Human Services Goals, Policies, Strategies, and Implementation Actions


The long-range planning goals for Human Services  are:

  • Increase the education, information, prevention, early intervention, treatment and support services related to the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
  • Support housing assistance programs with human support services programs.
  • Make health services accessible.
  • Change the culture of public assistance programs to one that focuses on a goal of self-sufficiency.
  • Increase coordinated assistance to the elderly.
  • Promote community Involvement.
  • Continue to reduce teen pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births through public awareness, education and services.
  • Improve child health, development and school readiness.
  • Increase the education, information, prevention, treatment and support services related to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
  • Increase Positive Youth Development strategies that build Developmental Assets and strengths and reduce risk behaviors in children and youth.
  • Increase the public awareness about persons with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse disabilities.
  • Ensure that persons with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disorders have a wide array of housing choices and service opportunities appropriate to their needs.
  • Enforce and support the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Framework for the Future sets forth the following goals, policies, strategies and implementation for Human Services:

GOAL 1

Increase the education, information, prevention, early intervention, treatment and support services related to the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

POLICY 1.1

Develop a comprehensive approach for addressing individual and community conditions related to the abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Insure that this approach incorporates information from the most current research, accesses the knowledge, skills and abilities of the experts in the field and utilizes input from citizens and consumers. The approach needs to be integrated throughout each service agency within the City and supported by clear and consistent City policy.

Strategy 1.1.1: Support a comprehensive long-range plan that addresses the substance abuse education, information, prevention, early intervention, treatment and support needs of the citizens of the City.

Strategy 1.1.2: Develop a Citywide campaign that focuses on communicating the importance of healthy choices to offset media messages regarding alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

POLICY 1.2

Focus on equipping the youth within the City to make healthy choices and prevent (or resist) involvement with alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Strategy 1.2.1: Enlist young people into the fight against drugs by supporting the development and implementation of school and community based drug-free clubs and peer-to-peer efforts.

Strategy 1.2.2: Expand health classes to be included in the high school curricula. 

Strategy 1.2.3:  Identify, evaluate and support other successful prevention efforts and implement them in the schools and/or community.

Strategy 1.2.4:  Increase the ability of families to identify factors which might place their children at risk for experimentation or continued involvement with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Strategy 1.2.5:  Increase the awareness of community members about factors which place young people at risk for developing problems with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and how to create an environment which encourages them to be drug-free. 

Strategy 1.2.6: Continue to support the school system's policy to concentrate its substance abuse prevention efforts at the transition points in the student's life.  These include, but are not limited to, moving from elementary school to middle school, from middle school to high school and graduation.

Strategy 1.2.7: Increase the amount of drug-free recreational, educational and social activities in which a young person can participate. 

Strategy 1.2.8: Decrease the number of barriers that exist within the community, school and service providing agencies inhibiting a young person from being able to access prevention or intervention services. Support a school nurse at each school to address this problem.

Strategy 1.2.9: Increase the awareness of the negative effects of second-hand smoke. 

Strategy 1.2.10: Increase monitoring and enforcement activities related to non-smoking areas and underage purchasing of alcohol or tobacco products.

Strategy 1.2.11: Increase efforts that focus on eliminating the abuse of anabolic steroids and the illegal use of prescription drugs. 

POLICY 1.3

Continue to evaluate and enhance existing efforts to identify, treat and sup-port the recovery of individuals already involved in the inappropriate use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.      

Strategy 1.3.1: Evaluate the available substance abuse services and encourage the expansion of community funding of the most effective  programs. Encourage the improvement of any identified deficiencies in other programs.

Strategy 1.3.2: Ensure the coordination of the services offered by agencies that do not have substance abuse as their primary mission (e.g., schools, Department of Social Services, Health Department, Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism) with those who do target substance abuse.

POLICY 1.4

Increase the business and medical communities' involvement in the recognition of and solutions to the City's alcohol, tobacco and other drug problems.

