Prevention & Wellbeing Programs
Prevention Programs
ACE(Advocates for Children in Education) Social Workers
The mission of the ACE team is to address the psychosocial, health, and emotional/behavioral issues which interfere with a child’s ability to learn in the classroom. Home visits, classroom observation and consultation, individual and group counseling, and case management services are provided to address barriers and link students and families with social services or other appropriate community resources.
ACE social workers currently serve five Hickory City Elementary Schools (Longview, Southview, Viewmont, Jenkins, and Oakwood) and one Hickory City Middle School (Northview). For more information, contact the Social Services Prevention Unit Supervisor at (828) 695-6567.
Wellbeing Programs
Family and Children’s Support Team is a voluntary case management service available to adults or children who are Medicaid eligible and are referred by community providers. The Family and Children’s Support Team assists families with medical, mental health or substance abuse concerns that require accessing and coordination of services. The social worker works with the family and their supports to identify needs, locate resources, and assist with coordination of services to meet the family’s needs. Contact level is determined by need. For assistance, please call the Family and Children’s Support Team at (828) 695-4555.
Community Response provides voluntary case management and supportive services for up to twelve months to families of children ages birth to five. Referrals are primarily received from Child Protective Services (CPS) if the family has never had a CPS finding (substantiation of any kind or In Need of Services). The case manager can assist with advocating, facilitating, coordination and assisting in getting children and/or parents set up with a variety of providers to remove barriers and help strengthen the family to help prevent the likelihood of CPS reports being made.
The Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) is a parent education series designed for the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect among participating families. It serves families who are involved with child welfare due to abusing or neglecting their children and who are at risk of losing custody or whose children are already in foster care. The nurturing philosophy of non-violent parenting concentrates on the development of empathy, self-worth, self-awareness, empowerment, appropriate family roles, age-appropriate expectations of a child’s development and discipline with dignity. Two series are offered: a 16-week class for parents of children ages birth to four and a 15-week class for parents of children ages five to eleven.
Community Response provides case management and supportive services for up to six months to families of children ages birth to five who have had reports to CPS that are either screened out or screened in with services recommended or not recommended. The Social Worker will also link families with appropriate early intervention services.