BAKER SENIOR CENTER NAPLES RECEIVES $70,000 GRANT

BAKER SENIOR CENTER NAPLES RECEIVES $70,000 GRANT TO ASSIST AT-RISK AND HOMELESS OLDER WOMEN IN COLLIER COUNTY

Baker Senior Center Naples, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive programs and social services for seniors and their families, today announced that it has been awarded an $70,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Collier County through the Collier Community Foundation to prevent homelessness.

Under the “Community Lifeline to At-Risk and Homeless Older Women” project, Baker Senior Center Naples partners with Collier Resource Center utilizing the Homeless and Hunger Coalition in a seamless referral system for housing coordination. This partnership facilitates better coordination of community services to help older women who are homeless/at risk of homelessness secure housing and link up with other social services.

Baker Senior Center Naples coordinates as the lead agency with a case manager working with clients who have ongoing struggles leading to a risk of future homelessness. For this reason, the senior center continues working with clients, even after housed. The case manager supports the homeless or at immediate risk and two case managers provide monthly support through phone calls and in-person visits to those who become housed.

“We are thankful to the Women’s Foundation of Collier County for their continued support of senior women in our community,” said Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President/CEO of Baker Senior Center Naples. “This partnership will help improve the quality of life for older women who are homeless or at risk for homelessness as a result of case managers working to find them housing and developing a case management plan with appropriate follow-up to address their unique needs, promoting stability and a sense of belonging.”

Established in 1996, the Women’s Foundation of Collier County (WFCC) is a field-of-interest fund administered by the Collier Community Foundation whose mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of women and girls in Collier County through grantmaking, advocacy and education. WFCC has granted more than $2 million to local women and girl’s programs and organizations. For more information, visit wfcollier.org.

Baker Senior Center Naples is the only human services agency of its kind, providing “one-stop shop” services addressing the emotional and social needs of seniors in Collier and southern Lee counties. Since opening its doors in 2014, the organization has seen a surge in the depth and scope of need for comprehensive senior services in this region.

All programs and services are provided by licensed and credentialed professionals. These include the Brookdale Cognitive Health Center, which provides Dementia Respite Groups and Caregiver Support; Geriatric Case Management and Senior Outreach Programs; and Mental Health Counseling as well as a “choice” Food Pantry.

An average of 40 different social, educational and wellness programs also are offered each week thanks to a dedicated corps of more than 300 trained and vetted volunteers. Among these social programs are classes in art, music and film; brain fitness and educational seminars; courses in technology and computer science; physical well-being; and interest groups. The center serves everyone regardless of backgrounds and beliefs.

Baker Senior Center Naples is one of just 111 senior centers all across the United States, including just eight located within the state of Florida, to achieve accreditation from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). Accreditation means that the senior center meets the standards as developed by NISC in developing quality programs and services to meet the needs of seniors in the community.

PHOTO WITH CHECK: Susan McManus, Dr Jaclynn Faffer, Kari Lefort, Althea Irving

For additional information on Baker Senior Center Naples and its comprehensive programs and social services for local seniors, visit www.bakerseniorcenternaples.org.