Alliance for Families and Children

Alliance for Families and Children accepts Wal-Mart donation to help teen moms
By Annie McCallum, Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: December 3, 2008
The Alliance for Families and Children called attention to the rising rate of teen pregnancies Wednesday when the organization accepted $30,000 from the Wal-Mart Foundation to aid its programs for teenage parents.
“The current trend in teen pregnancy rates is very alarming,” said Alliance for Families and Children CEO Tom Prest.
In the Central Virginia area that his organization serves, there were 459 teen pregnancies in 2007, and 212 were in Lynchburg.
“It is our belief that teen pregnancies in our area have continued to rise,” he said.
Looking forward, Prest anticipates rates will continue to be high — a trend, he said, that has multiple impacts on the community.
Teen pregnancy is closely linked to poverty and single parenthood. Children of teens also have a greater risk of insufficient healthcare and poor school performance, he said. Prest said the gift from Wal-Mart will directly support teens and families in need. The donation comes at a time when funding for programs to prevent pregnancy has decreased. The alliance can no longer help every teen in need, which has been a painful reality for staff members.
“I know for our staff not being able to meet the demand wears on us,” he said. “We become second parents to teens.”Ahniece Farmer can attest to that. Farmer, who was 16 years old when she became pregnant, has a family support worker through the alliance who she says is like a mother to her. Farmer’s parents are dead and she lives with her grandmother. When she learned she was pregnant, she said it was difficult to find support.
“It was a rough time in my life,” she said.
Farmer is now 19 and a high school graduate. She credits the alliance — specifically June Taylor, her family support worker — with keeping her in school and on the right track. Farmer will start courses at Central Virginia Community College in January.
“It’s important to me because they’re supportive and understanding,” Farmer said. “They help you through a lot of things.”
Taylor, who has been with the alliance for about two years, beamed at Farmer.
“She had it in her all the time,” Taylor said.
“My job was to be there. She did it.”

Walmart has given Lynchburg's Alliance for Families and Children a major gift to prevent teen pregnancy. The Alliance received a check for $30,000 Wednesday from the corporation. The gift will go towards programs that prevent teenage pregnancy. And help young mothers, like 19-year-old Ahniece Farmer graduate from high school, go to college and get a job.
Ahniece Farmer, Teen Parent Program Graduate - "If it wasn't for me going to the Alliance for Families and Children I wouldn't be where I am today. I probably would have dropped out of school or something--but luckily I didn't. I got through and graduated." Last year's Virginia Department of Health numbers show teen pregnancies are increasing in Lynchburg, Amherst and Campbell Counties. And they expect those numbers to get even higher.

Teen pregnancy putting strain on local resources
From WDBJ-7 12/3/08
Reporter: Tim Saunders
Teen pregnancy is at its highest rate in 15 years. That's according to health officials who say the increase in young mothers is putting a strain on local resources.When Ahniese Farmer gave birth to her son, Zymarion, at age 16, she says it threw her life off track. She went to Lynchburg's Alliance for Families and Children to seek guidance.
"They helped me finish high school and get through to college," said Farmer. She says she would have struggled without the Alliance. They're trying to help others just like her, but it's getting harder as more cases start showing up.Teen pregnancy has been on the rise in Lynchburg for the last three years, and experts say they expect an even bigger increase for 2008.
"Unfortunately, we're not able to reach a lot of them because of the great number of cases that are coming to us," said June Taylor, family case worker. While the Alliance isn't able to help everyone, they are trying to refer mothers to other agencies. But the fact they're having to turn away anyone is troubling.
"Of course that makes you feel bad, because you want to try and service as many young ladies as possible," said Taylor. At the Alliance, they're spending so much time with teens who already have children, they're not able to focus on prevention. "Right now, we're dealing a lot with teens after they've become pregnant, and we'd rather deal with that before," said Tom Prest, with Alliance for Families and Children. Prest says funding for prevention programs has been cut in recent years, which could also be hurting the pregnancy rate. But some are optimistic the trends can be reversed.
"With the appropriate care and the appropriate services, hopefully we will see a decline," said Taylor.
You might be wondering what's driving up the teen pregnancy rate. One expert News7 talked with Wednesday said he believes it's images in the media like Jamie Lynn Spears who make pregnancy look "popular."

