Social Services: Acquiring Tools for Success
Men and women who want to move from homelessness to self-reliance, must learn the proper life skills to interact well with others and to perform in the work place. But those who have experienced homelessness or extreme poverty may not have been able to adequately develop these life skills.
UGM-TC actively partners with diverse social service organizations in Tarrant County to provide residents with a range of opportunities necessary for financial independence. By working collaboratively with different agencies, UGM-TC provides everything from legal aid to mental health treatment to counseling.
Studies show that several factors related to childhood experiences of poor family functioning, socioeconomic disadvantages, and separation from parents or caregivers have a direct impact on becoming homeless. Many men and women who live on the streets report experiences of childhood adversity—including poor relationships with parents, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and being forced or placed out of the home.
Other significant independent factors include current socioeconomic difficulty, mental health problems, and addiction—highlighting the potentially complex service needs of this population.
UGM-TC provides bus passes or private transportation to ensure our residents have access to all services provided by the following agencies at their locations:
- Recovery Resource Center (formerly Tarrant Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse) operates out of UGM-TC. On-site case managers under the Directions Home Grant provide life skills classes, assessments, and referrals for substance abuse treatment.
- Mental Health Mental Retardation of Tarrant County visits UGM-TC facilities once a week to complete intake and assessments for residents with mental health issues. Intake workers assist clients in getting services in the appropriate MHMR clinic.
- Catholic Charities provides a counselor once a week to lead an anger management group and individual counseling. They teach the triple P parenting program with our families. Triple P is a national model that required Catholic Charities to go through an intense training prior to teaching the classes.
- University of Texas Arlington uses Union Gospel Mission of Tarrant County as a field-training site for social workers. This offers students a hands-on learning experience in the social work field.
- The Parenting Center and Cook Children’s Behavioral Staff conduct parenting classes for family center residents.
- Lena Pope Home makes individual and play therapy available on-site weekly.
- AIDS Outreach Center conducts HIV testing on-site quarterly.
- SAFE Haven of Tarrant County offers domestic violence group counseling and individual counseling.
- Veterans Administration Homeless Services provides case management on-site for veterans residing in Union Gospel Mission.
