Educational Services
We currently offer tutoring to our elementary through high school students to help ensure their high school graduation. Together with donations from our generous Signal Mountain donors, we offer backpacks, school supplies, and clothing vouchers for client children each year. We also offer financial scholarships for our young adults to attend trade schools and universities to encourage their successful graduation. See tab for "Scholarship Opportunities” to apply. To help support our working parents and prepare our youngest clients for success in school, we also offer preschool scholarships to qualified Signal Mountain children.
Tutoring Support
The most effective way to prevent multi-generational poverty is to ensure our client’s children succeed in school. Therefore, SMSS began a tutoring program in 2008 to provide the help our children needed to graduate from High School. This incredibly successful program now supports children in grades (K-12) and has resulted in a 95% high school graduation rate, up from just 5% in 2003.
SMSS employs dedicated tutors who work closely with and mentor these children each week, providing them with the support and guidance they need to thrive academically and build a brighter future.
Good Student Club
The Good Student Club is designed to recognize and reward the positive efforts of our clients' children in school. Enrollment in the club begins with signing up the student and obtaining a release form. Once enrolled, we reach out to the child's teacher via email to introduce the program and offer our support, which may include tutoring or school supplies throughout the academic year. We maintain communication with the teachers to monitor the child’s progress.
Throughout the year, we provide the students with incentives and letters of encouragement. We also send special cards around Halloween and Valentine’s Day, complete with stickers and small rewards, to motivate them to continue their hard work. At the end of the school year, we celebrate their achievements by decorating our office and inviting the students to choose a gift, receive certificates and books, and enjoy a goodie bag. They also have the opportunity to select a summer activity to participate in. Each certificate includes a personalized quote from their teacher, highlighting what the student excelled in academically or behaviorally during the year. We strive to make this celebration a memorable and significant event for the students.
Back to School Supplies
In our ongoing effort to foster academic success for our youngest clients, SMSS provides backpacks, school supplies, and clothing vouchers to client children at the beginning of the school year. This initiative ensures that every child starts the school year equipped with the essentials they need to thrive in the classroom.
Birthday Buddies
We are excited to partner with Chattanooga Birthday Buddies and Mountain Top Toys to enrich the lives of the families we serve by giving our local community an opportunity to sponsor a child on their birthday. To learn more about Chattanooga Birthday Buddies and find birthday registries, visit https://chattanoogabirthdaybuddies.weebly.com. You can also visit Mountain Top Toys and check out our very own SMSS Birthday Bin!
Client Impact Story
Our SMMHS tutors identified two high school seniors who would be first-generation college graduates and helped them apply for college using our Signal Mountain Social Services scholarship program. Our tutors had known these children since middle school and believed they were both capable of college-level work and deserving of our scholarship. They worked closely with both students to complete their applications and both of our young clients were accepted to their college of choice and awarded our scholarships to help cover the cost of tuition.
Emergency Services
When appropriate, we provide assistance with paying rent and utility bills, covering the cost of prescription medications, and, in many cases, facilitate essential home repairs. This support is crucial in helping our clients maintain stability and improve their overall quality of life.
Appliances and Furniture
SMSS strives to provide the best possible living conditions for all of our Signal Mountain families in need. Most of our clients can’t afford major appliances or adequate furniture for their homes. Please contact us if you have a gently used appliance or furniture to donate and we will match your donation with a family in need. Delivery of these larger donations is also very much appreciated!
Home Repairs
At SMSS, we wholeheartedly believe that every resident of Signal Mountain deserves to feel safe and secure in their own home. However, home repairs can be expensive, making it challenging for our clients to address critical housing issues. By coming together as a community, we can help provide the necessary solutions. If you would like to support this important initiative through a donation or by volunteering, please reach out to a social worker at our office. Your kindness can make a significant impact in ensuring that our neighbors have safe and comfortable homes.
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Mental Health Grant
In 2023, we launched our Mental Health Grant to improve access to mental health counseling for our clients and the Signal Mountain community. The grant aims to remove financial barriers, making it easier for individuals to receive the support they need. Recipients are selected based on specific needs and income level, as determined by the SMSS social worker. Our agency can recommend mental health professionals, or recipients may choose their own. Those who qualify will have their counseling sessions covered by SMSS. This process is entirely confidential. For more information or to schedule a meeting to discuss the grant program, please contact our office.
Christmas Baskets
Every holiday season, our community joyfully comes together to pack gifts and food items, spreading warmth and cheer to our clients. This cherished tradition not only uplifts spirits but also provides vital support to families during a time when financial burdens can be particularly heavy.
Food Pantry
Our food pantry, located at 633 Mississippi Ave. on Signal Mountain, serves as a crucial resource for our community, providing essential non-perishable food and hygiene items. Generously stocked by donations from individuals, churches, schools, and community organizations, the pantry ensures that our clients receive vital support. In addition to pantry items, each client is given a voucher for fresh essentials such as milk, eggs, margarine, and cheese. We are also fortunate to offer occasional donations from local businesses like Bread Basket, Panera, Southern Star, and Gigi’s Sweet Shop, further enhancing the support we provide.
Life Skills Counseling
Our social workers play a vital role in supporting individuals and families by offering personalized guidance and mentoring to foster self-sufficiency. Our services range from making resource referrals and assisting with job searches to helping clients build résumés and improve budgeting skills. By providing practical tools and advice, social workers empower clients to make wise use of available resources, ensuring they have the support needed to navigate their journey toward greater independence and stability.
Technical Skills
In today’s increasingly digital world, many of our clients face challenges due to limited access to technology, often feeling overwhelmed by the lack of resources like a computer. At SMSS, we offer access to computers in our lab, enabling clients to conduct job searches and utilize essential applications. To further support them, we are seeking volunteers who can provide guidance and training in basic technology skills. If you’re interested in making a meaningful impact, please reach out to us. Your support can empower our clients to confidently navigate the digital landscape.
Senior Care
We have a Social Worker solely dedicated to providing compassionate, supportive services to 23 of our elderly clients. We strive for our seniors to live in safe and healthy environments and promote community contact through various programs so that they are not living in isolation. If you are interested in being paired with a senior client and engage in a caring relationship, please contact us at the office.
St. Isidore's Warm Meal Ministry
Every week, warm, nourishing meals are lovingly prepared and delivered to clients who need them most. This heartfelt meal ministry began in 2012 by St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church to serve seniors and other families in need identified by Signal Mountain Social Services. The ministry has evolved into a collaboration with four other Signal Mountain churches: The Point, Signal Mountain Church of Christ, Signal Mountain Bible Church and Wayside Presbyterian. Alongside a freshly cooked meal, a frozen meal is sometimes delivered offering a second source of comfort and care later in the week. And some clients often enjoy a visit with the volunteers who deliver. This initiative embodies the spirit of compassion and community, ensuring that no client is left without the warmth of a good meal and the knowledge that they are cherished.