Credit Debt Bailout Plan

Fri October 31, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA

Reporter: Margaret Clevenstine

from ABC 13 - http://www.wset.com/news/stories/1008/566133.html

Many of us would love to pay off our credit cards. But consumer data shows more and more people can't. For them, bankruptcy seems inevitable. But help could soon be on the way. Banks and consumer groups want to erase much of that debt. They think it would help everyone. The consumers would get a break. The banks would get their money back and it wouldn't cost us taxpayers a thing. At the grocery store, at the gas pump, credit cards aren't just for emergencies anymore. More people are using them just to get by.
Margaret - "Is it a struggle to get those bills paid every month?" Emory Hollins, Credit Card User - "It is, every month."
Now more consumers, feel there's no way out.
Hollins - "I don't know how to get out of the cycle, I need help."
Help may be on the way for people like Emory Hollins who maybe close to declaring bankruptcy. The Financial Services Roundtable, made up of consumer advocates and banks, is asking the government to allow banks to forgive up to 40% of credit card debt for people who are on the road to bankruptcy. The remaining 60% would be paid back over five years at 0% interest. Helping people stay out of bankruptcy court and helping banks out too.
Joan Foster, Alliance Credit Counseling - "If you go bankrupt, that's 100% of your debt that you aren't going to get paid back, in this proposal they would be paid back."
Michele Fitzgerald, Lynchburg - "That would help a lot of people, including me."
Participants would also have to be enrolled in credit counseling.
Foster - "This would teach some responsibility."
But others worry it may do the opposite.
Reginald Goodman, Lynchburg - "You don't know what might happen. It's hard to tell. People take advantage of this type of thing."
And they do want to test this program out. If the government approves it, 50,000 people will participate. They'll be followed for a year and a half to see how it goes.

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The $700-Billion Bailout & Your Credit
September 25, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
Reporter: Margaret Clevenstine
from ABC 13 - http://www.wset.com/news/stories/0908/556577.html

The financial turmoil isn't confined to Wall Street, you can find its effect on your credit card statement. We talked to a credit counselor today. She says there are a couple of things we need to check on now, because it's more important than ever to keep track of our credit. Some numbers are going up, while others are going down and everyone is feeling it.
Ann Ronk, Senior Credit Counselor, Alliance for Families and Children - "It's the worst that I have seen it and I've worked in credit for a really long time." Ann Ronk's office is busier than ever, with more families looking for help.
Ronk - "It's pretty bad because the interest rates are so high and some of them are living on their credit cards."
And while the interest is high, some of the limits are getting lower.
Ronk - "I've seen several come in here and they were unaware that their credit lines were lowered and they made charges and of course going over the limit fees."
Putting card holders under pressure... because banks and the credit card companies are feeling the pressure of a weakening economy. Ronk says don't use credit cards on anything that's easily consumed, like gas, groceries, or eating out.
Debbie Dateo, Lynchburg - "Oh yeah, watering down milk, I don't tell my kids that, but in the cereal, you can't tell."
Review your budget, see what you can cut out.
Cherelle Read, Lynchburg - "I've been trying to budget as best I can. I know a lot of people have taken up second jobs which is unfortunate, but it's something that you have to do to live."
And take a look at your credit report. Statistics show one in four credit reports contain a mistake, that could be enough to deny you credit.
Ann Ronk, Alliance for Families and Children Credit Counseling - "Your credit score is important because it's how you make loans and you don't want your credit to drop." Ronk says the best advice is to know your credit score.
Read - "I'm honestly terrified to check my credit score I'm sure it's like abysmal."
No matter how hard it may be. Federal law allows you to get a free credit report once a year annually from the three credit reporting agencies. Click here to go to that website.

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'Help is Here' bus in Lynchburg
By Cynthia Pegram, The Lynchburg News & Advance
September 16, 2008

