Creative Community Partnerships AJFCA/IAJVS Annual Conference April 16, 2007 New York City.

Creative Community Creative Community PartnershipsPartnerships

AJFCA/IAJVS Annual ConferenceAJFCA/IAJVS Annual ConferenceApril 16, 2007April 16, 2007New York CityNew York City

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

How a large agency created key partnerships with large public systems serving children: a school district & a county department of social services

How a small agency created effective collaborations with local funders, other social service agencies, and community volunteers to provide support for at-risk families

PresentersPresenters

Cheri Brady, LICSW ACT Program Supervisor of JFCS of

Minneapolis, MN

Ruth Edelman, LCSW Family Mentor Program Coordinator Jewish Family Service of Somerset,

Hunterdon and Warren Counties (NJ)

Presentation FormatPresentation Format

Overview of our two programs8 Steps for Effective CollaborationsQuestions/Sharing informationHandouts have greater program detail and

contact information

ACT Program OverviewACT Program Overview

ACT is an acronym for two schools servedLocated in two elementary schools, near the

agency/in the neighborhoodSchools identified as having a needConcerns with attendance, academic

performance, behavior while at school, high family mobility

ACT Program StaffACT Program Staff

Clinical supervisor and therapistFamily Support Workers (2 FTE)Social Skills/Prevention EducatorVolunteer Coordinator

Additional Program Team Additional Program Team MembersMembers

Graduate Level InternsVolunteers

– 1:1 mentors– Lunch Buddies– - homework helpers– family event facilitators

Key Professional ConnectionsKey Professional Connections

School principals and teachers School social workers Staff from specialized housing programs Local librarians Community Education staff NHS advisors from 2 High schools Synagogue and church leaders JFCS/JVS staff

Program ServicesProgram Services

1. Family Case Management

2. Counseling at school and at the agency

3. Social skills sessions for each classroom

4. Homework help

5. Family Fun Night events

6. Mentors for children

7. School-wide consultation services

Long-Term OutcomeLong-Term OutcomeACT ProgramACT Program

Students who receive ACT services for at least 9 months demonstrate growth in social skills and academic achievement

Family Mentor Program

Jewish Family ServiceJewish Family Serviceof Somerset, Hunterdon of Somerset, Hunterdon

and and Warren CountiesWarren Counties

JFSJFS

Program PurposeProgram Purpose

Strength based program

– Promotion of emotional and physical health– Promotion of financial stability– Children and adults– Volunteer “matched” with family for 1 year– Provide in-home support/information– Somerset County families:children <10 years

Program OutcomesProgram Outcomes

Completion of 1 year in program (and most beyond) Meeting family defined goals:

*increased financial stability

*increased education

*improved relationships among family members

*improved self-esteem

*increased access to resources for emotional, social and financial support

Family Satisfaction with program Volunteer Satisfaction with program

Outreach Efforts: FamiliesOutreach Efforts: Families

Outreach efforts to identify referralsPresentations in the community Presentation to county providers/agenciesMedia: press release, newspaper, etcMailings to referral sourcesWord of mouth

Families: Source of ReferralFamilies: Source of Referral

2211

43

13

1

9

313

0

5

10

15

20

Families: Primary Presenting IssuesFamilies: Primary Presenting Issues

3

54

224

42

14

0

5

10

15

20

Families: EthnicityFamilies: Ethnicity

156

21

0

10

20

30

Caucasian African American Latino Asian

Outreach Efforts: VolunteersOutreach Efforts: Volunteers Outreach efforts to recruit volunteers are on-going and

include:

Presentations in the communityWebsite recruitment: corporate & not for profitNewspaper publicityE mail’s to target groupsE mail’s to Somerset County TemplesLocal colleges and a university

Volunteers: Source of ReferralVolunteers: Source of Referral

8

33

11

3

2

5

6

3

10

2

4

6

8

10

Volunteers: Age GroupsVolunteers: Age Groups

1

43

10

6

8

4

0

5

10

15

20

24-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89

Volunteers: Education LevelVolunteers: Education Level

1

16

12

43

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

HS Grad College BA MA PHD

Volunteers: EthnicityVolunteers: Ethnicity

213

30

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Caucasian Latino African American Asian

Volunteers: GenderVolunteers: Gender

86

14

0

20

40

60

80

100

Male Female

%

%

Volunteers: What They DoVolunteers: What They Do Meet with family 1 time per week in family homes

Work with families to achieve established goals and identify new goals

Help families to identify each members strengths

Participate in family activities, sharing positive experiences

Attend monthly peer group supervision session

Complete monthly paperwork

Our Volunteers: What JFS ProvidesOur Volunteers: What JFS Provides

Initial orientation and training (9 hours)

Ongoing supervision & collaboration (in person, by phone, and by email)

Timely responses to questions & concerns

Resources for additional services & information

Professional Advisory Committee: resources beyond scope & knowledge of JFS staff

Ideas/recommendations for low/no cost activities

FundingFunding The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation, a steadfast

partner provided the seed money for the program and continues their support today.

Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders has been a funding partner since January 2006

JFS continues to seek sources of financial support in order to maintain our commitment to families and mentors

Steps for Creating Effective Steps for Creating Effective CollaborationsCollaborations

1. Understand community needs and resources2. Identify agency expertise3. Ensure “fit” with agency mission4. Identify and involve potential stakeholders

(external and internal)5. Clarify common interests6. Develop communication mechanisms7. Ensure credibility via excellent outcomes8. Communicate results

#1:#1: Understand Community Understand Community NeedsNeeds

1. Children’s school performance concerns many people

2. At-risk children live in at-risk families:– Economic disadvantages– Parents with low education levels– Parents with low job skills– Parents who have a history of delinquent

behavior, substance abuse, or mental health difficulties

– Families with children with special needs

#1#1:: Understand Community Understand Community NeedsNeeds

con’t.con’t.3. JFCS contacted a school superintendent, and

together identified a school Higher number of students qualifying for free or

reduced lunch Focused on primary grades (early intervention, to

work on prevention) JFS collaborated with a variety of social service

agencies to identify needs Unanticipated was high need among families with

children with disabilities

#2:#2: Identify Agency ExpertiseIdentify Agency Expertise

1. Review agency experience, current programs, and staff qualifications and abilities

2. Both agencies expert in: assisting families with improving stability intervening with children and families to help them

emotionally 3. JFS recruited and hired staff with expertise in

Program Development and volunteer management4. JFS needed to add staff with expertise in special needs

issues due to high referrals in that area (obtained separate funding to do so, expanding program)

#3#3:: Ensure “fit” with MissionEnsure “fit” with Mission

JFCS of Minneapolis is a social service and vocational agency dedicated to enhancing the well-being and self-sufficiency of individuals and families by assisting them to meet the unique challenges of daily life.

JFS Mission “not for profit, non-discriminatory social service agency whose purpose is to preserve and strengthen the quality of individual, family and community life based on Jewish values.”

#4:#4: Identify & Involve Potential Identify & Involve Potential StakeholdersStakeholders

Ask: Who else cares about this? JFCS identified:

Schools Local Foundations County Social Services Individuals (became an advisory committee) JFS identified:

Public and private stable funding sources Countywide social services

JFS Board and multidisciplinary Professional Advisory Committee

Community members from all backgrounds

#5:#5: Clarify Common InterestsClarify Common Interests

1. Schools Met with district superintendent Several mutual concerns were identified Identified barriers to educational success which

agency could address, based on our expertise 2. Social Service Agencies Met with leaders to establish program for

continuing care, less intensive care, or longer term involvement than referring agency

#5:#5: Clarify Common InterestsClarify Common Interests, , Con’tCon’t..

3. Local Foundation(s) Met with local foundations to establish mutual

concerns, develop a model for a program with measurable outcomes, and secure early financial support

Assess current funding “climate” and types of programs seen as “innovative” (i.e. high demand, and/or not offered by others)

#5:#5: Clarify Common InterestsClarify Common Interests con’t.con’t.

4. County Department of Social Services

Both agencies involved local county commissioners & Dept. of Human Services with early work. Created Advisory Committees (interested civic leaders/professionals). This helped create opportunity for a service contract with the County.

#5:#5: Clarify Common InterestsClarify Common Interests (con’t.)(con’t.)

5. Business Community/Civic Groups

-positive “bandwagon” effect

-volunteer recruitment/board involvement

-specific resources for: summer camp, holiday meals, senior services etc…

-agency exposure/PR

#5:#5: Clarify Common InterestsClarify Common Interests, , con’t.con’t.

Both programs reduce the need for more expensive services with these outcomes:

improved school attendance (JFCS) school completion (JFS) families accessing mental health /physical health services

families obtaining/maintaining jobs, housing families having greater support for nurturing of their

children, including high risk situations

#6:#6: Develop Communication Develop Communication MechanismsMechanisms

1. High visibility for Board through Program updates and reporting and involvement of Board members as volunteers (JFS)

2. Program brochures, publicity through websites, print media, community presentations keeps agency and program in public view

3. Monthly and quarterly reports to Board, funding sources, and other stakeholders

4. Ongoing meetings with volunteers for multiple purposes

#7#7: Ensure Credibility via Excellent : Ensure Credibility via Excellent OutcomesOutcomes

1. Develop and implement a program logic model which is true to your agency mission, and which utilizes your agency strengths/talents.

2. When outcomes are mutually established and effectively reached, others become interested in assisting with funding.

#8#8:: Communicate ResultsCommunicate Results

Monthly and quarterly reports to Board, funding sources, and other stakeholders

Annual reports to stakeholdersQuantitative and qualitative measurable

outcomes

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?