Agency Details:

Interfaith-Senior Centers

The mission of Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc. is to link older adults with a caring community.

Description:
Interfaith Older Adult Programs was founded in 1973 by several congregations on Milwaukee's East Side who were concerned about isolated elders. These congregations pooled their resources to more effectively reach out to isolated elders. The Interfaith Neighborhood Outreach Program is the direct descendant of those early efforts. Interfaith Older Adult Programs, Inc. (then Interfaith Program for the Elderly) incorporated in 1975. Since then Interfaith has replicated those early efforts of Milwaukee's East Side to provide a countywide Neighborhood Outreach Program with 18 offices supported by 186 congregations. Since 1975, Interfaith has established many other programs that enhance the welfare of elders and family caregivers who support them.

Neighborhood Outreach Program
In 2005, Neighborhood Outreach staff and Outreach Volunteers assisted nearly 5,400 frail or isolated elders by providing over 86,000 hours of service. These services include transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, friendly visiting and information and assistance.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Corps
During 2005 RSVP Senior Corps linked 446 members who were 55 years or older to meet the needs of 99 Milwaukee County organizations for 76,000 hours of service.

Foster Grandparents
Currently, 45 Foster Grandparents are providing service to meet the needs of 150 special needs children in Milwaukee County. They provided one-on-one attention to children with special needs through tutoring, mentoring, nurturing, and counseling. The volunteers serve15 – 20 hours per week receiving a small tax free stipend, orientation and monthly training and more.

Senior Centers
Interfaith Older Adult Programs oversees the operation and management of five multi-purpose social centers for mature adults in Milwaukee County: Washington Park Senior Center, McGovern Park Senior Center, Clinton Rose Senior Center, Kelly Senior Center and Wilson Park Senior Center. The centers, funded by Milwaukee County Department on Aging, are attractive, safe places that provide social, educational, fitness and recreational activities for seniors to come together to share skills and talents, learn, have fun and celebrate life. The centers are open to all adults over the age of 50, and membership is free of charge.

Personal Care Plus+
In 2005, Personal Care Plus+ staff assisted 250 older adults per month in Milwaukee county with in-home services (homemaking and personal care).

Family Caregiver Support Network
In 2005 the Network assisted 1,064 family caregivers of older adults, along with health care professionals who help them and the general public through telephone counseling, web site information, group presentations and resource materials from its library. Also, the program provided information and increased public awareness of family caregiving issues through 22,000 mailings of its quarterly newsletter and other materials on family topics.

Good Neighbor Project
In 2005 the Good Neighbor Project assisted over 400 Milwaukee County older adults needing help with snow removal and other outdoor chores.

Family Care Case Management Unit (CMU)
CMU, created by a contractual agreement with the Milwaukee County Department on Aging, provides individual case management services to frail older adults who are eligible to receive these services. Eligibility is determined by the Department on Aging. Services include a social worker and RN, with additional support from our Occupational Therapist. In 2005 CMU provided 550 older adults with ongoing services.

Employment
In 2005 Employment served 400 individuals to find employment that met their stated needs for economic self-sufficiency.

Senior Meal Program
With great pride and diligence our meal sites have served just over 199,000 meals in 2005. Our dedicated volunteers have donated in excess of 54,000 hours to assist in this task. Interfaith staff and volunteers continue to link older adults to a caring community through the Senior Meal Program.

Interfaith also plays a lead role in Milwaukee County as a public policy advocate regarding older adult issues and as the conveyer of collaborative efforts within a service system that is complicated for both elders and professionals.

Contact people:

Amy Towar, Assistant Director, (phone), (email) Stacey Vojvodich, Program Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (414) 291-7510

Address:

600 W Virginia Street #300 Milwaukee, WI 53204 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.interfaithmilw.org

Directions:

Located 1/2 block west of 6th Street on Virginia Avenue.   Nearest Bus Stop: 80 (6th & Virginia) OR 18 or 19 (National), 2 minute walk

Last updated on January 26, 2010