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Local Multicultural Resources
Introduction:
This paper will identify and describe three multicultural orientated resources located within
the Tidewater/Hampton Roads region of Virginia, along with their cultural orientation to give the
reader an opportunity to learn new information on community supports/services that may
enhance their knowledge on biases/limitations of said organization to enable deliverance of
tailored care to clients from multicultural backgrounds. The reader will also be provided with
statistics on this area's overall composition and demographics to allow them to determine what
programs may offer government aid, social/economical opportunities and additional resources to
plan a unique customer experience.
Demographics:
The Tidewater region, also known as Hampton roads or 757, is made up of the following
seven cities. Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and
Suffolk. This area is known for its large military presence, diverse cultures, tourism,
ports/shipyards and their oceanfront's. Census reporters convey “14.9% of our Veterans served
during wartime which is double the number of wartime Veterans across other states. “(U.S.
Census Bureau (2022).)
Another important fact about Tidewater is, every September the community gets together to
celebrate Bay Day. In today's society, Bay Day is a three-day social event that offers food
vendors, live entertainment, amusement rides, children's activities, art, craft activities, fireworks,
etc. However, historically many are unaware that Bay Day was started to recognize and pay
tribute to lives affected by slave trade that took place in Hampton hundreds of years ago.
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In 2022, the Census Bureau reported this area’s population being composed of “1,900,645.
The cultural makeup consists of 54% White Americans, 24% Afro Americans. 8% Hispanic, 6%
two or more Mixed Nationalities, 4% Asian, and 1% Other. This article also identifies 62% of
the people in this area are aged between 18 – 64.” (U.S. Census Bureau (2022) Seemingly the
ratio of men to women are almost equal in comparison.
Portsmouth once held a negative stigmatism directly related to being composed of most
housing projects and public housing. In the early 90’s, Portsmouth was noted to have one of the
top 3 murder rates in the states. Harrison, E reported “2023 marked 197 homicides this year. It's
the fewest seen since before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some cities set records within
their city limits. Portsmouth police investigated 38 homicides last year, another slight decrease
in comparison to 2022.” (Harrison, Emily (2024, January 1)
Roughly over the past 20 years Tidewater has undergone new construction and
redevelopment by tearing down public housing and building new affordable housing for low
income families. In the beginning of 2023, Portsmouth opened Rivers Casino. This decreased
unemployment by offering new jobs, property value increases, increased retail sales
opportunities, and increased patronage to local businesses.
Census reporters show that in “2022 the education levels in this area are as follows; 25% high
school graduates, 35% have some college, 21% have bachelor's degrees and only 14% are
postgraduates. While the average household income is $74,552, 31% of this population makes a
six-figure salary. “(U.S. Census Bureau (2022))
The Tidewater area is enriched with diverse opportunities for places of worship. No matter
your faith the area offers a spiritual home on naval bases and in the community. In my quest to
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find a spiritual home, I notice that many places of worship also include children's programs to
cater to our youths' spiritual growth. My children and I found that benefit very comforting and
rewarding.
Virginia Department of Veterans Services
Norfolk is famous for being the home of the largest Naval station in the country. In addition,
the tidewater area has 15 other installations that services every unique branch of the military.
That said, there is a huge need for the Virginia Department of Veteran Services or DVS. “DVS
is a state government agency with more than 50 locations across the Commonwealth of Virginia”
that services military active duty, veterans and their families. (U.S. Census Bureau (2022)) “DVS
traces its history to 1928 and the establishment of the Virginia War Service Bureau to assist
Virginia’s World War I veterans.” (U.S. Census Bureau (2022)) The office in Tidewater is
located at 2101 Executive Drive, Suite 420, Tower Box 48 Hampton, VA 23666.
DVS offers benefits and services including medical/mental health benefits, disability/pension
compensation, education/employment, home loan guarantees, war memorial. VA. womans
veterans' program, military spouse support, veterans care centers, and VA. family support. Most
of these services are self-explanatory except perhaps the last four for which I will offer a brief
description of each. The VA. Womans Veterans program that offers customized plan to help
women achieve a set of goals that may include higher education, transition, health, increasing
self-esteem/self-worth and advocacy by referring them to community resources.
Military spouse support and VA family support programs offer similar benefits to the VA
Womens Veterans program, buy referring consumer to utilize community recourses and they
extend assistance to husbands, wives and children. Lastly, the war memorial “honors our fallen
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heroes by passing their extraordinary stories of sacrifice forward to future generations through
many outreach and on-site educational programs.” (Dept of Veteran Services)
All military personnel and their immediate family active duty and veteran status are covered
by federally funded Tricare insurance. One may get connected to services by visiting a local
Veterans' hospital where they will be asked to fill out a questionnaire or visit an administrative
office to fill out an application. In either instance, they will be connected to supportive services,
including specialist, case management, disability accommodations. VDS have bilingual staff, and
devices for hearing impaired.
