Counseling Programs offered by CAASTLC, Inc.

Counseling Program

Individual & Family Counseling:
CAASTLC provides family counseling to individuals and families experiencing emotional stress and family problems. We offer specialized outpatient treatment for adults, adolescents, and children dealing with depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, anger management, and dual diagnosis issues. A licensed professional counselor can provide an objective viewpoint and guide an individual or a family toward a better understanding of their particular problems and their causes through non-judgmental and caring support, insight, and information. In addition, our counselors are familiar with the many community resources that are available to our clients.

Anger Management Counseling:
CAASTLC provides a twelve-session anger management program designed to provide personal insight into aggressive behavior and implement effective methods of addressing and managing anger. This program is modeled after a cognitive behavioral approach designed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Drug & Alcohol Counseling:
Drug & Alcohol counseling consists of educational classes in addition to individual counseling, group sessions, family counseling and aftercare maintenance. The counselor can direct the client to the proper agency ranging from self help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Al-Anon to private facilities or physicians best equipped to provide the assistance needed.

Individual counseling consists of one on one drug and alcohol counseling and is provided to assist individuals in developing insight and resolving personal and family problems. Some clients' respond best to individualized attention.

Group education sessions focus on legal aspects of chemical usage, disease concepts of alcohol and drug abuse, stress management and the physiological and psychological consequences of drug and alcohol use. Education is the first step to recovery.

Therapy Program is offered to assist those struggling to establish and maintain sobriety. Group topics focus on learning to cope with everyday life issues and stresses without resorting to using drugs or alcohol.

Aftercare Maintenance Upon completion of any other aspects of the program, participants are encouraged to enroll in aftercare maintenance which provides ongoing support for the client and family members in order to enhance the progress each has made since entering the treatment program. Professional and peer support continues as clients meet once a week to discuss the social, emotional and psychological adjustments involved in maintaining sobriety.

Counseling services are free of charge to low income residents and on a sliding scale for others.

Women's Drug & Alcohol Program:
CAASTLC has a new Women's Drug & Alcohol Program which consists of four phases. Phase I entails a thorough drug and alcohol evaluation and needs assessment conducted to address the client's life situation and provide a holistic approach to treatment. Phase II entails two group meetings a week and one individual counseling session per week for six weeks. Urine drops are conducted at the beginning and end of Phase II. Phase III entails one group session and one individual counseling session per week for six weeks. Another urine drop is conducted at the end of Phase III. The final phase, Phase IV, consists of weekly aftercare support groups addressing coping techniques and sobriety. Individual sessions are also available.

Program content includes such topics as psychological issues, effects on family, cognitive therapy, assertiveness/anger management, raising children, resources in the community, developing a survival mentality, and spiritual awareness. This program is directed and facilitated by certified substance abuse counselors and is free of charge to low-income St. Louis County women.

Income Eligibility Requirements - Household income may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines to be eligible for free services. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.

Click here to view our Counseling Services Brochure
Click here to view our Women's Drug & Alcohol Program Brochure
(Above links require Adobe Acrobat)

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Emergency Services

CAASTLC has several emergency services designed to meet the immediate needs of low-income individuals or families. These services include a Food Pantry, Back-to-School Fair, and a Winter Wonderland Program.

Our Food Pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. A household can receive food assistance every 30 days if necessary, for a maximum of 12 times per year.

Our Back-to-School Fair provides school supplies, services such as haircuts, immunizations, and other healthcare services as well as access to various area services for children. The Fair is designed to decrease some of the growing financial cost of preparing children for school. Pre- registration is required with the program limit being 300 children.

Our Winter Wonderland program is held each December and offers client families one gift per child plus a food voucher to a local grocery store. Agency staff assists in purchasing and arranging the gifts, and welcoming and registering the families. Each family is then assigned a personal shopper who directs and guides them in selecting an age-appropriate gift. Pre- registration is required with the program limit being 300 children.

Income Eligibility Requirements - For the Back-to-School Fair and Winter Wonderland Program, household income may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.

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Employment Development

CAASTLC has an Employment Development Program that is designed to help motivated job candidates find and retain employment in their communities.

