Community Programs

Community Programs

The Community Services Division is responsible for service projects and programs which help to build the assets of individuals and organizations, maintain and increase community's assets, and establish household or individual self-sufficiency. Community Services works to build the assets of our community's citizens by identifying needs or problems and working toward resolving issues effectively.
Adult and Family Services (AFS)
The Adult and Family Services (AFS) programs are part of RCAA’s Community Services Division. The AFS programs provide diverse and comprehensive services to community members who hold lived experiences and/or who are surviving the high-risk challenges of:  houselessness, poverty, intergenerational and complex traumas, disabilities, health risks, high ACE’s scores, behavioral health and substance use disorder challenges, disabilities, lack of resources and natural supports, abuse, neglect, family separation, foster care and/or out of home placements. All of RCAA’s Adult and Family Services programs and projects operate through a trauma informed, people-centered, harm reduction (or hybrid harm reduction) model that focuses on wellness, healing and recovery. 
AFS programs receive a wide variety of federal, state, and local funding to operate our unique programs and collaborative projects. It is important for us to recognize our local community partners that continue to support our clients directly and indirectly, and we THANK YOU for your kindness and generosity. Some of these local supporters include: Humboldt Sponsors, Humboldt County DHHS, Providence Health Care, Open Door Community Health Centers, Eureka Rotary, Humboldt Area Foundation, First 5 Collaborative, Lifehouse Humboldt, Eureka Center for Spiritual Living, Moonstone Quilters Guild, Family Resource Centers, Water Works Park, and Scurfield Electric, Heating and Solar, just to name a few. Additionally, AFS programs collaborate with all service provider agencies on a local, State and Federal level, as our client’s needs reflect and require.
PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN TRANSITION (PACT)
The PACT program is a unique transitional living, hybrid harm reduction, program in Eureka that serves families with minor children that are surviving with lived experiences and current challenges of family separation, houselessness, intergenerational traumas, behavioral and physical health and substance use disorder challenges. The families we have the privilege of joining with and serving, are currently working with, and are directly referred to by Humboldt County’s Child Welfare Services (CWS). In addition to CWS, Humboldt County’s Healthy Mom’s program has a long-term relationship with the PACT Program, and they are a consistent provider group that collaborates regularly with the PACT and CWS team. Each family referred to the PACT program are currently working towards family reunification and family bonding, stabilization, vocational and/or educational opportunities, school and childcare placements for children, obtaining and maintaining benefits and housing, additionally, many families are working on their initial early recovery stages and healing processes. We serve families how they identify their households and for example this could be: a single parent/caregiver with 9 children, a 3-parent household with a pregnant parent, a multigenerational household with an aunt, uncle, grandparent and 5 children, a blended family of adult caregivers and many minor children that are previous neighbors that have chosen to live and identify together as a family. However, each family defines themselves, we are grateful for the opportunity to join each of the families in their healing journey.
There are several confidential, transitional housing sites all located within the City of Eureka that temporarily house and serve referred families. The PACT program is a confidential, 4-month program with a primary focus on finding permanent housing in Humboldt County. There is a small provider group at PACT consisting of: Case Workers, Program Coordinator and a Program Manager. Staff provide holistic case management, rehabilitative and support services for the entire family unit, and additionally community integration activities that promote sacred family bonding opportunities, while working to establish each family’s community membership. This program maintains a focus on healthy and safe parenting and family reunification processes that are unique to each family at the PACT program. Aftercare services are provided for up to 6 months after our families have obtained permanent housing.
PACT PROGRAMS' GARDEN 2023

HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION (HHAP-APS)
The HHAP-APS program is a community-based program that serves adults 18+, that are considered high-risk, vulnerable, and houseless and/or soon to be houseless, and their households. All clients are referred directly through Humboldt County’s Adult Protective Services (APS) and must meet the eligibility criteria of current houselessness and/or at risk of houselessness within 14 days. The HHAP Case Workers team together to provide intensive case management services with a harm reduction focus and assess the client’s individual needs and the needs of their family that they will obtain permanent housing with. The Case Worker’s begin working with the client almost immediately on housing-related services, with the ultimate goal being that of obtaining and sustaining permanent housing in Humboldt County. Through the process of obtaining housing, Case Workers are also striving to holistically support their clients in stabilizing, whether it be through obtaining a Primary Care Physician, attending a Psychiatry or Behavioral Health appt, starting their application process for disability benefits, building a natural support, looking at their finances, acclimating to the idea and reality of becoming housed indoors and the changes that will come with this huge shift in their daily reality. In addition to the traditional and holistic work of the Case Workers, this team also has a SOAR Case Worker. SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a service model that assists individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness who have a serious mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder, apply for Social Security disability benefits. The SOAR Case Worker provides: technical case management services, client advocacy, assess client’s eligibility for disability benefits, hold the responsibility and title of “Authorized Representative” for the individual’s process with SSA, and submit their complete and quality disability application for benefits through the Social Security Administration. The HHAP-APS program is also able to provide temporary rental assistance and subsidies for housing, and on-going supportive services to assist in sustaining their housing, while increasing their wellness, safety and stability.
BLUE VIC PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROJECT (Blue Vic)
The Blue Vic is a large Victorian home located in the City of Eureka that provides Permanent Supportive Housing for transitional age youth and adults 18yo+ that hold lived experience with medical, mental health, and/or SUD challenges and have a history of houselessness. This is a multigenerational, congregate, and shared living housing project, as tenants share the common spaces in the home including the kitchen, living rooms, sunroom, yards, laundry rooms, and the general spaces in the home. All utilities are included, the units and common spaces are furnished, and additionally there are kitchen appliances, and washers/dryers on site and free for tenants to use. Tenants work with their community-based case management supports in conjunction with the property management staff to stabilize in their home and maintain their housing. The Blue Vic project is a collaboration with RCAA and Arcata House Partnership. The referral system for the Blue Vic is not open to the public.
ONYX PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE FAMILY HOUSING PROJECT (Onyx)
The Onyx was created and developed by a partnership and collaborative process between Strombeck Properties, Providence Health Care Systems, Arcata House Partnership, Dr. Evan Bauxbaum, and RCAA. The Onyx is a 10-unit housing project for families with minor children that hold lived experiences of houselessness, poverty, lack of resources, and may be surviving with medical and behavioral health challenges, substance use disorders and recovery, generational trauma, and lack of natural supports. Strombeck Properties owns and manages the property and units, whereas RCAA provides the on-site supportive services for tenants. The focus of the on-site supportive services is on tenant/landlord advocacy, sustaining housing and benefits, financial budgeting, coordinating and providing community-based activities and events for children and their parents/caregivers. The Onyx project has a beautiful and spacious community room that tenants can access to work and play with the on-site support staff. Referrals and housing applications for the ONYX are not open to the public at this time, yet may be appropriate if the family is a participant of Arcata House Partnership, RCAA, Betty Chinn, and/or Bringing Families Home with Humboldt County’s Child Welfare Services.
HOMELESS HOUSING, ASSISTANCE AND PREVENTION (HHAP-WVS)
The HHAP-WVS program is an on-site, permanent supportive housing program that is located at the Danco-Group’s new HOMEKEY project called West Village Studios, located in Arcata’s Valley West neighborhood. The West Village Studios is a newly renovated permanent supportive housing project consisting of 78 studio units. Each resident has been referred for tenancy through the Humboldt County Coordinated Entry System, and community members must be houseless and/or chronically houseless to be considered for tenancy. RCAA provides the on-site supportive services at West Village Studios, and these services are available to each tenant that chooses to access the support. The supportive services staff at WVS will also coordinate on-site and community-based activities and events, work with clients through a holistic case management lens, support tenants with tenant/landlord advocacy, assist with daily needs, provide life skills education, access vocational/educational and employment services, coordination of medical/dental/behavioral health and substance use disorder care and treatment, referrals, linkages, supporting the tenants with the on-site garden maintenance and harvesting of produce, accessing community resources, building natural supports and peer integration supports, also supporting all tenants through a harm reduction focus. The HHAP-WVS program also provides rental assistance and subsidies to support WVS tenants with sustaining their housing.
If you are interested in making a monetary donation to any of our programs, you can click on our website donate button and follow the instructions. 
 

TOOTH Program

To assure, promote, and protect the oral health of Humboldt County’s children by increasing their oral health awareness, knowledge, and self-responsibility by developing positive, life-long oral health behaviors.

TOOTH originated from RCAA's Cesar Chavez Healthy Communities Project in 2001. Since 2002, TOOTH has served the preschool and K-6th grade population of Humboldt County children with the support of First 5 Humboldt and Circle of Smiles. After hosting the program for seven years, the California Conservation Corps transitioned the program to RCAA in 2009. 

Teaching Oral Optimism throughout Humboldt County, (TOOTH) is an oral health program of the Redwood Community Action Agency, originally directed at providing education and preventive services in daycare and preschool settings, kindergarten, first, third and fifth grades students and their families throughout the community. We currently only teach elementary grade youth and the TOOTH lessons are now taught on ZOOM due to the Pandemic.

Currently, the TOOTH Program is funded by Department of Health and Human Services’ CalFRESH Program, First 5 Humboldt, Humboldt County Office of Education, Northcoast Grantmaking Partnership, Union Labor Health Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration. 

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

1. Oral Health Education and Prevention
Oral Health lessons will be provided via ZOOM to kindergarten, 1st, 3rd and 5th grade students in all elementary schools throughout Humboldt County. The lessons will focus on the following topics:
  • Proper tooth brushing & flossing techniques
  • Brushing two times a day, for two minutes
  • Visiting the dentists and losing teeth
  • Germ prevention (hand washing, covering your couth & sharing toothbrushes)
  • Nutrition/exercise (importance to teeth, food pyramid, need for exercise/water)
  • Tobacco/drug use: gum disease, bone loss & oral cancer (5th grade only)
2. Community Education
TOOTH will provide oral health education, dental disease prevention workshops, and dental supplies to caregivers and parents in Humboldt County. This goal will  be accomplished by providing workshops at playgroups, school parent night and community health fairs.

