Vision Statement

The Monongalia County Social Services Coordinating Council was formed in 1998 as an outgrowth of Vision 2000, and the City and County efforts to develop plans that address the wide range of issues facing County residents. Since many programs and issues reach beyond the county, the State's Planning and Development Council also became involved to the extent that its resources and responsibilities could be applied.

The Council's objectives have been fairly successful, considering the sources of the funding it relies on. In conjunction with the Champion Community's (Small Cities Block Grant) program, a homeless shelter was made available, and although of a limited occupancy it does meet the needs of many. A Single Room Occupancy (SRO) project was also developed. The joint City-County Senior Center Leadership, a program to use senior citizens as consultants and contract workers, was initiated with the support of many local businesses. This dovetailed with a similar program focusing on disabled workers irrespective of the age of the workers.

Within the context of ever-evolving national healthcare programs, physical and mental health services are more available here because of the health care resources we have. Making those services affordable is an ongoing issue and concern. The community center for seniors has been expanded to serve the larger number of seniors, and at the new Community Recreation Center there are facilities and programs for all age groups.

Educational programs to fit the wide range of residents' needs are being conducted in some of the old neighborhood schools, which have been turned over to the communities for use. Many senior citizens have also been enlisted to assist in public schools, to share their life and professional experiences in ways that will motivate students to succeed.

Overview

The social services element addresses the key issues facing Morgantown and the larger urban area's residents who need social service assistance. State law provides for the Planning Commission to be concerned with the health, safety, and general welfare of residents within the context of the Comprehensive Plan. Because "services" usually require an agency and offices and public facilities, there is a direct link between social services and other elements of the Plan.

Planning Context

Federal, State, and County governments, and non-profit agencies are the primary service providers. The Monongalia-Preston Counties United Way financially supports 27 service agencies in the two county service area. One of the agencies is Criss-Cross Inc., which publishes a directory of social service agencies in the six-county region of which Morgantown is a part. The directory provides a listing of over 150 agencies by the type of service they provide.

Coordination of agencies and services is a significant factor, and Vision 2000, through the Chamber of Commerce, has established committees, called Community Interest Groups, which focus on high profile, prominent needs. Such efforts draw citizens into the process of finding solutions to the problems that are often multi-faceted: employment, transportation, housing, education, etc.

Key Issues

• Programs for the unemployed, under-employed, and retraining of workers need to be focused on employment opportunities that are emerging, not on jobs that offer limited possibility for long-term employment at a decent wage.



• Public transportation services for elderly and low income residents need to be enhanced, along with an education program to attract them to use public transportation.



• There is a lack of low cost housing to meet the needs of many residents.



• As the City grows it will attract an increased number of homeless persons who will seek assistance; housing and social services need to be prepared to meet such a demand.



• Affordable health care and mental health care are a growing concern.



• Periodic needs assessments of the elderly and low income segments of our population are needed in order to tailor programs and outreach activities.



• Senior citizens are a resource that the schools need to use in classrooms, to transfer the life experience and vocational skills that many seniors would like to share.



• While the citywide parks, such as Krepps, Marilla, and White Park, are well situated and maintained, there is a need for small, neighborhood recreation areas, to serve neighborhood level activities.



• There is a need for a community recreation center that augments existing outdoor activities available in the area.



• The loss of recreation areas and meeting rooms at former neighborhood schools needs to be addressed, including facilities for seniors and disabled persons.



• Organizations that are pursuing various aspects of recreational activities in the community need to form a coordinating council and communications about such activities need to be improved.

Goals, Objectives, Strategies

Goal A. Health and medical care service available to residents on the basis of affordability, on a sliding scale.

Objective A1. A social services coordinating organization that brings together provider-representatives so that service providers/funding sources, and clients can maximize benefits in services.

Strategies

A1a. Form a coordinating organization to pursue maximizing social service benefits to clients and provider/funding sources.

A1b. The coordinating organization will play the lead role in developing approaches to affordable medical and mental health care, emphasizing a sliding scale of costs to clients for their responsible share.

Goal B. A single, unified seniors' organization that represents the overall interests of senior citizens.

Objective B1. Merger of separate seniors' organizations to better serve the needs of seniors, overall.

Strategies

B1a. Municipal financial support of seniors' programs will be conditioned upon merger of facilities, programs, and management.

B1b. Enhanced non-financial support to a unified seniors' organization will be pursued by Morgantown City Council, coordinating with the County Commission, other municipalities, and other public agencies.

Goal C. Programs and service opportunities for seniors, linking their interests, abilities and resources with others to the mutual benefits of the individuals and the community.

Objective C1. Schedule ongoing participation of seniors with local schools/classes to share life and work experiences that help students consider options for career tracks.

Strategies

C1a. Coordinate with the County Board of Education to program the seniors' involvement with children in classroom settings, to share work and life experiences leading to career insights.

C1b. Seek opportunities for seniors to assist teachers on class outings/events where supplementary adult supervision is needed.

Objective C2. Geographically dispersed community centers where seniors' programs and activities can be provided conveniently.

Strategies

C2a. Coordinate with the County Commission and school board to retain old schools for continued community services, and seek opportunities for seniors to use space in active school facilities during times when classes are done.

C2b. Engage the City's access (disability) committee to become active with other social service organizations to plan and develop programs and activities that provide for the needs and concerns of disabled persons.

C2c. Survey seniors to determine the type and degree of interests that can be met at the geographically dispersed centers.

C2d. Involve the Social Services Coordinating Organization in developing and conducting programs, and support for programs at community centers.

Objective C3. Prepare residents for occupations that are on the increase in this area, giving opportunity for personal and household advancement.

Strategies

C3a. Seek to establish employment and training programs that will enable clients to prepare themselves for occupational advancement, with a focus on the types of jobs that will provide stable incomes in the coming decades.

C3b. Encourage low and moderate income persons to utilize public transportation resources to a greater extent.

Objective C4. Safe, decent, affordable housing for low and moderate income households in the community, including efficiency and single room occupancy (SRO) units.

Strategies

C4a. Engage the Social Services Coordinating Organization to team with entities providing services to low and moderate income households, to select persons eligible to qualify for available assisted-housing resources.

C4b. Based upon a five-year projection of needs, provide ten dwelling units annually toward that need.

Goal D. Expand the supply of safe, high-quality, and convenient child care facilities.

Objective D1. Encourage inclusion of child care centers as part of employment facilities and in neighborhoods where appropriate.

Strategies

D1a. Assess the City's overall day care needs and identify voids in current programs.

D1b. Encourage development of neighborhood day care facilities.

D1c. Provide greater diversification of activities, particularly in after school programs for all school age children.

D1d. Work with state government for consistency in zoning, rules and regulations..

D1e. Encourage the Board of Education to consider after-school programs located in the schools.