Our Job Readiness classes emphasize employment enhancement skills that will help the candidate locate, land and retain a job. The classes cover topics such as resume writing, interviewing techniques, personal finance, time management, completing an employment application, work place survival skills and community involvement. Classes are conducted bi-weekly. To express your interest in the Job Readiness program or find out more information, please call Melissa Benton at 314-863-0015 extension: 431. Please go to our "Calendar of Events" page for a complete listing of our Job Readiness classes.

Job seekers who complete a Job Readiness Class are eligible for our Job Placement program. This program provides resources and placements for individuals seeking employment. Participants will work with an employment specialist who serves as an advisor and job coach in providing viable job leads and follow-up services. Participants may also be provided with transportation assistance, an interview suit or assistance with other job search needs. Our computer lab is available by appointment for Job Placement participants who would like personal assistance with filling out on-line job applications, using the telephone and fax, writing cover letters, and using the internet.

Our Job Fairs are held on a regular basis. We've networked and partnered with various area employers to hold these fairs with the focus being to increase the number of employers providing employment opportunities to our clients and to educate employers on the employment challenges that our clients face. Please go to our "Calendar of Events" page for a complete listing of our upcoming Job Fairs.

Income Eligibility Requirements - Household income may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.

Click here to view our Employment Development Brochure
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

Click here to view our Employment Program ‘What We Offer’ Handout
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

Click here to view our Employment Program Job Fair Handout
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

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Energy Services

CAASTLC has a number of Energy Services programs designed to alleviate the immediate threat of utility service disconnection (i.e., electricity, gas, propane, or heating oil) and assist residents in getting utility service restored to their homes. These programs include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Energy Assistance (EA) and Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) programs, Dollar - Help, Dollar More, and Heat Up/Cool Down St. Louis.

Services related to these programs include Money Management and Energy Conservation classes, weatherization of homes, minor energy related repairs, repair or installation of furnaces and air conditioners. Individuals applying for assistance at our main office will be required to attend a Money Management/Energy Conservation class before a pledge of assistance is made to the utility company. Elderly or handicapped individuals and those applicants who are working or attending school are exempt from the class requirement.

Required Documentation:

Proof of household income from the previous month.
Social security documentation for all household members over one (1) year of age.
Photo identification for the head of the household.
Proof of residency (must be living in St. Louis County).
Current utility bill.
EA grant award during EA period (November 1st � March 31st).

Income Eligibility Requirements:

1)	For EA and ECIP, household income may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.
2)	For Dollar-Help, household income may not exceed 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. If the household contains a resident sixty (60) years of age or older, household income may not exceed 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.
3)	For Dollar More and Heat Up/Cool Down St. Louis, there are no income eligibility requirements, although there are guidelines. Please go to our "Income Guidelines" page for a complete listing of income guidelines.

Click here to view our Energy Services Brochure
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

Ayuda en Servicios de Energía - CAASTLC
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

Ayuda en Servicios de Energía - LIHEAP
(Above link require Adobe Acrobat)

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Energy Rated Homes

Energy efficiency is a critical issue for affordable housing. The cost of heating and cooling a home is the highest cost of ownership outside of the mortgage loan. CAASTLC offers a home energy rating service designed to reduce a home's energy costs by lowering the amount of energy usage. The purpose of this service is to increase home ownership while fostering housing that is more comfortable, of higher quality, and more affordable to own.

A home energy rating involves a home inspection by a nationally certified home energy professional with the inspection comprising diagnostic performance testing of a home's envelope and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system's air leakage. The energy rating can provide a home owner with ways to evaluate and pinpoint specific, energy saving, cost-effective improvements and allow a home buyer to be better informed about energy costs in the purchase of a home and to be better qualified for a mortgage loan. Through this service, there are energy mortgages available, which give a home buyer the ability to purchase a higher quality home due to the lower monthly costs of heating and cooling a home and allow a home owner to use the money saved by lower utility bills to finance energy improvements in a home. CAASTLC charges a fee for this service. If you are interested, please call (314) 863-0015, ext. # 427.

Income Eligibility Requirements - None.

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or completeness of any information appearing on this website.