Community Alternatives Inc

ABOUT BRASHEAR ASSOCIATION For over nine decades, Brashear Association has worked to build strong families and communities. Through our two community centers-Brashear Center on South Side and Henry Kaufmann Neighborhood House in Arlington-and our Neighborhood Employment Center in Allentown, we provide a wide array of human services. And, in cooperation with other community-based organizations, we tackle neighborhood problems and concerns. In the settlement house tradition, we serve as a focal point for neighborhood activities and information and build strong communities, one family at a time. For kids, the Association provides educational enrichment programs during the school year and throughout the summer.We also offer arts education for elementary school students. During the summer, the agency works closely with Hill Top United Methodist Church, Duquesne University, and many local businesses, schools, and organizations to provide exciting summer programs for young children. For several years, Brashear has worked closely with Duquesne University to match college students with community kids, as tutors, mentors, and program assistants. This growing relationship has allowed us to serve more kids in more neighborhoods with new and different services. To help families in need, we provide tangible assistance through our two food pantries, energy assistance services, and holiday programs. Community case management services, designed to promote family self-sufficiency, are offered in partnership with Pittsburgh Community Services, Incorporated and the Birmingham Foundation. For several years, Brashear complements its self-sufficiency services with job development through our Neighborhood Employment Center (NEC) on Warrington Avenue. The NEC continues to meet the needs of area job seekers and exceed its program goals. Senior adults are an active part of the Brashear family, too. We offer senior nutrition programs at both centers. Adult day care, in cooperation with Allentown Senior Citizen Center, is housed at Kaufmann House along with the Arlington Meals-On-Wheels Program. We sponsor two stroke support groups in cooperation with the Health Hope Network and provide space for self-help programs. We also house an outreach office of UPMC's Living At Home program at Kaufmann Center. The Association convenes the South Consortium, an association of service providers which works to analyze human service needs and delivery systems and to maximize resource sharing and program efficacy. In a similarly collective manner, Brashear works with community-based organizations through the South Side Planning Forum to address community development planning and issues. We also convene the Senior Services Consortium, rounding out service delivery and planning efforts in South Pittsburgh. In addition, the agency has worked with a new community-wide coalition-the South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace-to help end the violence that has plagued our communities for too long. The Association is a United Way agency. The support from the United Way has enhanced our ability to serve and to grow.