Talbot Community Connections, Inc.

Stories

Foster Care
We used the TCC funds for horseback riding lessons for two brothers who have been placed in treatment foster homes. The boys are 5 and 13 years old and horseback riding lessons gave them the opportunity to have a new experience. In addition, the foster family is very involved with horses and it gave the boys the opportunity to develop a bond/common interest with the family.

Adult Services
A man was robbed and beaten outside his home in Easton for failing to give the robber his wallet. He was severely beaten in the face and left to die. He was transported to University of Maryland in Baltimore where multiple surgeries were performed; he remained there until the early spring of 2008, undergoing rehabilitation and therapy until his release home. During his hospitalization, his wife, who is chronically and severely mentally ill, was left without a caregiver. She is unable to manage money, cook, and needs assistance with her medications. It was feared that without support, his wife would relapse and be placed in the State hospital. Fortunately, this couple has wonderful friends/neighbors who took in his wife, fed her, paid their bills, and monitored her medications while the husband was recovering. Of course, this took a financial toll on the neighbor/couple as their money was spent on the needy couple as well as for gasoline in transporting the wife to Baltimore to see her husband. TCC funds were able to assist the neighbor couple by paying for fuel and re-connecting an electric bill, as well as prescriptions for the mentally ill wife to keep her from being hospitalized. Funds from TCC were able to keep individuals in the community and families united.

Child Welfare
At 5 o’clock one cold day in February as we were closing, the guard noticed a woman still sitting in the lobby. She had apparently missed the bus and didn’t know what to do, so she just sat in the lobby. She had some mental and physical aliments and had been “in town” in Easton for a couple of appointments, her last being at DSS. When the guard learned of her plight, he called the social worker on intake. She quickly assessed the problem and made arrangements for a cab to transport the woman home to an outlying area of the county. TCC funds were used as this is the only source of funds that are not restricted by a program.

Families & Adults
Fiscal Year 2008 saw a downturn in the economy and an increase in costs of every kind. It was for this reason that Talbot County DSS saw a different type of customer, the middle class struggling to stay afloat. Our emergency money (EAFC) is intended for families and children only, and was stretched to the limit. The overwhelming need this past year was for assistance with utility bills, which were much higher in cost than in previous years due to the economy. And if you were on a budget plan, this meant that the full amount of the bill became due at once. Thanks to the grant from TCC we were able to assist an additional 15 units consisting of families, the elderly, and individuals with no children in the home. The average grant was $220 per household, and was used to prevent 2 evictions and 13 utility disconnects. Both the citizens of Talbot County and the local department thanks TCC for allowing us to help the economically disadvantaged in Talbot County.

Respite Beds
The TCC respite bed funds have been used during my tenure to compensate for shortage in monies from the Option Respite funds. So, it is usually held and used closer to the end of that fiscal year which follows the federal calendar and ends on September 30th. So, I have used very little of the funds thus far this year (two respite events have been covered so far). However, the Option Respite funding once again will not cover all the anticipated need. The largest chunk of respite money this year has been going to help a sibling group remain in the county and together. Without the respite funding, these young ladies would probably have to have moved from their schools and may have had to be split up. Another young man has been able to remain in his grandparent’s home because respite has been available to help give them the support and rest.

“Leslie”
Neglect issues caused Leslie to be removed from her home and placed with a relative in kinship care. Leslie’s aunt worked full-time, however, and, although Leslie was old enough legally to stay home by herself, the thought of leaving her alone all day during the summer was not something that Leslie’s aunt was comfortable doing. Monies made available by Talbot Community Connections for the benefit of children placed in foster care paid for Leslie to go to six weeks of summer camp at the Talbot County YMCA, providing socialization and fun for Leslie and peace of mind for Leslie’s aunt.

“Lonnie”
Lonnie has been shuffled around for the majority of his youth. When his mother was unable to care for him due to alcohol and substance abuse issues, he was placed with his grandmother. At 13, he was moved to a treatment foster home because his grandmother could no longer handle the behavioral issues that had arisen. Lonnie struggled through school, but eventually, through his hard work and perseverance, was able to graduate and enroll in college. Monies made available by Talbot Community Connections for the benefit of children placed in foster care paid for his text books, enabling Lonnie to continue on the right path as moves on to adulthood.

“Adam, Amanda and Sharon”
Amanda and Adam’s mother, Sharon, suffered from low self-esteem due to her own childhood abuse, causing her to make some ill-advised choices that put her children at risk. Substance abuse and domestic violence issues necessitated the removal of Amanda and Adam from the home for their safety. Sharon made the conscious choice to turn her life around, getting help for her issues and becoming involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. Talbot County Department of Social Services sent Sharon to the AA and NA State Conference with monies made available by Talbot Community Connections for the benefit of children placed in foster care, facilitating the eventual reunification of the family.

“Helen”
Helen has not had an easy life. She has overcome addictions issues. She struggles with several physical and mental health issues, including chronic asthma, mental retardation, and depression. She raised her two children, who are now young adults, on a modest disability income. Helen supplements her income with a part-time job at a supported employment facility. Despite living very frugally, with money spent on only the bare necessities, Helen’s struggles each month to pay her bills as her needs exceed her means. She is also dependent on Talbot County Department of Social Services (TCDSS) for transportation and energy assistance. Monies made available by Talbot Community Connections for the benefit of vulnerable adults has enabled TCDSS to assist with Helen’s rent and pay for groceries, enabling her to remain living independently in the community.

All names have been changed to protect confidentiality. Updated on 1/3/2008.