The James V. Brown Library is proud to announce a new partnership with STEP Inc. to provide free counseling services to Lycoming County. Under this partnership, two Family Navigators from STEP Inc. will be on-site at the James V. Brown Library, where they will offer private, secure services to those in need.
This program is designed to help families and individuals move from crisis to self-sufficiency by using intensive, individualized case management. According to Rachelle Abbott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Step Corp., “Families experiencing financial hardship often face more than a single crisis. Housing instability, transportation barriers, lack of childcare, employment disruptions, limited access to education and training, and challenges with managing household finances frequently occur simultaneously, creating complex barriers that prevent families from achieving long-term stability. For low-to-moderate-income households, a one-time intervention rarely resolves the underlying factors contributing to economic insecurity.”
As part of STEP’s Service Navigation Program, Family Navigators work alongside customers to identify strengths, assess barriers, develop personalized action plans, coordinate community resources, and provide ongoing support and accountability as goals are achieved. As the dedicated 211 Coordinated Intake provider for Lycoming and Clinton Counties, STEP Inc.’s Family Navigator will also conduct intake assessments for families and individuals facing housing instability and homelessness and connect them to community resources and supports.
“We are so excited to forge a new partnership with STEP,” says Amy Resh, Chief Executive Officer & Director of the James V. Brown Library. “The services that are being provided by STEP are extremely valuable to our community, and I’m thrilled to be able to offer a private space at the Library for these necessary meetings.”
Family Navigators will be on site at the James V. Brown Library on Tuesdays, from 9 am to 1 pm and Thursdays from 1 pm to 5 pm. For more information about this partnership, please call (570) 326-0536 or visit www.jvbrown.edu.
The James V. Brown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To place a hold, visit www.jvbrown.edu or call 570-326-0536 during the library’s operating hours. Walk-in passport services are available from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
The James V. Brown Library, 19 E. Fourth St., Williamsport, Pa., is inspiring today, and shaping tomorrow. Founded in June 1907, the library champions the love of reading, opens new doors to lifelong learning, provides a haven to those who seek and ensures the preservation of public library services for future generations. A member of the Lycoming County Library System, the James V. Brown Library participates in PA Forward, a statewide initiative to promote literacies in our communities to power a better future for everyone.