Strategy 1.4.1: Encourage businesses throughout the City to institute some form of on-the-jobsite Employee Assistance Program. Encourage small businesses to partner with other businesses in a cooperative arrangement to provide services to their employees.

Strategy 1.4.2: Work to encourage insurance companies to provide more substance abuse treatment and prevention coverage.

Strategy 1.4.3: Encourage local employers to more effectively utilize the training offered by service providers.

Strategy 1.4.4: Support the State Police Drug Diversion program.

GOAL 2

Support housing assistance programs with human support services programs.

POLICY 2.1

Provide housing assistance recipients with temporary economic and social support that will give them the ability to afford housing and become self-supporting.  (See also Chapter 7, Housing.)

Strategy 2.1.1: Provide technical training targeted to specific jobs for housing assistance  recipients.

Strategy 2.1.2: Provide goal-oriented training and job opportunities in conjunction with public housing.

Strategy 2.1.3: Distribute a coordinated, comprehensive inventory of support service programs available and in Newport News. Make personnel at each support service agency aware of the existence of the inventory via access through the City's web page. 

Strategy 2.1.4: Promote community integration/interaction through local volunteers and coordinate new and existing programs and voluntary efforts, such as Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, MedTran, etc.

IMPLEMENTATION 2.1:

2.1.1:  Support the cooperative efforts of the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, and the Newport News Department of Social Services which provide training for unemployed and underemployed persons in public and subsidized housing.

2.1.2:  Support the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority in its Economic Initiative Program whereby residents work and are paid for maintenance, data entry, landscaping, and pest management.

2.1.3:  In cooperation with the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, offer incentives for single parents in public housing to learn a skill to gain meaningful employment (e.g. quality on-site day care). 

2.1.4:  In cooperation with the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, involve the faith community in sponsoring people that are in public housing to find jobs.

2.1.5: Continue to provide childcare for single parents of young children so they can further their education or work. 

2.1.6: Support the programs provided by the office of Human Affairs designed to assist low-income persons in their endeavors to improve their quality of life and to become self-sufficient.

GOAL 3

Make health services accessible.

POLICY 3.1

Increase the accessibility of health services, including physical and mental health and mental retardation services, to the City's low income, uninsured and underinsured populations by providing accessible services, facilities and information. 

Strategy 3.1.1: Determine the availability of community programs which take an active role in ensuring that the health care needs of the low income, uninsured and underinsured populations are met.

Strategy 3.1.2: Provide a framework for public and private health care providers to reduce red tape, ensure access for all people and eliminate duplication of services.

Strategy 3.1.3: Continue to support the Greater Virginia Peninsula Continuum of Care Council in its role in support of free clinics. 

Strategy 3.1.4: Support the Access Partnership in its effort to provide health services.

Strategy 3.1.5: Support the Peninsula Christian Free Clinic in its efforts to provide health and dental services to uninsured and underinsured populations.

IMPLEMENTATION 3.1:

3.1.1: Continue providing support to enhance operation of the Peninsula Institute for Community Health (PICH) Center and support its expansion.

3.1.2: Encourage community support of medical facilities to provide needed health care services for the under served population.

3.1.3: Develop needed community programs which address the physical and mental health care needs of the uninsured and underinsured.

3.1.4: Continue the Patient Advocacy Care Team (PACT) program by the Newport News Health Department.

3.1.5:  Encourage the efforts of the Community Services Board and support an expansion of their case management day support, residential, crisis, and outpatient services for citizens with mental disabilities.

3.1.6:  Work to encourage insurance companies to provide affordable health care coverage.

3.1.7:  Establish alternative methods to distribute information to those citizens seeking health services who are unaware of available services.

POLICY 3.2

Support the development of a Peninsula Health Services Coordinating Commission as a forum to discuss health issues.

Strategy 3.2.1: Assist the Peninsula Health Services Coordinating Commission.

IMPLEMENTATION 3.2:

3.2.1: Assist the Peninsula Health Services Commission in its evaluation of health care for the uninsured and underinsured.

