Community Service Center
Covenant House Georgia’s Community Service Center is located in the heart of downtown Atlanta on
Broad Street one block from the 5 Points MARTA Station and Underground Atlanta. This location
provides classroom space and a computer laboratory.
Program Components
Case Management is designed to provide youth with assistance in formulating their wants and needs.
Together they identify goals and devise a plan for success. Additionally, we provide crisis
management, referrals shelter, housing, food, utility assistance, vocational, and continuing
education programs.
Life-Ready (Vocational Training) is a one-week, 20 hour program that addresses a bevy of topics
helping to prepare the participants for the long and often difficult path to self-sufficiency.
Focus areas include financial literacy, communication skills, basic job expectations, resume
building and professional growth towards community and individual responsibilities. This component
is designed to teach participants what it takes to become successful.
GED Classes are held Monday through Friday. All youth who are interested are given a placement
test to identify areas of strength and weakness. Our classes prepare the participants to
successfully complete the GED exam. One-on-one tutoring is also available and we also refer
to other literacy programs. This is one of the most popular programs with our youth, as most
recognize that education is a sure path to a better job and financial independence.
Job Assistance Services provide youth who have completed the Life Ready Program with individualized
assistance in finding a career-track job. Our Employment Specialists have cultivated relationships
with businesses that have agreed to partner with us to provide entry-level positions for our
young participants. Our site is equipped with computers, telephones, newspapers and fax machines
to assist youth through the employment process. As part of the program, youth learn about employee
responsibilities, employer expectations, and even participate in mock interviews. Once working, we
track and support the young workers by maintaining contact with them and their employers.
Intake Procedure
Participants seek our Community Service Center in need of support, to obtain employment, GED, to
locate stable housing, receive counseling services, etc. As a team of Case Managers our job is
to work to prepare the participants to become self-sufficient.
Our Community Service Center provides service to youth from the ages of 16 – 21. If a participant
is under the age of 18 years old a parent/legal guardian must accompany the participant to sign up
for services. To enroll in services a participant must provide 2 forms of the following: Birth
Certificate, State Identification, and Social Security Card. At this point the participant is
referred to the 1st Community Service Worker available to assist in meeting their immediate needs.
During this process a full assessment is conducted in efforts of developing rapport and completion
of an individualize service plan.
Following a tour of the facility and determination of immediate needs the youth is provided
information in regards to education, educational, or referral needs. In regards to the educational
services offered, participants are required to obtain copies of withdrawal documents from the last
school attended. As a part of the pre-admission requirements all participants are required to
successfully complete the state mandated TABE (The Adult Basic Education) exam and registered
with the GED Instructor for pre-GED testing. This is completed to determine if additional referrals
are needed in regards to literacy concerns.
If a participant is in need of vocational services, all participants are required to register and
attend our 20-hour Life Readiness Program. This program is designed to assist the participants
in building their potential to be hired. The Employment Specialist, assists with the completion
of a resume, interviewing techniques to include mock interviews, “The do’s and don’ts of
employment,” preparing for an interview, and how to maintain employment for examples. Upon
successful completion each participant is scheduled and appointment with one of our partners
which they are provided with professional attire to seek for employment.
Our Community Service Center also offers therapeutic counseling and various groups to include
anger management, trauma, crisis intervention, substance abuse, and parenting.
We also provide referrals for services that are not provided at our Community Service Center.