Our Services

In addition to overseeing and managing the Perry Center, Perry Center, Inc. provides services in three areas which are key to carrying out its anti-poverty mission – youth development, social services and economic empowerment.

Youth Development

Perry Center, Inc. provides a continuum of services to develop and educate youth from ages 3 to 18. The preschool Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program uses trained community residents as home visitors to teach parents to read to each child at least 15 minutes a day. A summer enhancement program with personal tutoring ensures that each HIPPY graduate is fully ready to enter school. Monthly parent meetings assist parents in accessing health, education, social services, training, employment and other services in the community. After school and summer camp programs for youth ages 6 to 13 feature computer learning, art, addiction prevention, mentoring, recreation and field trips sponsored by Perry Center, Inc. and tutoring, conflict resolution and health provided by other organizations. The computer learning center has 30 modern stations with scanners, digital cameras and a wide variety of interactive software teaching basic to more sophisticated uses of computers. The art center teaches drawing, painting, composition and crafts. Addiction prevention encourages youth ages 11 to 13 to avoid all forms of addictive substances. Mentoring links a caring adult with a male and female youth ages 8 to 14 through our TEAM programs. For teens, the Visual and Literary Arts program teaches creative writing, article composition and magazine publishing, and the Art of Living program teaches murals, graphics and art as a business. The goal of youth development is to have all youth obtain a high school diploma, and preferably a college degree, or marketable skills in jobs paying above poverty wages.

Social Services

Licensed social workers and family support workers help families and individuals overcome crises and chronic problems through counseling, parenting, emergency assistance, housing and day care assistance, and other services. Child abuse and neglect and domestic violence are addressed or prevented; new housing is obtained or evictions are avoided; victims of HIV/AIDS receive housing assistance and counseling; people are lead to education, training and job opportunities, gaining new hope in a caring and supportive environment.

Economic Empowerment

Staff help people to overcome obstacles and obtain and maintain career-type jobs at above poverty wages. GED remedies educational deficiencies, enabling people to undertake training or employment or to advance in a job. Perry Center, Inc. has sponsored training programs in certified day care assistant, certified nursing assistant, building maintenance and Home Health Care, plus workshops in life/job skills and money management. Staff assist clients in joining numerous job training programs throughout the metropolitan area, and counsel and place clients in career-type jobs. Aspiring entrepreneurs are taught how to create and manage a business. A tax assistance program enables people to file taxes electronically and access earned income tax credits. An individual development account program provides matching funds to enable people to start a business, buy a house or further their education.