The Vision

A VISION OF HOPE

CONNECTIONS FOR HOPE IS A PARTNERSHIP of nonprofit organizations and other service providers that operate under one roof to provide individuals and families in need with access to an integrated array of services. From medical care to job skills training, tutoring children to legal counseling, these and other services foster the self-sufficiency, good health, and education people of all ages and cultures need so that they can participate constructively in the life of their community. At the same time, these members of our community can begin to envision for themselves and their families a life filled with hope, a world where they have the opportunity to succeed.

A partnership of nonprofit health and human services providers strengthens support for the mission of each organization. The ability to work cooperatively with a range of other services enables each nonprofit to deliver its programs consistently and cost-effectively. By spreading operating expenses among several organizations, and taking advantage of the economics of resource sharing, each nonprofit will have more financial resources to invest in program development and the delivery of services to those whose lives depend on them. This partnership will also allow organizations to work together more easily on collaborative funding opportunities. Both clients and organizations benefit from having multiple services housed in one place and WORKING TOGETHER WITH A SHARED PURPOSE.

Planned Services

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SERVING PEOPLE IN NEED

CONNECTIONS FOR HOPE can bring together in one easily accessible facility nonprofits that serve a wide range of needs among our community’s underprivileged population, and it can do so while reducing redundancy and creating new services to meet the most crucial needs. While the range of services we offer depends on the organizations who partner with Connections for Hope, here are A FEW AREAS THAT ARE CRUCIAL if we intend to meet the needs of our community.

• MEDICAL AND DENTAL CARE
  To maintain the health of our greater community, it’s crucial that our clients have access of effective medical care. For people trying to become financially self-sufficient, staying healthy often means staying employed.
• SERVICES AND ADVOCACY FOR CHILDREN
  Making sure children are engaged in constructive activities is a proven way to help them develop into productive citizens. We can also provide tutoring and mentoring programs that help youth improve their chances of succeeding in school.
• JOB SKILLS TRAINING
  Employment is vital to becoming self-sufficient, and we intend to help our clients develop the skills they need to secure a job with a living wage.
• LEGAL COUNSELING
  Our legal system is complex and expensive, so our goal is to provide our clients with convenient access to basic aid.
• MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
  Finding the resources to help improve mental health can be difficult, so we will work to make sure our community has access to these services.
• FINANCIAL COUNSELING
  Earning money is one thing; using it wisely is another. We want to help our clients understand how to manage limited income and make good financial decisions.
• FAMILY MANAGEMENT
  Family crisis often can be avoided if parents are able to manage their households wisely and responsibly. Courses in areas such as parenting, child care, budgeting, and elder care will help bring stability to families that are struggling to survive.
• ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION
  Literacy is vital to success, whether that means success in school or on the job. We want to offer programs that help people overcome language barriers in ways that enable them to build relationships.
• IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES
  For immigrants to become legal residents/citizens, it’s crucial that they understand the complex regulations and receive the concise, accurate guidance they need when completing paperwork.
• MENTORING
  For those on the brink of homelessness, sometimes it just takes someone to care enough to listen and guide them as they get the help needed to stay in their homes.

These and other services and programs will be able to function more efficiently by working together toward a common goal: serving people in need. And as this partnership of nonprofits improves the lives of individuals and families, ENTIRE COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM HAVING SKILLED, HEALTHY, EDUCATED CITIZENS.

The Plan

FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT BUILDS COMMUNITY

The need to establish a conveniently located facility that pursues an integrated approach to serving the needs of the community could not be more pressing. While many of us live and work in one of the most affluent counties in the country, we also have a significant number of people and families living beneath the poverty level. And while the county and nonprofits currently provide an array of services, THE NEED FOR THESE SERVICES CONTINUE TO GROW as the financial support for them diminishes. Rather than investing in more programs and resources to reach clients, many nonprofits struggle with operating costs, especially rent.

The campaign to generate financial support for Connections for Hope consists of two phases, and we have just launched the first.

PHASE 1

Our goal is to secure rental space that will accommodate the nonprofits participating in Connections for Hope. Our goal is to secure the financial support we need to underwrite rental and start-up costs for up to three years as the concept establishes itself and gains visibility.

Financial Goal: $500,000 (year one)

This target figure will enable us to cover start-up costs and the cost of office space, training rooms, computer labs, and meeting rooms, all of which will be available to tenants and the community. The cost of operations in subsequent years will be less.

PHASE 2

During this phase, we plan to grow our partnerships and provide a building to house nonprofits, service agencies from the public sector, and other organizations interested in pursuing collaborative initiatives that will effectively enhance and expand community services to our neighbors in need. Developing community partnerships across several sectors in one place will increase the capacity and effectiveness of delivering services in the northwest region of Fairfax County.

HELP US CONNECT

Connections for Hope is an opportunity for partnership of businesses, faith communities, individuals the non-profit service providers and government entities. This is a powerful combination of community resources that can work closely together to address the needs of individuals and families in our community. Your organization can be part of this exciting endeavor. In building this partnership of comprehensive resources, you can help us build a stronger community - one of compassion, empowerment, and hope.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US.

Prospective Partners

A PARTNERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE

Hope doesn’t stop with the people who are served. The non-profits that make up Connections for Hope benefit tremendously from their collaborative relationship with other organizations, and they now serve the community through shared workspace. Through this partnership, non-profits have a greater capacity to serve clients, in terms of financial resources, programs, and physical space.

PARTNER BENEFITS

• Affordable, stable space
• Operational efficiency and shared resources
• Reduced overhead costs
• Mission-enhancing collaboration
• Dedicated meeting/training space
• Greater visibility of participating organizations
• Collaborative funding opportunities
• Increased opportunities for volunteers to work with non-profits

INTERESTED NON-PROFITS

The following non-profits have expressed interest in this concept and endeavor. No contractual agreements have been signed. ADDITIONAL NON-PROFITS ARE WELCOME. For more information, please contact us.

• The Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic is a non-profit, community-based organization committed to providing access to quality health services to uninsured low-income residents of NW Fairfax County.
• Just Neighbors provides immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees of all faiths and nationalities in Northern Virginia.
• Grace Ministries empowers low-income immigrants by assisting them in accessing community resources and in developing services and programs to address the spiritual and material needs of the immigrant community.
• World Vision is Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves the Northern Virginia community primarily through its Community Mobilization Initiative in Herndon but also through other agencies partnerships in the region.
• Vecinos Unidos/Neighbors United is a non-profit that provides free homework assistance to students in grades 1-8 and offers a Summer Program that includes field trips, arts and crafts, games and educational activities. They also give students the opportunity to pursue cultural enrichment activities such as scouts, sports, dance, etc.
• Reston Interfaith promotes self-sufficiency through support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other services.
• Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington is a non-profit whose mission is to assist and empower Asian Americans and new immigrants to become well-adjusted and fully contributing members of the U.S. through social services, education, advocacy and development of resources.