Updated version of P-burg Site of CHS strategic plan 2009

Children’s Home Society of WV / Parkersburg
Child & Family Services and Arthur N. Gustke Child Shelter
Strategic Planning 2009

Targets / Goals

 Improve the outward appearance of the 1739 St. Mary’s Ave property (painting, lights, trim, signage, etc). [Painting and trim work completed 7/09; electrician consulted]
 Establish a network server for the computer system. [installed 3/18/09] Establish a technology resource person for all printing, copying, and networking issues. [Technology resource person started 8/09]
 Stabilize the budget for the umbrella of services provided through the Mid-Town Family Resource Center. [Goal to be met by Spring 2010 due to PIP Innovation Grant ending]
 Serve 15 (hopefully 20) children and youth in the foster care program by June 2009. [goal met] New Goal: Serve 30 children and youth in the foster care program by June 2010.
 Enhance and solidify the management of our volunteer base. [WE CAN Program Coordinator hired 9/1/09 who will manage ALL volunteers].
 Involve foster parents more in the overall development and marketing of the site (i.e., advisory committee participation, fund raising efforts, public awareness and outreach efforts). [Progress being made toward goal]
 Initiate a mentoring program (WE CAN, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, mentoring youth aging out of foster care, and/or building on the mentoring services currently offered through the Mid-Town Family Resource Center). [agency-wide WE CAN grant submitted] [Four sites received funding, including Parkersburg. Program started 9/1/09].

Community Involvement / Collaborative Roles

 Continue momentum toward recruitment of “families” to help further the mission (i.e., adoptive families, foster families, host homes for our two RHY programs, emergency foster homes, respite homes, family mentor, etc).[Progress being made toward goal]
 Continue our community wide focus on being an agency known for positive youth development, youth empowerment, and youth leadership and involvement (particularly through the RHY programs and the Mid-Town Family Resource Center). Conduct outreach activities in these areas. [Recent examples include: Summer Youth Program, RHY movie and game nights]
 Provide CEU trainings for the agency and the community (i.e., Social Work, Nursing). [9/9/09 – Social Work Ethics course scheduled at CFS office].
 Re-initiate the CPS – community dialogues begun in 1/08. Extend dialogues to include Youth Services. *CEU events.
 Convene a local foster care provider agencies forum.
 Continue with efforts to provide a safe “drop-in center” for older neighborhood youth. [In development through RHY programs]

Major Facility Changes

 Re-locate foster care and adoption programs to a larger space. Develop an Adoption Resource Center and a Visitation Center. [Progress being made toward goal. Target completion date: 10/1/09]
 Renovate 1611 Latrobe St., or a similar setting, in order to pursue development of Independent Living and Transitional Living Services.

Program and Site Specific Initiatives

 Pursue Child Placing license for Independent Living services. [Goal met]
 Continue efforts to expand shelter licensing to a 10 bed capacity.
 Continue to evaluate programs and positions as to their viability for ‘paying their own way’ (particularly Birth to Three programming).
 Provide leadership concerning the provision of RFTS and Birth to Three Services.
 Promote funding for the expansion and reorganization of the Truancy Diversion Program and expansion of services to homeless children eligible under the McKinney Vento Act.
 Provide Shaken Baby Syndrome sessions (RFTS and Partners in Prevention). [Sessions were held Spring 2009]
 Initiate father involvement / support sessions through RFTS and the Mid Town Family Resource Center. [started 3/26/09 - 6 sessions in series - concluded 4/23/09]
 Participate in local, regional, and state Drop Out Prevention Summits. [Goal met 7/09]
 Develop our skills and delivery of life skills training to a wide variety of potential clients (i.e., transitioning youth, young parents, neighborhood families, those from day report and similar external programs).
 Initiate support groups, using William Glasser’s approach and material, across the site’s various programs. [Sessions held 6/24/09, 7/23/09, 8/20/09 – future sessions to be scheduled]
 Continue to seek ways to meet after school needs of neighborhood youth in middle school and possibly high school (i.e., homework help). This would build upon our current focus of elementary aged youth. [Explorations grant received and implemented Summer 2009, which provided for Summer Youth Program] [Additional Department of Education grant received to provide after school tutoring to ANG youth, and possibly neighborhood youth]
 Explore reviving the Mid Town Tinkers computer recycling/refurbishing/re-use project. [Out building provided to allow for storage of computer parts]
 Coordinate the clothing closets of the Child & Family Services Site and the shelter. [Various programs are aware of clothing options]


Calendar of Events

 Hold quarterly site-wide staff meetings to promote information sharing across programs and exposure to trends in various site programs; be able to convey information widely (i.e., safety committee information, human resources information). [Meetings held 1/09, 4/09, 9/09. Future meetings to be scheduled]
 Host a minimum of four foster care / adoption information sessions annually. [1st session held 2/3/09, 2nd session held 5/16/09, future sessions to be scheduled]
 Participate in “months” activities such as Child Abuse Prevention month (April), National Foster Care month (May), National Adoption month (November). [April and May events held, November event to be scheduled].
 Hold 4th annual Neighborhood Day “carnival” in September (a creative expressions contest will be added this year). [scheduled 9/19/09]
 Continue the Americana Music Tribute series fund raising events. [5 events held, next event scheduled 10/10/09 – 7th annual John Prine Tribute]
 Continue to hold vinyl records sales. [2 events held, 1 more likely to be scheduled]
 Hold a youth oriented outdoor music event (youth musicians). Pursue a local music compilation CD.
 Hold a car wash (or series) at the shelter parking lot as a fund raiser. [Event scheduled 9/26/09 in CFS parking lot to benefit RHY programs]
 Explore holding a parking lot sale at both site locations. [Event held 8/7/09 at CFS site]
 Hold an event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the shelter and the 10th anniversary of the Child & Family Services site in February 2009. [completed 2/27/09]
 Little Red Stocking / Holiday kick off event scheduled at Parkersburg Art Center 11/6/09. Titled: ‘Make it Right for Kids’ Night