Surviving Change has been leading programing for youth and families since 2005. The lead staff member for Surviving Change, Deborah Moore Jackson, has been doing this work on behalf of different agencies in our community for over 30 years and is a deeply respected member of our community.
Most of the families and individual’s Surviving Change supports are navigating numerous challenges. Surviving Change walks alongside community members, learns their unique needs, challenges, strengths, and future-oriented goals and then works to connect them with existing resources in our community.
While most organizations in our community have an “open door” policy, it is still very difficult for some families (especially those with literacy challenges, non-English language speakers, people of color, etc.) to “cross the threshold” or identify the right door to walk through to get their needs met. Surviving Change offers the level of support that traditional case management services do not provide, like helping families complete FMLA paperwork, unemployment applications, applications for Food Benefits, understanding court procedures for child welfare, and other legal issues. Surviving Change receives “referrals” from child welfare, Bremerton Police Department, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, Marvin Williams Center, faith leaders, NAACP, DocLuv’s the Kids, Gather together Grow Together, Department of Social and Health Services, Landlords/Property Management, Bremerton Housing Authority, Salvation Army and others.
We have found that our unorthodox approach is a powerful way to help families feel truly seen and heard. It also requires us to be extremely nimble and adaptive to the needs of each family. For example, Surviving Change has been helping many families through funeral and grieving processes during COVID. We have also been helping families learn the “language” of our service providers to receive the new benefits available through COVID. Surviving Change offers Financial Relief education to help individuals understand their legal rights and options when navigating financial challenges and provides education on tenant rights and the eviction process.
Additionally, Surviving Change has worked with the Naval Supply Center to recruit 30 women of color into employment opportunities with the Navy. We partner with landlords to educate them about second-chance housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals, including setting up sober and supportive housing in our community.