Pillsbury United Communities – Waite House awarded $610,000 from state legislature to assist families affected by 35W bridge collapse
Minneapolis, MN, May 2, 2008 – The House and Senate of the Minnesota State Legislature reached an agreement on the compensation plan for survivors of the 35W bridge collapse, including $610,000 for Pillsbury United Communities – Waite House. Waite House, a neighborhood center of Pillsbury United Communities that had a school bus with 52 children on the bridge, will use the funds to implement a comprehensive three-year strategy that surrounds affected children and families with resources to support recovery and growth. Governor Pawlenty has already pledged to sign off on the $38 million plan which is expected to be approved by the full House and Senate next week.
Specific components of the Waite House three-year plan include hiring two full-time family advocates who will act as liaisons between the families and recovery resources such as school support, insurance, medical care and mental health services. Waite House will also hire two direct-service youth workers who will work alongside existing activity leaders to exclusively support bridge survivor youth and help manage behavior issues. Therapeutic support groups, facilitated by contracted mental health professionals, will be held on-site at the center for children. Finally, a parent support coordinator will lead weekly sessions for parents of bridge survivor youth to strategize how to best respond to symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome in their children and to provide support for one another. |