By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
A mobile social services resource center came to Moapa Valley last weekend ready to throw a big party for the local residents. But almost no one from the community showed up for it.
Representatives from The Harbor, a Las Vegas-based Juvenile Assessment Center, were at the Overton Community Center on Saturday, March 18 with games, treats and prizes for local kids and their parents.
“Our objective is to see and meet people from the community today,” said Miranda Cameron, a rural Program Supervisor for The Harbor. “We want to get to know them and to inform folks on what we are doing here and what all we can offer. It is really about forging the relationship.”
Cameron came with an array of games for attendees to play. They hoped to have kids there to play BINGO to win prizes from a large table full of great loot. The fun was open to everyone.
In addition, The Harbor Family Resource Specialist Beatrice Castellanos had come along to help. She was ready to sit down with local youth and their parents who were seeking resources. Her job is to perform an assessment and connect people and families to resources that might help them.
The Harbor’s objective is to target resources needed specifically for youth, Cameron explained. The organization performs non-clinical assessments of local needs and then works to connect resources to fill those needs. These resources could include clinical resources like counseling and therapy. But it could also be access to life-skills training and/or coping classes.
The Harbor is looking to start a number of these classes here in Moapa Valley for local youth. Classes being offered include subjects like Decision Making and Conflict Resolution. There is also a parent-child workshop entitled “Reset Your Life” meant to rebuild communications and relationships between parents and kids. Cameron said that there are a lot more resources available to come if the need is there in the community.
Representatives from the Clark County Social Services outreach team were also there. Monique Carderas and Ruth Vanegas were available to talk to people about financial assistance for housing, transportation assistance programs, burial and cremation assistance and other social services offered by the county.
Finally, out in the parking lot of the Community Center, there was a vividly-colored Access Health Dental mobile van. Inside, representatives were offering free dental exams for children.
Everything was ready for the public to attend. Unfortunately only a handful of people actually showed up to participate.
“That’s okay!” said Cameron. “We know that this is spring break and that we are kind of new and people aren’t familiar with us yet. But we are in this for the long haul.”
The Harbor will be visiting the Overton Community Center every other Saturday.
Representatives will also be working with students during the school day at local schools. These will take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays every other weeks.
“We will be back again,” Cameron said. “Hopefully we will find a way to bring more people out to check it out.”
For more information about The Harbor, visit TheHarborLV.com or call 702-455-7914. All services from The Harbor are free.
