HOPES is coming to Lubbock County. Project HOPES (Healthy Outcomes through Prevention & Early Support), a program developed by the Texas Department of Prevention and Early Intervention Services (PEIS) provides multiple areas of wrap-around services to support families with children prenatal to age five. Lubbock County was chosen for funding as one of only seven counties in the State of Texas.
In total Lubbock County will receive just under $1 million in Project HOPES backing that will fund a variety of initiatives. The grant will formally be announced and detailed at a kickoff and informational event at 10 a.m. Wednesday (March 2) in the Arnett Room at Covenant Women’s and Children’s at 4000 24th St. Agencies serving families in Lubbock County and the general public are invited to attend to obtain more information and learn specifics on the program and processes for participation.
Program services are determined by individual communities participating and are based on an assessment of needs in the community to be served. The ultimate goal is to provide guidance to families on normal child development and to provide ongoing support to parents in the critical first years of a child’s life.
Lubbock County’s Project HOPES initiative is a collaboration of the Parenting Cottage, Covenant Children’s, City of Lubbock Health Department, Lubbock Area United Way – Success by 6, and other entities to bring both an expansion of current services as well as the addition of new services to families residing in Lubbock County.
Support for Lubbock County’s submission of the multi-year funding proposal came from the Lubbock Area United Way, Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Lubbock Independent School District, Frenship Independent School District, Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District, City of Lubbock, Workforce Solutions, City of Wolfforth Police Department and also faith-based entities.
Specific initiatives funded include implementation of:
- Parents as Teachers, a home visitation program that assists families by providing parent education and guidance
- Community education related to child abuse, Shaken Baby Syndrome, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and pregnancy-related depression
- Pregnancy-related depression counseling
- Faith-based education and awareness activities around child abuse
- Navigator to assist victims of domestic abuse
(News release from Covenant Health)
