Community Assistance & Referral Service, Inc. (CAReS)

Protocols

CAReS will assist individuals and families providing they meet the following general criteria and then the specific criteria for the individual service.

General

1. Individuals must give permission for CAReS to contact anyone necessary so that eligibility may be determined and referrals made.

2. CAReS shall determine if those requesting assistance can correct the presenting problem themselves.

3. CAReS shall determine if there are some “conditions” that could accompany the help that would be beneficial to the recipients, in order to keep them from needing the same help again.

4. At the discretion of the Executive Director, additional CAReS funds can be accessed as long as need is verified.

Specific

Metered Utilities: (Includes gas, electric, and water)

1. Eligibility for assistance begins once the current bill becomes one week past due and ends three (3) days after receipt of the disconnect notice.

2. In order to receive the assistance, the eligible client must attend an assigned empowerment class offered by CAReS. (The class will meet both morning and evening on one day within one week of the client’s initial visit, and it will be relevant to the situation.)

3. Must not have received help with a utility bill from CAReS within the past twelve (12) months.

Home Fuels: (Includes propane, wood, coal, and kerosene)

1. Must not have received home fuel assistance from CAReS within the past three (3) months.

2. CAReS will ascertain the heating situation in the home before providing assistance (in an effort to remedy substandard housing).

Food:

1. Must have applied for food stamps and WIC (if applicable).

2. Can be referred to the appropriate food pantry.

3. May be given a shopping list redeemable at a local grocery store, if a shopping list has not been provided within the past three (3) months.

4. May be given emergency food at the discretion of the CAReS staff.

Prescriptions:

1. Must not have received prescription help from CAReS within the past 3 months.

2. Will check for medical card to see if expense is covered.

3. Will pay for maintenance medicines, antibiotics, and other life-sustaining medicines.

4. CANNOT PAY FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES/PAIN MEDICINES.

5. Prescription assistance is provided per person, not per household.

6. Not to exceed $75.00 per prescription.

7. Will check to see if generics are available on all prescriptions.

Diapers, Pull-Ups, Wipes, Baby Products, etc.:

1. Must not have received the particular baby product from CAReS within the past three (3) months.

2. Diapers/Pull-Ups will be packaged twenty-four (24) to a bag.

Transportation, Deposits, Motel/Hotel Stays and other needs:

1. Services may be provided at the discretion of the Executive Director.

2. In the absence of the Executive Director, CAReS staff may use their best judgment.