POLICY 3.3

Increase health education efforts to decrease sickness and mortality.

Strategy 3.3.1: Promote wellness care and healthier lifestyles through education.

Strategy 3.3.2: Increase prevention services.

Strategy 3.3.3: Develop a public service announcement to encourage all citizens to carry up-to-date list of their medications for use by emergency medical professionals.

POLICY 3.4

Work closely with the Peninsula Health District to ensure that funding and effort are applied equitably to meet the dental health needs of the City's low-income, uninsured and underinsured citizens.

POLICY 3.5

Advocate for legislative resources or changes to the reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid.

GOAL 4

Change the culture of public assistance programs to one that focuses on a goal of self-sufficiency.

POLICY 4.1

Increase support to the agencies which serve as clearinghouses for public assistance and which coordinate with other area agencies and programs to properly direct clients to the assistance they need.

Strategy 4.1.1: Increase support to provide transportation and daycare for financial assistance recipients and assist them in retaining and improving their employment. (See also Chapter 2, Economic Development and Chapter 4, Transportation.)

Strategy 4.1.2: Reduce the case load of eligibility and financial services workers to provide more personal contact and to more efficiently screen applicants receiving public assistance.

Strategy 4.1.3: Continue to eliminate unnecessary duplication of services.

IMPLEMENTATION 4.1:

4.1.1: Continue to provide transportation and daycare for financial assistance (TANF, food stamps, etc.) recipients and assist them in retaining and improving their employment.

4.1.2: Fund the staff departments appropriate to their caseloads.

4.1.3: Continue to provide support groups for customers of support services.

4.1.4: Continue to assist and encourage the LINK program (Living Interfaith Network) and the United Way's First Call program in their function as a clearinghouses for assistance. Widely inform the public of these services.

4.1.5: Support the Greater Virginia Peninsula Continuum of Care Council in its efforts to coordinate emergency assistance to the needy.

POLICY 4.2

Change the local system from one of maintenance to independence of beneficiaries.

Strategy 4.2.1: Continue to lobby State and Federal legislators to examine all public assistance and encourage changes which increase the funding for human services.

Strategy 4.2.2: Help people become more employable and retain their jobs by supporting transitional services for those people who do not become financially independent within the two year time limit imposed by welfare reform.

IMPLEMENTATION 4.2:

4.2.1: Examine the full range of institutionalized public assistance programs so as to change the culture to one with a goal of self-sufficiency.

4.2.2: Provide appropriate staffing levels to serve customers.

4.2.3: Provide transitional services after the two year term of eligibility passes for customers still in need of assistance.

4.2.4: Teach the necessary skills to help customers retain employment (e.g., attitude, respect for oneself and others, responsibility, on-the-job behaviors, communication skills, etc.)

4.2.5: Continually update the on-line community resources inventory on the City's web page.

GOAL 5

Increase coordinated assistance to the elderly.

POLICY 5.1

Encourage local senior citizen advocacy groups.

Strategy 5.1.1:  Support the Newport News Task Force on Aging.

Strategy 5.1.2:  Support the efforts of the Peninsula Agency on Aging.

Strategy 5.1.3: Determine the availability of assistance programs geared to the elderly.

IMPLEMENTATION 5.1:

5.1.1:  Support the efforts of the Newport News Task Force on Aging and the work of the Continuum of Care Council.

5.1.2: Implement the No Wrong Door Initiative using the Senior Navigator’s Get Care case management component.

5.1.3: Encourage the development of volunteer community programs which provide support to the elderly.

5.1.4: Encourage the efforts of the Community Services Board and support an expansion of their services to aging individuals with problems of mental illness, mental retardation, and chemical addiction.

POLICY 5.2

Encourage and support co-sponsorship and outreach by individuals, organizations and businesses to coordinate services to the aging population.

Strategy 5.2.1: Support the use of existing and new publications which address the issues of the aging (e.g. Senior Advocate Resource Guide published by Senior Advocate LLC).

