecting the culture of affected populations.
Domestic Projects
Current and Past US Projects - Spring 2013
New Jersey-based Projects - Spring 2012
Case Management and Referral
Latinas Involved in Full Treatment (LIFT)
Funded by: Health Resources and Services Administration / HIV/AIDS Bureau, Special Projects of National Significance Program and the Danellie Foundation
CHS hosts this referral network, which is designed to ensure that Latinas living with HIV and AIDS in Cumberland County, New Jersey, have access to and continue to be actively engaged in quality HIV/AIDS treatment and
care. We use a linguistically and culturally appropriate case management system and provide interpreter services for those who have limited English proficiency. Outreach workers identify and re-connect women living with
HIV/AIDS to local services. Our partner, the Migrant Clinicians Network, ensures continuity of care once migrant women leave the Cumberland County area. To bridge gaps in languages and culture, we employ female, former
migrant and seasonal farmworkers as interpreters. For many LIFT participants, transportation is a major barrier to remaining engaged in HIV/AIDS care. Danellie Foundation funding allows CHS to provide these women with
transportation to their medical appointments.
Education
Consolidated Adult Basic Skills and Integrated English Literacy and Civics Education
Funded by: Salem County Vocational Technical School
As a member of the Cumberland/Salem Regional Consortium, CHS administers this program directed toward southern New Jersey's large Hispanic community. In partnership with the Salem County Vocational
Technical School, we provide English literacy services and civics education to foreign-born adult learners in Salem County. While learning English, program participants can receive vocational and other
life-skills training as well as prepare for the U.S. naturalization test.
High School Equivalency Program
Funded by: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Migrant Education
This program, now in its 30th year, provides life-skills training and other services to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania acquire the General Educational
Development (GED) certificate and successfully transition to the next level of education, vocational training, or employment or to the military. The instructional curriculum fosters critical
thinking through problem solving and creative thinking, and individual expression through writing.
Institute of Mexicans Abroad Scholarship Program (Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior-BECAS)
Funded by: Government of Mexico, Institute of Mexicans Abroad
This program provides scholarships for Mexican students attending community colleges in New Jersey. These scholarships subsidize the studies of immigrants, age 15 or older, who are
Mexican citizens or the children of Mexican citizens living in the United States. The grants also cover the stipends of educational advisors and coordinators of adult education
programs that serve these students.
South Jersey Families Re-Connected Coalition
Funded by: Pascale Sykes Family Foundation
CHS leads this coalition of five organizations that provides an array of literacy services to families living in Cumberland County, New Jersey. We conduct the intake assessment, manage the cases,
monitor and assess each family's progress, and provide instruction in adult basic skills and ESL (English as a second language). The Center for Family Services provides parenting literacy workshops; the
Kingdom Covenant Christian Center's Seeds for Success program provides financial literacy instruction; Casa PRAC provides an academic enrichment program for students in Kindergarten through 6th grade;
and the Vineland Police Chaplain Program counsels families in crisis.
Outreach, Identification, and Recruitment
Reducing Diabetes Disparities Project
Funded by: Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Minority and Multicultural Health
This project provides diabetes management services to the African-American, Latino, and migrant and seasonal farmworker populations living in Cumberland County, New Jersey.
In partnership with CompleteCare Health Network, Inc., a nonprofit, community-based medical and dental care provider, CHS works to increase awareness about disparities in
diabetes, increase screening and identification of individuals living with diabetes, and improve access to care and resources to improve diabetes management. We also
provide project participants with yoga classes; nutrition classes, which include cooking demonstrations; and access to the local food bank.
Vocational Rehabilitation Service Projects for Migratory Agricultural Workers and Seasonal Farmworkers with Disabilities
Funded by: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services
These two projects provide educational, training, and advocacy services to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers with disabilities in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Each project identifies and
recruits eligible individuals and assists them and their families with receiving services, such as rehabilitation for work-related injuries, career counseling, job training, and placement and occupational
skills training. In addition, CHS provides assessment, case management, counseling, referral, and educational services (ESL, native language literacy, basic and workplace math skills, GED test preparation,
and college preparatory training).
Research and Evaluation
Migrant Education Training and Support (METS)
CHS assists state migrant education programs to meet federal guidelines for migrant education by evaluating existing migrant education programs, identifying and recruiting eligible students, and
complying with state-specific migrant education regulations. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education posted on its website a curriculum CHS designed to assist recruiters with the social
complexity of reaching and engaging the families of migrant children in the U.S. METS has provided services for migrant education programs in Delaware; Idaho; Indiana; and Montana; Washington
state; and San Jose, California. Following is a description of the support CHS provided to the Washington State Migrant Education Program.
Washington State Migrant Education Program (MEP) Evaluation
Funded by: Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Each state education agency is required to determine the effectiveness of its MEP through a written evaluation that assesses the implementation and
measures results achieved by the program against the state's performance targets, particularly for those students who have priority for service.
In response to this need, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) in Olympia contracted with CHS to conduct an evaluation of the Washington State MEP. We are charged with the following tasks:
- Evaluating the accountability and reporting systems of the Washington State Service Delivery
Plan (SDP);
- Evaluating the implementation of the SDP at the state, regional, and school district levels;
- Evaluating the state's data collection system to ensure that activities produce valid data to inform the work of the migrant program at the state, regional, and school district levels; and
- Reviewing the scope of work of the OSPI state migrant office and the state migrant field offices in their implementation of the SDP.
CHS is currently working with OSPI to implement recommendations we made after conducting the evaluation.
Technical Assistance and Training
CHS/McDaniel 2012 Summer STARTALK Institute on Integrating Cultures and Communities in Arabic and Chinese Language Programs
Funded by: National Security Agency through the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland, College Park
STARTALK is part of a federal initiative to enhance the national capacity for critical-need languages. The goal of these programs is to increase the number and expertise of students and teachers
of these critical languages. The STARTALK Institute offers Arabic and Chinese language instructors an opportunity to better their K-12 teaching skills during a four-week, 90-hour program.
The summer institute and follow-up workshops are held at McDaniel College in Westminster, MD. Following the National Standards for Foreign Language Education (communication, culture, connections,
comparisons, and communities), STARTALK aims to enhance the quality and quantity of students and teachers learning, speaking, and teaching Arabic and Mandarin. In 2010, 28 participants were
enrolled in the program; 26 completed it, with 21 receiving undergraduate credit and 5 receiving graduate credit.
International Projects
Partnership for the Community Management of Child Health (Prise-C)
The Partnership for the Community Management of Child Health (Prise-C) is improving the delivery of proven, low-cost child health interventions in three health zones in two Beninese departments
(Zou/Collines and Atlantique). The project is strengthening the health system workforce and community health systems by developing, testing, and implementing innovative strategies.
A key project component is to conduct an operations research study testing the effectiveness of cell phone technologies to facilitate communication between community health workers and their
supervisors to improve performance, engagement, and patient outcomes.
Essential Obstetric and Newborn Care in Cotopaxi, Ecuador
The Center for Human Services is working with the Ministry of Health to meet the goals of the National Plan for Reduction of Maternal Newborn Mortality. The project is (1) developing an integrated health care network to
improve the continuum of care from community to provincial hospitals by creating referral mechanisms, (2) improving the quality of care at facilities, (3) forging or improving connections between
facility-based health teams and community health leaders, and (4) ensuring the use of evidence-based practices.
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