Department of Social Services
Portsmouth local Department of Social Services (DSS) is at 1701 High Street Portsmouth, Va
23707. This is a State Agency that caters to the needs of low-income families of all nationalities
in the area. One can apply for benefits online at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov, through a call
center 855-242-8282 or in person at the address listed above. Expedited services are offered for
those that qualify; however, most applications undergo a 30-to-45-day processing period. There
are no fees associated with any of the services.
Many residents of Portsmouth and Newport News are low-income families. DSS agencies
help supplement household supplies and bridge the gap to decrease financial burdens through
community resources. Many residents rely on churches, food banks and clothes closets to
support their families in addition to DSS.
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Most common services offered here are adult services, financial services, and child and
family services. “Adult services and child and family services include assistance with foster
care, protective services, companion services, community-based care, nursing homes and service
intake. Food assistance such as referrals, Supplement nutrition Assistance, Temporary
Assistance for Needy families, Medicaid insurance, Auxiliary grants, utility, clothing assistance,
fuel and rental assistance” (DSS) fall under financial services. For each service requested an
application must be filed. There are staff members that can aid, however, if you are able to file
your own application. Staff will review your submission and make you aware of any necessary
corrections before they hand you a receipt of submission. The application also allows a person
to identify a proxy to fill out paperwork, participate in interviews and receive benefits on another
person's behalf.
Department of Aging & Rehabilitating Services
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The last multicultural organization I want to review is the Department of Rehabilitative
Services (DRS) founded in 2012(DRS webpage). Their purpose is to provide employment
opportunities to the disabled, education, and security, to the disabled, by teaching them to secure
independence, inclusion and integration. Anyone that has a disability can report to 601 Port
Centre Pkwy, Suite 100 Portsmouth, VA. 23704 and fill out an application. There is no cost
associated with receiving any services provided.
DRS offers the following services: “Assistive Technology, Independent Living, Assistive
Technology Supplier Directory (Cal-ATSD) Older Individuals Who Are Blind, Blind Field
Services, Business Enterprises Program, Career Counseling & Information and Referral
Services, Cooperative Programs, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services, Disability Access
Services.” (DRS webpage)
Once a patron is accepted to the program, he/she is given a case manager to provide
individualized care. DRS will also help patrons remove obstacles that hinder them from
working, such as car maintenance, paying for training/school programs, providing bus tickets,
work uniforms and a host of other needs to secure employment.
Conclusion:
Working as a mental health Professional in an area densely populated with Veterans has been
challenging as well as rewarding. I have had clients in need of specialized care such housing,
devices for the impaired, specific disability accomadations, food, clothing, employment, and
assistance with filling out applications for benefits to name a few. The three multicultural
organization reviewed: Virginia Department of Veteran Service, Department of Social Services,
and Virginia Department of Aging and Rehabilitations Services have all played a major roll in
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addressing the needs of all my clients no matter their nationality, economic status, gender or age.
Tidewater has proven vital in the role offering community resources that have aided my clients
and their families, improve their quality of life. I encourage and support others in the field, to
utilize programs available in their area to link their clients to. I would like to see Tidewater offer
more structured affordable living resources for clients that have poor credit, criminal records, no
family support, and limited fixed income as I have witnessed this to be a continued barrier for
some.
I shall conclude with scripture ‘Proverbs 19:17 reads, “He that hath pity upon the poor
lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Isaiah 58:10 says,
"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light
rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day.” (King James Version, 2017)
References:
Retrieved March 24,2024 from
U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey 1-year estimates. Retrieved from
Census Reporter Profile page for Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area
<http://censusreporter.dokku.censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US47260-virginia-beach-norfolk-
newport-news-va-nc-metro-area/>
Retrieved March 24,2024 from
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U.S. Census Bureau (2022). American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Retrieved from
Census Reporter Profile page for Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metro Area
<http://censusreporter.dokku.censusreporter.org/profiles/31000US47260-virginia-beach-norfolk-
newport-news-va-nc-metro-area/>
Harrison,Emily (2024, January 1) Homicide rates slightly dropped across Hampton Roads in
2023, but some see a spike
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/homicide-rates-slightly-drop-across-hampton-
roads-2023/291-730a5af3-d44e-4bef-8368-7fb52c192d7b
Retrieved March 24, 2024, from:
https://www.dvs.virginia.gov/
Retrieved March 24,2024 from:
https://www.portsmouthva.gov/
Retrieved March 24,2024 from:
https://www.dars.virginia.gov/
King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/
(Original work published 1769)
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