Christ the Rock International, Inc. since it’s inception in 1995, has been on the cutting edge of child welfare, youth empowerment and family integration in communities across Brooklyn and other Boroughs of New York City. Our Mission is to “Build Lives”. Among the broad based experiences serving children, youth and their families in our inner cities neighborhood, include:
A) CTRI Infant Mortality & Maternal Child & Family Health Initiative: Since September 1999 to date, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has awarded Christ the Rock International, Inc. (CTRI) with it’s subsidiary organization-The Organization of African Coalition, $29,995 annually to improve the health and well being of childbearing and child rearing individuals and families by providing outreach and case finding, referrals to other organizations for health awareness events, information, education and advocacy; and in collaboration with other organizations, promoting access to quality services appropriate to their needs. For 10 years, CTRI has worked to prevent and reduce infant/maternal illness and death, which for several years have been excessively high in our communities. By enabling at-risk residents to access vital coordinated information, care, supportive health/social services and assistance to secure benefits, etc., we have seen a significant reduction in infant death and improve health status.
B) NYSDOH CHP/CTRI Facilitated Enrollment Program: In 1998, the New York State Department of Health office of Child Health Plus awarded CTRI about $30,000 with an increase to $48,241 to serve as an enrollment site for children and families with no health insurance coverage. Several hundreds of children were enrolled in the child Health Plus program before it’s de-funding in FY’2000, due to contract cut backs. Since 2000, without any funding, CTRI continues to work collaboratively with managed care plans, hospitals and health clinics to enroll eligible families and individuals for health insurance: Family health Plus, Medicaid or Child Health Plus. Our office received compliments from NYC Mayor’s Office of Health Insurance Access (MOHIA) for its efforts in working to enroll children and adults in to the no-cost and low-cost Child Plus & Adult Health Insurance Program.
C) Faith In Action Caring Hand Group: In 2001, CTRI was awarded a grant of $35,000 by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Faith In Action Program to assist the children, elderly, the disabled and others in need to maintain their independence, their dignity and their quality of life by offering volunteer services through the shared ministry of faith communities. CTRI Faith in Action Caring Hand Group Volunteer Program works to care, educate, and refer persons who are elderly, children, persons with physical disability and persons with mental retardation. Our volunteer caregivers visit clients in their homes and do chores or yard work, provide minor home repairs, assist with grocery shopping, help with bills payment, medical appointments calls and doctors visit, recreation and provide transportation primarily for the elderly and disabled.
D) Comprehensive Youth Leadership & Mentoring Program: CTRI Comprehensive Youth & Mentoring Program helps to develop the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well being of inner cities youth. With an After School, Physical Fitness/Dance, Entrepreneurship, Audio/TV, Music/Drama & Cultural Enrichment Programming, CTRI has emerged as leader in youth development strategy. In FY’2000/1, CTRI received a grant of $3,000 from New York City Department of Youth and Community Development to provide youth with leadership, recreation and after school tutorial. In 2002/3, the New York State Office of County Health Professionals awarded CTRI $16,420 to coordinate with four area faith-based organizations to provide physical fitness program (dance & aerobic classes) to youth and adult in low-income and depressed neighborhoods. This program, a national health strategy, was designed to reduce the level of stress, distress, heart disease and other cardio-vascular challenges in low-income and minority neighborhoods. The program engaged youth and adults in exercises and dance. At the end of the program, youth and adults with obesity problem experienced weight loss, others blood pressure was regularized and some school grades dramatically improved.
E) CTRI HIV/AIDS Ministry: In a collaborative effort with the Miracle Makers Inc., lead agency for Community Coalition Project of Central Brooklyn, Brooklyn AIDS Task Force and Center for Community Alternatives, Inc., CTRI HIV/AIDS Project works to educate, refer and advocate for individuals challenged with the disease. Our Key Staff, Min. Christina Walker is a major adviser and speaker at various conferences on forums on HIV/AIDS. In 2004, we received a grant in the amount of $13,500 from the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene to work with National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) and Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement (HCCI) to develop linkages, develop and coordinate HIV/AIDS prevention forums, education and testing forums.
F) CTRI Home Ownership Program: In 2001, Chase Morgan Stanley Foundation awarded CTRI a grant of $15,000 to redesign the landscape of East New by developing low and medium income housing and train/help community residents to buy/own their home. The entity established to execute this program was the Rockgate Community Development Center, a non-profit community development program of Christ the Rock. In 2002, the Faith Center for Community Development, also working in partnership with Chase awarded CTRI a grant of $15,000 to further expand its community development program efforts. As a result of this over 30 community residents have either owned or are ready to own their own homes.
G) Breaking New Grounds, Healthy Marriage Initiative: In October, 2005, the US Department of Children Services Administration, under the Compassion Capital Fund awarded Christ the Rock Church $50,000 to do capacity building. This initiative is designed to strengthen marriages while preparing singles for a productive marriage.
H) Brooklyn Healthy Access Project: In December, 2005, the US Department of Human Services, through Brooklyn Perinatal Network Inc. a consortia of social, health and faith-based organizations, awarded Christ the Rock Church $46,000 to promote and enroll children and adults into low cost/no cost health insurance plan. This program also works provide home visit services to pregnant women and nursing mothers, and help community residents access other health care services in the community.
I) Healthy Babies Pregnancy Workshops: In 2006, the March of Dimes awarded Christ the Rock Church about $3,000 to provide educational workshop in English and Spanish to pregnant mothers and their husbands. The goal is to increase healthy birth outcomes and prevent pre-maturity.
Other Experiences of Christ the Rock International, Inc.
Ø Christ the Rock Bible Institute in Joint Relationship with the Oral Roberts University, with campuses in Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey; Tullahoma, Tennessee; Hinesville, Georgia; Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Ø Restoration Hour Television Ministry, which outreach to over 1 million people last year. With the current expansion to Time Warner and Cable Network in Queens, Brooklyn and Nassau in Long Island, more than 3 million lives will be impacted.
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Christ the Rock Academy & Child Care Center—this a pre-kindergarten program for children of ages 2 to 5 years. Currently a building is being renovated to expand our service to house more community children.
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Christ the Rock Food Ministry feeds over 300 people each week in New York. We obtain our food from Bowery Missions and Feed the Children. We have recently expanded our service to include a thrift shop to provide clothing, can food, toiletries, etc to neighborhood families.
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Christ the Rock International Ministry & Missions provides administrative, training, financial and technical assistance to pastors and churches in all the continents of the world.
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Christ the Rock Prison Ministry. On Tuesdays and Fridays of each week, our team of Ministers who have extensive prison ministry experience, go to the prison to provide peer education, outreach and counseling to inmates. Inmates are treated to concerts and religious orientation shows.