POLICY 5.3

Increase flexibility in regulations to allow housing alternatives for the elderly.

Strategy 5.3.1: Examine the Zoning Ordinance to determine its flexibility regarding housing alternatives for the elderly.

Strategy 5.3.2:  Encourage the establishment of adult day care centers.

IMPLEMENTATION 5.3:

5.3.1: Amend the Zoning Ordinance to allow alternative forms of housing to include accessory apartments on a single family lot as a permitted use in single family zoning districts provided that there is sufficient land area.

5.3.2: Amend the Zoning Ordinance to define adult day care centers and establish where such a use is permitted.

POLICY 5.4

Provide recreational programs for senior citizens. (See also Chapter 6, Parks and Recreation.)

GOAL 6

Promote community Involvement.

POLICY 6.1

Develop and implement a centralized community network that embraces all volunteer organizations.

Strategy 6.1.1: Support the efforts of all community service groups.

Strategy 6.1.2: Encourage publication of the volunteer needs of community service organizations.

Strategy 6.1.3: Encourage all citizens and businesses to participate in the network.

IMPLEMENTATION 6.1:

6.1.1: Assist citizens seeking information on available human support services by using the City’s website for the distribution of this information.

6.1.2: Support the efforts of all community service groups.

6.1.3: Encourage publication of the volunteer needs of organizations in The Guide to Services on the Peninsula published annually by The Daily Press.  Use the city website for the distribution of this information.

6.1.4: Promote the values of volunteerism.

POLICY 6.2

Promote community service among local citizenry, organizations, businesses and industries.

Strategy 6.2.1:  Support the efforts of non-profit volunteer-based groups.

Strategy 6.2.2:  Recognize the efforts of volunteers and volunteer-based groups on annual basis.

Strategy 6.2.3: Involve children, youth, families and senior citizens in volunteer programs.

Strategy 6.2.4: Support the Office of Children, Youth and Families in its development of the Neighborhood Institute which encourages neighborhood-led efforts involving children, youth, families and senior citizens.

IMPLEMENTATION 6.2:

6.2.1: Advertise the efforts of non-profit, volunteer-based groups on the City cable channels and on local radio. Special announcements may be made when individual groups require additional volunteers.

6.2.2: Recognize the efforts of volunteers and volunteer-based groups on an annual basis.

6.2.3: Offer participation in volunteer activities to middle and high school students as a community service project with acquired skills to go on their permanent school record and as a way to discover vocational interests.

6.2.4: Involve children, youth, families and senior citizens in volunteer programs (e.g. intergenerational relationships).

6.2.5:Work with the Volunteer Center in its efforts to support volunteers.

6.2.6:Support the expansion to all high schools within the City of the Career Pathways program which emphasizes volunteerism and internships.

POLICY 6.3

Continue to support the efforts of People to People to encourage citizen involvement in all aspects of the community.

Strategy 6.3.1: Recognize the significant contributions of non-profit agencies and faith based organizations in achieving our community-wide goals.

GOAL 7

Continue to reduce teen pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births through public awareness, education and services.

POLICY 7.1

Through family, school, community coalitions promote programs designed to deter teenage pregnancies and out-of-wedlock births.

Strategy 7.1.1: Expand the teaching of the family life courses in public schools to be included in the high schools’ curricula..

Strategy 7.1.2: Expand the family life curriculum in the public schools to stress the importance of prenatal care, parenting skills, the family unit and the programs available to help pregnant teens including the use of condoms, and information on sexually transmitted diseases.

Strategy 7.1.3: Develop community awareness and educational programs about the risks to children born out-of-wedlock and/or to teenage parents.

Strategy 7.1.4: Pursue all available means to inform pregnant teens and women about available assistance programs (e.g. Hotlines, etc.).

Strategy 7.1.5: Direct the message to young males as well as females regarding the responsibility of fatherhood.

IMPLEMENTATION 7.1:

7.1.1:  Remove barriers that exist within the community, school and service providing agencies inhibiting a young person from being able to access prevention or intervention services.

