Christ Child Family Support Program at the Mary Virginia Merrick Center
With a newly hired Program Director and a growing number of contacts with community service providers and neighborhood leaders, the Christ Child Family Support Program at the Mary Virginia Merrick Center is underway! We welcome Ms. Ange Anglade to the staff as the director of this exciting program initiative! We are also thrilled that our newest guild, the Delarue Guild, has agreed to adopt this program at the Merrick Center. With such an experienced director and an enthusiastic group of volunteers, we know this program will be a great success! We also thank our Merrick Center Committee made up of volunteers on both a board and guild level, for their guidance as we bring this process forward. With their oversight, we launch this pilot project and bring so many of the wonderful services of the Christ Child Society to the children and families of the Washington Highlands neighborhood in Southeast Washington.
Initial goals of the program:
v Build relationships within the community – with existing service providers, community leaders, local housing managers, Archdiocesan representatives, Victory Youth Center staff, neighborhood school officials and more
v Conduct an ongoing needs assessment of the local community
v Based on the needs assessment, initiate three pilot programs with a focus on at-risk parents with young children (ages 0-3 years)
v Provide assessment, referral and case management services to families currently using the Merrick Center for recreational, after-school activities and summer camp activities.
v Distribute Christ Child layettes at the Merrick Center
v Determine need for coats and incorporate immediate community into CCS Coat Drive
v Coordinate services with summer camp managers and provide positive recreational experiences at the Merrick Center