The “Help is Here Express” was in Lynchburg on Thursday, Sept. 18th to offer assistance to low-income people of all ages who need help obtaining free and reduced-cost prescription drugs. The colorful bus is on a national tour sponsored by the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, and will be at the Alliance for Families and Children, 2600 Memorial Ave. “We’ve been getting a lot of calls,” said Tracey Dixon, marketing director for Alliance for Families and Children. “We’ve set up special parking to make sure people can get on and off the bus easily.”
Partners for Prescription Assistance (PPA) has a database of 2,500 specific medications and a broad base of generic medications as well. PPA is supported by PhRMA, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Association. The high cost of many prescriptions means that some patients can’t afford what they need and sometimes go without. The “Help is Here Express” wants to change that. “Many people are eligible, but have no idea,” Dixon said. “Many people think this is just for seniors — this is for low-income families, whether working or not, students and single parents.” Counselors at office stations in the bus can help individuals find out if they qualify for the free pharmaceutical programs, and then help them enroll. And, said Dixon, the bus provides a site to help people who need face-to-face assistance with the computer application. The program for free or reduced-priced prescriptions is especially helpful to people who are working but have no insurance and people who are unemployed and without insurance.
“The prescription assistance bus helps low-income families, pretty much anyone on regular medication, who can’t afford it,” said Dixon. And that includes teenagers who have regular medication needs for many kinds of chronic illnesses, she said. Those who want to talk to “Help Is Here Express” workers should bring their prescriptions with them, and some may be able to enroll in the free or low-cost program while at the bus.
Also on hand to offer a local flavor to assistance will be the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and a representative from its “Meds Help” program. Information about new medications for chronic diseases will be available, as will health information about the rapidly increasing rates of chronic disease. PPA has helped more than 5 million patients nationwide and about 118,000 in Virginia. The bus tour was launched in 2005 and has visited all 50 states. PPA can be contacted directly at (888) 477-2669 or at the Web site http://www.pparx.org.

Area groups filling backpacks with school supplies for families in need
By Annie McCallum
August 10, 2008

Composition notebooks. Pocket folders. Glue sticks. Crayons.
In just a few weeks, it’s back to school for area students. Parents and children have hit the stores in droves to fulfill lengthy school supply lists. In a tightening economy, it can be tough to satisfy supply needs. Area organizations that help raise and distribute supplies to impoverished families report an increased need this year.
“Because of the rising prices of food and gas, more families are just struggling with the basics and the necessities,” said Tracey Dixon, director of prevention and marketing for the Alliance for Families and Children.
“We’ve had people having to choose between milk and medical bills. School supplies really get bumped.”
Many local groups, including the Alliance, are seeking donations, while others have coordinated events to give away supplies to those in need.
- The Alliance for Families and Children is asking for donations, Dixon said.
“Any and all school supplies, the most basic things: notebooks, paper, pens. Backpacks would be wonderful — all the essentials,” she said. “A lot of our families, are struggling with food prices going up and gas prices going up.”
For more information about making a donation, contact Dixon at (434) 845-5944, ext. 223....

Surviving a Tough Economy
11pm News- Fri July 18, 2008 - Lynchburg, VA
Reporter: Brian Damewood
To survive a tough economy, you have to do more than just think about cutting back. You actually have to do it. We spoke with a local credit counselor. There are several signs that show you might be living beyond your means. They're easier said than done. We hit the streets today to find out how people were pushing through the down-turn, and found out some are doing a little better than others. Just slice them in half. That's the first thing Ann Ronk tells her credit-troubled clients to do.
Ann Ronk, Credit Counselor, Alliance for Families & Children - "They start using one credit card to pay off the other and things like that. And they get into trouble."
(Lauren)"I pay minimum balance that's all I can afford."
So the first step to living within your means is to keep your credit balances down. Next you need to make sure you aren't shelling out too much for housing.
Ronk - "No more than 30-percent of your take home pay."
And a lot of people break that rule.
Charles Hobson, Lynchburg - "Almost half. Then I gotta pay electricity on that. So, leaves me with about $300."And the third way to tell if you're living within your means, make sure you're saving.
Ronk - "They should at least save 5-percent of their take-home each month to take care of the emergencies."
It's best to take that off the top before you even start paying bills. But for some it's just not possible.
Lauren Shea, Lynchburg - "Car payment, cell phone bill. I feel like I'm just making money to get by. I'm not really making any profit like I used to."
And if you're struggling with making ends meet, trim the fat. You probably don't need 300 channels of premium cable, or a huge flat screen television. Ronk says if you list each of your monthly expenses, its easier to see what you can cut back, and what you need to hold on to.
Ronk - "Not a cell phone bill or a cable bill, or things like that. They're not as important, as keeping a roof over your head or your family fed."
Ronk says some people come into her office paying cell phone bills that are twice as much as what they pay for groceries. She says that's a sure sign they need to re-evaluate their expenses.