7.1.2: Recommend to the Newport News School Board that it continue to teach and expand the family life curriculum in the public schools to stress the importance of prenatal care, parenting skills, the family unit, the roles and responsibilities of both a mother and a father and the programs available to help pregnant teens.

7.1.3: Develop community education programs for distribution through the cable channel, newspapers, the radio and the classroom.

7.1.4: Pursue all available means to inform pregnant teens and women about available assistance programs (e.g. hotlines, etc.).

7.1.5: Continue to provide counselors in school to advise teens on pregnancy prevention and prenatal care assistance and inform students of their availability.

7.1.6: Continue to promote the development and use of an educational video about the negative consequences of teenage pregnancy and the time commitment of parenting. Design educational campaigns to convey prevention-oriented messages. Seek the assistance of former students who are teen parents to explain the challenges facing young parents seeking to complete their education and find employment in peer to peer discussions.

7.1.7: Stress the importance of responsibility for one's actions to young men as well as young women.

7.1.8: Make resources available to implement responsible programs that strive to limit the catastrophic effects of teen pregnancy on young lives, families and communities.

7.1.9: Provide information regarding contraception to students.

GOAL 8

Improve child health,development and school readiness.

POLICY 8.1

Promote childhood health through preventive medicine.

Strategy 8.1.1: Promote public and private partnerships to increase public awareness of factors that affect children’s and families’ health.

Strategy 8.1.2: Promote childhood immunization.

Strategy 8.1.3: Promote community education programs on child health, development and school readiness.

IMPLEMENTATION 8.1:

8.1.1: Pursue all available means to inform the public of the value of preventive medicine by sponsoring literature concerning screening programs which would be distributed through the Public Health Center, hospitals, doctor's offices, libraries, schools, shopping centers, and substance abuse programs.

8.1.2: Promote community education efforts on preventive medicine and childhood immunization.

8.1.3: Inform the public that all children have access to health services through FAMUS (childhood Medicare in Virginia).

8.1.4: Support the nutrition program for pregnant women and children (WIC).

POLICY 8.2

Support the Healthy Families program.  

Strategy 8.2.1:  Increase public awareness of factors that lead to child abuse and neglect.

Strategy 8.2.2:  Promote positive parenting methods.

IMPLEMENTATION 8.2:

8.2.1: Identify "at risk" families and prevent child abuse and neglect by proactive methods such as home visitation.

8.2.2: Teach positive parenting and discipline methods to young parents.

8.2.3: Encourage parenting classes as part of an expanded health curriculum in the schools.

POLICY 8.3

Support and encourage high quality child care and early childhood education in both public and private settings.

Strategy 8.3.1:  Encourage compliance with the voluntary quality rating system for providers of early child care education.

IMPLEMENTATION 8.3:

8.3.1: Encourage collaboration and sharing of expertise and resources among all providers of services for young children.

8.3.2:  Recognize the importance of child care and early education industry for its economic contribution to the community and its support of working families and their employers.

8.3.3:  Support the efforts of Preschool Partners in its role of providing information and referrals to parents searching for child care, preschool and special services; providing support services and quality enhancement training to child care providers; promoting kindergarten readiness and development connections between the public school system and providers of child care and education; and encouraging parents in their roles as their child’s first teachers by expanding the understanding of the stages of child development.

POLICY 8.4

Support the Keeping Our Kids Safe: The Newport News Violence Prevention Network.

Strategy 8.4.1:  Increase Citywide involvement and awareness of the importance of a violence free culture for children and youth.   

Strategy 8.4.2:  Increase the capacity in neighborhoods for adults to provide positive support, demonstrate caring, and actively involved in the lives of young people.

Strategy 8.4.3:  Increase the capacity for families to provide a safe and nurturing environment.

Strategy 8.4.4:  Provide and support positive violence-free learning environments.

Strategy 8.4.5:  Develop a system for monitoring and evaluating the impact of strategies to prevent violence in the community and create a culture of non-violence.

