CSP's Social Services department aids families with direct assistance or with referrals to other agencies for additional benefits. Services are available Monday through Friday to help families to improve the quality of their lives.
| If you would like to volunteer social services, please call 205-752-5429 extension 239 or complete and submit the form below. |
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Eligibility
For every program, clients must meet income criteria which may differ from program to program. Monthly income as well as family size determines eligibility. Additionally, social security numbers, dates of birth, and proof of income for all household members may be required. |
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ENERGY ASSISTANCE |
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CSP employs several programs to assist families with high energy bills. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Alabama Business Charitable (ABC) Trust Fund, Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and Project SHARE assist specifically with utility bill payments. For income eligible clients, payments are made by CSP directly to the utility company on the client's behalf. CSP may also provide emergency assistance, including referrals for groceries and prescriptions for eligible families.
The following is the maximum amount of income a family may receive and be eligible for energy assistance. |
| Maximum Monthly Gross Income Eligibility Levels FY 2009 |
| 1 Person |
2 People |
3 People |
4 People |
5 People |
6 People |
7 People |
8 People |
| $1,225 |
$1,650 |
$2,075 |
$2,500 |
$2925 |
$3,350 |
$3,820 |
$3,867 |
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FOOD VOUCHERS |
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| Food Vouchers help families stretch their food dollars. CSP has partnered with several local agencies and churches to provide families with their food needs. In order to receive a food voucher, picture identification and income verification must be presented at the CSP office. A household is eligible to receive one voucher per week. |
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JUVENILE JUSTICE INTERVENTION PROGRAM (JJI) |
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Violence among youth is one of the most common, socially transmittable, and personally destructive problems faced in Tuscaloosa County. Research supports the premise that most violence is not random or uncontrollable but predictable and preventable. Violence is learned behavior; therefore, it can be modified.
In response to this research, CSP and the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Court have developed a partnership that intervenes with youth experiencing their first contact with the juvenile justice system to interrupt the cycle of violence. CSP provides a proven violence prevention curriculum that builds skills to resolve problems nonviolently and develop decision-making skills that improve social outcomes for participating youth.
The CSP Juvenile Justice Intervention project is designed to build skills that enable youth to avoid violence. The skills gained through JJI (such as anger management, problem-solving, and decision-making) will also build resiliency among youth to avoid other risky behaviors that are directly linked to violence. Therefore, JJI has the potential to not only reduce violence among youth, it can impact related issues such as substance abuse, juvenile crime and delinquency.
The JJI project conducts regularly scheduled sessions to youth who have a first encounter with the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Court. The curriculum helps students to pause and keep cool, to understand what is going on before jumping to conclusions, to understand other perspectives, to define their problems and goals in ways that will not lead to fights, and to generate and act on solutions that have positive outcomes for themselves and others. |
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MEALS ON WHEELS |
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| Meals on Wheels delivers a midday meal to people who are homebound and unable to prepare meals for themselves. Meals on Wheels is a volunteer-based program (partially funded by the City of Tuscaloosa, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and donations) that provides dignity, companionship and a sense of security for recipients, their families and caregivers. This program is administered in collaboration with area churches that assume responsibility for the program on weekends. |
| Meal Prices |
One Meal
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$ 2.60 |
Meals for one week |
$13.00 |
Meals for 4 weeks |
$ 52.00 |
| Meals for 6 weeks |
$ 78.00 |
| Meals for 8 weeks |
$ 104.00 |
| Meals for 12 weeks |
$ 156.00 |
| Meals for 1 year |
$ 650.00 |
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Eligibility
There are no income restrictions to participate in Meals on Wheels. Meals are available to any person, at any income level, who is unable to prepare meals. A person who is temporarily disabled or recently discharged from the hospital may also be eligible. Although the meals are priced reasonably, sponsorships from churches, organizations and private citizens are crucial for those who cannot afford them.
Volunteers
Volunteers are essential to the success of the program as they deliver meals daily at no charge to the recipient. Volunteering with Meals on Wheels gives the opportunity to make a direct and meaningful difference in the quality of individual lives.
If you are interested in sponsorship or if you would like to volunteer to deliver meals, please contact Meals on Wheels at 205-752-5429 extension 212 or complete and submit the form below. |
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PRISONER REENTRY PLANNING GRANT |
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Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc. recently received an Americorp planning grant from the Governor's Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives. The purpose of this grant is to develop a strategic plan reducing the recidivism rate of prisoners in Tuscaloosa County. CSP may also apply for additional monies to expand the plan into other counties in its service area. The planned program, with a faith-based component, is one that represents collaborative and positive initiatives for prisoner reentry into the community.
This grant requires a local task force to develop linkages among the various state and local government agencies, community-based agencies, and faith-based groups that serve as a foundation for building capacity and collaboration. Planning activities include engaging key stakeholders in analyzing local prisoner reentry data and developing workable solutions under this Americorp grant. CSP, as lead agency for this program, will apply for additional support funds to implement the plan developed by the local task force. The ultimate goal of the program will be to provide a continuum of care by connecting ex-prisoners with community resources. |
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