 

“Money! Search and Rescue”

Money difficulties can be a main contributor to that stress in the household. The concerns of keeping safe housing, the lights on and food on the table seem almost impossible. Then add into the mix, attempting to save for rainy day, buying a car, or just putting together a rental deposit. These obtainable goals are just out of reach for so many families and individuals in Humboldt County.
Redwood Community Action Agency (RCAA) has developed a program called “Money! Search and Rescue.”

Money! Search and Rescue is not designed to be a quick fix to money issues, but it is designed to put client in control of their money. It does this by sharing money practices that are informative and road tested. It provides contacts for free assistance to empower the clients with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate a wide variety of money topics. The Money! Search and Rescue curriculum incorporates the Your Money, Your Goals toolkit provided by the Consumer Protection Bureau. Subjects include:

  • Banking Basics
  • Dealing with Credit Card Debt
  • Saving fir Emergencies
  • How to Obtain Your Credit Report
  • Managing Income
  • Setting Financial Goals
  • Reducing Student Debt
  • Identity Theft and Fraud

The tools presented in "Your Money, Your Goals" (YMYG) are designed to help lower income and economically vulnerable families living in Humboldt County. RCAA is committed to ending the cycle of poverty in our community. Our community has been hit hard economically with the decline of the timber and fishing industries, as well as the recent pandemic.
Many families and individuals are in critical need of the tools presented by YMYG, in order to take control of their financial future.

We not only work one on one with clients but collaborate with other organizations in order to reach the largest number of individuals. The program is nimble enough to be tailored to the community’s or individual’s needs.

Money! Search and Rescue is here to empower participants and reduce the high-level stress that money issues often creates.
This program is made possible by a grant awarded to RCAA from the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention.

Contact Steven Pera, with questions, at (707) 269-2048, or email; spera@rcaa.org



 
 




 

How do RCAA's programs affect you?

  • Natural Resources Services (NRS) works directly with Humboldt County community leaders, schools and parents to improve safety and encourage more children to safely walk and bicycle to school. NRS helps coordinate both the Greater Eureka and Humboldt County Safe Routes to School Task Forces.
  • The Natural Resources Services works with community members, civic groups, and local jurisdictions to enhance neighborhood street tree planting and support the development of community forests for public access and watershed protection.
  • The TOOTH program: igniting healthy smiles and lifelong dental wisdom in young minds!
  • The Energy & Environmental Services Division provides much needed help to our low-income and elderly community members. The program helps to pay their energy costs, to make their homes warm and cozy, and improve their health by weatherizing their homes against inclement weather.
  • AFACTR AmeriCorps Member states that their experience with the program has been by far one of the best experiences I have ever had at any job. The training's I've had has opened my opportunities for other jobs in ways I never thought possible. The AmeriCorps experience has been a really great experience. I have nothing but good to say about being an AmeriCorps member.
  • AmeriCorps has helped me to understand the imperative need for stabilization services not only in Humboldt County, but on a macrosystem level. It has also allowed me to network with wonderful local nonprofits and federal service agencies to understand how they provide trauma informed services that strengthen family systems and community based models. Based on my term as an AmeriCorps member, I have become more comfortable with providing casework to clients and have developed a meaningful rapport with service agencies in our area. Providing at a resource center has driven my interest in continuing my education to pursue my master's degree in public administration.
  • I began my AFACTR term as an undergrad student and saw it as an opportunity to better define what I wanted to pursue as a career after college. As my term comes to an end, I have committed to gaining a master's in social work degree, something that I 100% attribute to my experiences at the family resource center. It feels like this program was tailor-made for people in a similar situation as me, who feel somewhat uncertain about future direction but have an affinity for or interest in helping professions. Additionally, the relationships I've build with my coworkers and clients have given me a feeling of connection and understanding to the community that was just not present in my life prior to my AmeriCorps term.
  • My AFACTR AmeriCorps service provided me with the confidence I needed to branch out into a whole different field of service.I cannot put into words how much this program means to me. My future looks very positive and full of opportunities I thought I would never have. As a result of AFACTR I now have so many tools at my disposal that I can utilize in my professional future.
  • As a second term AFACTR AmeriCorps member, I can say that AFACTR offers you a unique opportunity to be the best version of yourself. Whatever place you are in your life when you enter the program, you will leave having grown in ways you didn't know were possible. I cannot recommend strongly enough the powerful opportunity of upward mobility through hard work and commitment to your community. I am on my way to getting my master's degree which will be financially supplemented by my educational award and am in a place where I feel seen, valued and supported.