GOAL 9

Increase the education, information, prevention, treatment and support services related to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

POLICY 9.1

Develop a comprehensive approach for addressing conditions related to sexually transmitted diseases. Ensure that this approach incorporates information from the most current research, accesses the knowledge, skills and abilities of experts in the field and utilizes input from citizens and consumers. The approach needs to be integrated throughout each service agency within the City and supported by clear and consistent City policy.

Strategy 9.1.1:  Increase public awareness of the danger of sexually transmitted diseases and how rapidly they spread especially in at-risk populations.

IMPLEMENTATION 9.1:

9.1.1: Coordinate with public and private health education groups to produce educational literature on sexually transmitted diseases for dissemination to citizens at high risk, as well as the general public.

9.1.2:  Review the policies and procedures of organizations providing services within the City to ensure that they are not creating barriers to citizens seeking and getting help for HIV infections or to the appropriate information on HIV infection getting to the public.

9.1.3:  Establish sufficient test sites to ensure that those seeking anonymous testing for the HIV infection may do so without fear that their confidentiality will be violated.

GOAL 10

Increase Positive Youth Development strategies that build Developmental Assets and strengths and reduce risk behaviors in children and youth.

POLICY 10.1

Develop a comprehensive approach to educate the community on the importance and benefits of Positive Youth Development and the Asset framework.  Insure that this approach incorporates information from the most current research, accesses the knowledge, skills and abilities of experts in the field, and utilizes input from both youth and adults in the community.  The approach needs to be integrated throughout each program and service within the City and supported by clear and consistent City policy.

Strategy 10.1.1: Implement the Strategic Plan for Youth that supports and values youth involvement, develops opportunities for youth achievement, and provides a service system that helps youth build their skills and competencies.

IMPLEMENTATION 10.1:

10.1.1:  Continue to promote and support the active participation of young people in the planning and decision-making processes within the community. Continue to involve youth in all government services.

10.1.2:  Provide and support increased opportunities for youth involvement and participation.

10.1.3:  Provide resources that insure all youth have access to healthy starts for healthy childhoods and productive adulthoods.

10.1.4: Increase the quality of programs, services and activities for all youth by enhancing the effectiveness of organizations that provide services to youth.

10.1.5: Promote positive relationships between youth and adults through a comprehensive community education plan focused on youth development, the reduction of risk factors, and enhancement of protective factors.

10.1.6: Continue to encourage the School Board to utilize the information from the National Survey of Student Resources and Developmental Assets as developed by America’s Promise and Search Institute.

GOAL 11

Increase the public awareness about persons with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation, and substance abuse disabilities.

POLICY 11.1

Develop a comprehensive approach to educate the community on the issues concerning people with mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disabilities.

Strategy 11.1.1: Educate the public on the issues of persons with disabilities by including information from experts and current research in the field, local professionals working with persons with disabilities, family members and consumers of disability services.

Strategy 11.1.2: Support a local initiative to educate the community and public officials and employees on the issues and facts surrounding persons with physical and mental disabilities.

Strategy 11.1.3: Take a regional, as well as local, approach to address affordable housing issues for persons with disabilities.

IMPLEMENTATION 11.1:

11.1.1: Encourage working relationships among agencies serving persons with disabilities and with City departments and City employees who have direct or indirect work-related interest or requirements to work with people with disabilities.

11.1.2: Provide opportunities for sharing information and training among agencies and City departments serving persons with disabilities.

11.1.3: Provide access to experts in the fields of fair housing, disability-related law, and housing and services for persons with disabilities.

11.1.4: Support education of City employees and the general public regarding mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disorders.

11.1.5: Provide research, best practices, and information relating to services for people with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disorders.

11.1.6: Develop collaborative strategies to expand housing, employment, recreational and other opportunities for people with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disorders.

GOAL 12

Ensure that persons with physical disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disorders have a wide array of housing choices and service opportunities appropriate to their needs.

