The St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: Committed to Its Communities through Humanitarian Services

The American Red Cross provides a wide range of humanitarian services to help communities avoid, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Some American Red Cross chapters maintain a strong presence in their communities by creating and administering a variety of Community Services such as homeless services, services for seniors, a support program for caregivers and transportation services that meet the specific needs of local residents.

Healthways for Caregivers

Funded as a pilot project by the United Way, Healthways for Caregivers, also administered by the St. Louis Area Chapter, provides case management, emergency respite care and a range of support services aimed at assisting the caregivers of elderly individuals. The program offers immediate relief to caregivers in crisis by providing information and intervention. "Gatekeeper" partners, both professionals and volunteers, are identified and provided with an in-depth education about dementia and other chronic conditions so that they are trained to support caregivers and their families. Overall, the Healthways for Caregivers program involves an assessment of the caregiver's needs, the development of a service plan to meet those needs and an evaluation of the impact of the intervention on the caregiver's quality of life.

Lifeline

Through the Lifeline program, 19 American Red Cross chapters provide a 24-hour personal emergency response service for seniors and people with disabilities or medical conditions. The service provides communication equipment and a small wireless button that people in need can use to automatically contact Lifeline personnel. Depending on the client's need, Lifeline will dispatch a Red Cross volunteer to the client's home. It helps make independent living possible for those who might otherwise have to reside in an assisted living home and helps give family members peace of mind. Some chapters go an extra mile by providing health and safety information and other services to Lifeline participants.

Other Services

In addition to caregiving services, the St. Louis Area Chapter offers the Second Chance Shelter. The Second Chance Shelter, provides temporary housing and support services for homeless families to help them begin to live independently. Founded in 1985 by Ministers United Against Human Suffering, the shelter is managed by the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. The facility has 10 rooms and can house up to 38 people at a time. The Second Chance Shelter is one of a small number of shelters that accepts whole families, providing housing for up to 90 days. In addition to housing and meals, clients are provided life skills and computer training, employment training referrals, a parenting skills program, counseling, programs for children and financial management assistance. Shelter staff also assists nonresident clients annually through a variety of community programs, including food pantry and rental and utility assistance.

For more information on any of these Community Services programs offered by the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, visit their Web site or contact Vanetta Rogers by e-mail at vrogers@redcrossstl.org or by phone at (314) 516-2770.