Our Programs: Naomi Project - Virginia Council of Churches

MISSION OF THE NAOMI PROJECT

The Naomi Project is a program of the Virginia Council of Churches. It is an ecumenical, all volunteer, resource mothers program. This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Naomi Project. Its mission is to work with high-risk pregnant and newly parenting women. The goals of the program are to promote healthy pregnancies, to foster good parenting skills, and to help our clients plan productively for their futures.

The Naomi Project is a cost effective, all volunteer effort. In its ten years of existence, its annual budget has been less than $5000 per year. In 2005, Naomi Project volunteers helped fifty-eight pregnant and newly parenting women. Thirty six mentors, nine area coordinators, and eleven support staff gave over 2300 reported hours to the project. Since its inception in 1995, 185 volunteers have helped 308 pregnant or newly parenting women.

The majority of referrals to the program come from the Fairfax County Health Department, Fairfax Hospital, and the Fairfax County Department of Human Services. Our clients range in age from 14 to 41. Our volunteers range in age from 26 to 67.

The Naomi Project is unique because it is an all-volunteer effort working with a diverse client population that represents the make-up of the community. Because volunteers are matched on a one-to-one basis, many of our clients experience for the first time a caring adult focusing specifically on them.