POLICY 12.1

Increase housing opportunities throughout the city that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Strategy 12.1.1: Establish a panel or subcommittee to focus on the study of this issue to include: the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Office of Human Affairs, the Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City departments of Codes Compliance, Planning, Development and Social Services and citizen representation.

Strategy 12.1.2: Ensure safe and adequate housing for consumers of disability services by providing a directory of housing that meets standards of quality, requires leases for tenants, and annual inspections of such housing. Such a directory would be through voluntary participation by interested providers who want to be included in such a publication. 

IMPLEMENTATION 12.1:

12.1.1: The mission of the panel/subcommittee is to study the housing needs of the disabled in Newport News and develop a plan that addresses the needs of persons with disabilities. The plan should also address the process for successfully integrating these individuals into the community through establishment of partnerships with neighborhood organizations and neighborhood programs.

12.1.2: Develop criteria to provide an inventory of housing choices for persons with disabilities (e.g. requirement of a lease, inspection of homes, etc.) for housing providers who wish to participate in such a publication.

12.1.3: Amend the Fair Housing Ordinance of the City of Newport News to include "disability" in its Declaration of Policy.

12.1.4: Encourage the City to apply for additional Section 8 certificates specifically for use by persons with disabilities, such as the mainstream housing for persons with disabilities vouchers.

12.1.5: Continue to support the development of small clusters of affordable housing, including multi-family rental units and public housing, throughout the city.

12.1.6: Continue to work closely with housing providers to identify appropriate programs and funding sources to address the needs of those leaving emergency or transitional homeless shelters or being discharged from institutions.

12.1.7: Support the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board in monitoring unlicensed homes serving CSB consumers and in the development of affordable housing appropriate for those with behavioral disabilities.

12.1.8:Continue to take an active role on the Peninsula Mayors and Chairs Commission on Homelessness.

POLICY 12.2

Provide service opportunities throughout the city that meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Strategy 12.2.1: Establish a panel or subcommittee to focus on the study of this issue to include: the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Office of Human Affairs, The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, Center for Independent Living, Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City departments of Codes Compliance, Planning, & Development and Social Services and a citizen representative. The mission of the panel would be to provide an in-depth study of the needs of the disabled in Newport News and develop a plan for improved service delivery to persons with disabilities.

Strategy 12.2.2: Continue to work closely with service providers to identify appropriate programs and funding sources to address the service needs of those leaving emergency and transitional homeless shelters or being discharged from institutions.

Strategy 12.2.3: Support the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board in its development of a regional plan for services for persons with disabilities.

Strategy 12.2.4: Encourage a continuum of care approach to services for persons with disabilities.  Increase the participation of City departments on the Greater Virginia Peninsula Continuum of Care Council.

POLICY 12.3

Increase the number of housing opportunities for persons with disabilities as part of a regional plan and regional strategy in which localities share the responsibility for ensuring adequate housing for this segment of our population.

Strategy 12.3.1: Encourage the City’s participation in state, regional and local planning efforts to meet the requirements of the Olmstead Initiative.

IMPLEMENTATION 12.3:

12.3.1: Support the Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board in its development of a regional plan for housing for persons with mental illness, mental retardation and substance abuse disabilities.

12.3.2: Address the needs of the homeless on a regional basis by continuing to support and participate in the Greater Virginia Peninsula Continuum of Care Council.

GOAL 13

Enforce and support the goals of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (See Chapter 13, Urban Services)

POLICY 13.1

Develop a comprehensive approach for addressing accessibility issues for all persons with disabilities.

Strategy 13.1.1: Support the efforts of the Arc of the Virginia Peninsula to identify potential or actual barriers to access within the community and advocate for the removal of those barriers.

Strategy 13.1.2: Support the efforts of the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities.

Strategy 13.1.3: Conduct sweeps of commercial properties within the City to ensure compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

IMPLEMENTATION 13.1:

13.1.1: Codes should sweep commercial areas to check for ADA

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