High-Impact Grantmaking: the Power of Collaboration
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High-Impact Grantmaking: The Power of Collaboration Each year, NW Children’s Fund Board associated with increased poverty, Strengthening Fragile Families: Grants Members explore the latest research homelessness and mental health issues in this category seek to prevent child surrounding child welfare and prepare are key risk factors for child abuse and abuse and neglect in at-risk families, and for the upcoming grant-review cycle. This neglect. support healing and stability for families year, the Board invited 10 child welfare affected by domestic violence. experts to lend new research and In this grantmaking area, NWCF insights to the discussion. Several of prioritizes programs that provide In order to support families at greatest these experts also participated as counseling and therapy, foster care risk of child maltreatment, NWCF panelists at our annual fall retreat. The programming, adoption services, and prioritizes programs aimed at building result was an invigorating exchange of comprehensive support services. We will families’ “protective factors” (see ideas that confirmed NWCF’s strategic focus on comprehensive services aimed box on page two) – parent education approach, and sparked ideas for fine- at long-term benefits--programs that not and training, support groups for tuning our grant-making processes to fit only treat, but prevent victims of abuse caregivers, family centers, supportive the ever-evolving needs of fragile from growing up to become another housing programs, emergency shelters, children and families in our area. generation of abusers. counseling, and other support services. Here are highlights in our three grantmaking areas: Healing Abused Children: The goal of these grants is to help young victims of abuse and neglect heal from early childhood traumatic experiences and find permanency and stability in their lives. According to research cited by Randy Hart of the Children’s Administration, the long-term economic downturn has led to a discouraging uptick in cases of serious abuse of very young children, ages 0-3. Other panelists confirmed that stressors FALL 2013 Annual Report 02 This year, panelists and Board foster care, tutoring and mentoring, members discussed exciting youth engagement programs, and opportunities for enhanced programs for homeless youth. At A special thank you collaboration and early our retreat, panelists and Board • Randy Hart, Deputy Assistant Secretary, coordination of support that are members specifically discussed Children’s Administration being incorporated into the child programs for teenagers. To be welfare landscape. If implemented effective, programs for teens must • Erinn Havig, Program Manager, effectively, these changes offer combine strong adult mentoring Strengthening Families Washington the possibility of redirecting at- and role modeling with a framework • Judy King, Administrator, Strengthening risk children and families before of peer group support, and be Families Washington they become more entrenched in sensitive to the teenager’s unique • Laurie Lippold, Public Policy Director, Partners damaging behaviors. communication and learning styles. for Our Children We are also extremely cognizant of Helping At-Risk Youth: how often this group overlaps with, • Jenni Olmstead, Community Outreach & Investments in these programs or will soon become, young parents Engagement Manager, Strengthening Families aim to promote healthy mental and who will need support in order to Washington physical maturity in at-risk youth so parent effectively. • Teresa Rafael, Executive Director, National they can make good life decisions Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and break the generational cycle of NWCF would like to thank the • Toni Sebastian, Practice Consultant, DSHS abuse and poverty. thought leaders, listed at right, who Vulnerable Families Partnership collaborated with us in this research When reviewing grants, NWCF and review process. Their insights • Joan Sharp, Project Manager, National Child Board members look for programs and expertise will be invaluable as Abuse and Neglect Training & Publication Project that instill youth with necessary we embark on our next grant-review • Jennifer Teunon, Principal, Luma Consulting developmental assets* to grow cycle. • Dee Wilson, Director of Child Welfare Services, into strong, responsible adults, Knowledge Management, Casey Family Programs and prioritize those that offer * Learn more at www.search-institute. support for youth aging out of org/research/developmental-assets Our Grantmaking Impact in 2013 It’s a fact: Five protective factors help families thrive. In Washington State, and all over the U.S., there transitioning homeless 16% providing treatment youth and families into 17% to heal children who is a renewed energy around services and have experienced safety and self-reliance programs that help families build the strength to abuse weather challenges in a healthy, productive way. Research shows that when these five protective fostering parent-child factors are well established in a family, the 2013 Grant 11% attachment and child likelihood of child abuse and neglect diminishes, strengthening foster mental health care and adoption to 14% Distribution and the opportunity for optimal child and youth promote permanency development increases. $796k Five Protective Factors for Strengthening Families building protective 15% helping families escape factors and resilience in fragile families • Parental Resilience and recover from 13% • Social Connections violent homes mentoring and tutoring • Concrete Support in Times of Need 14% to guide and support • Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development at-risk youth • Social & Emotional Competence of Children Learn more about the protective factors framework at www.del.wa.gov/development/ strengthening/ 100% of individual donors’ gifts went directly to grants. 03 NW CHILDREN'S Holiday Vintage Show & Bazaar FUND benefiting NW Children’s Fund 2100 24th Ave. S. Suite No. 320 Saturday, November 16 • Noon-3pm Seattle, WA 98144 Tam O’Shanter Golf & Country Club T 206 682 8447 1313 183rd Avenue NE • Bellevue, WA 98008 F 206 682 8173 nwcf.org Executive Director Victoria Peattie Helm Space is limited! Admission: Visit nwcf.org for tickets or to learn more. President $40 Valerie Robinson President Elect RSVP today! Includes fashion show, fabulous vintage shopping, Sandy Cocanour a light luncheon buffet, raffle ticket, and loads of fun! Co-Treasurers Cathy Hofferber Sidney May Secretary M. Monica Fix Board Members Saturday, April 26, 2014 Save the date! Diane Bowlin Lyndsay Castiglia It’s never too early to Nicole Mortati Chang start getting excited for Melissa Canfield NW Children’s Fund’s Chasan Gala & Auction to be Kathryn Crandell Debra D. Dahlen held at Fremont Studios. Jane Davis We’ve already started to Paula Deboo procure auction items for Yenii Chen Dex the big event, so if you Robert Fries have something fantastic Chitra Gopalakrishnan NW Children’s Fund you’d like to contribute, Lisa Jelic Erin Medved be sure to let us know. Gala & Auction Michelle Raymond Also, for information Dinner by Chef John Howie Kim Reneris on how to be an event Stephanie Robinett With Auctioneer John Curley sponsor or table captain, JK Schatzman call (206) 682-8447. Jeannine Sielinski Wenona S. Strafford Jackie Valentine Heidi Vanderlaan Be a part of the NWCF team! Chair - Advisory Council NW Children’s Fund is accepting applications for Mary Ketcham Kerr Board membership and other volunteer positions. To learn more, check out nwcf.org and then email Tax ID 91-1314318 [email protected] with your contact information. 04 2013 Grant Recipients Agency / Program Description Grant ($) Agency / Program Description Grant ($) Healing Abused Children Helping At-Risk Youth Amara: Foster-Adoption Program / Parenting and adoption 14,500 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Island County / Mentoring for 7,500 services to create safety and permanence for at-risk and low-income, high-risk, and pre-teen girls in Island County. special-needs children. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington / One-on- 7,100 Childhaven / Crisis nursery and therapeutic childcare for 20,000 one, professionally supported mentoring for at-risk youth in abused, neglected and/or drug-affected children. SW Washington, including foster youth and Native American populations. Families Like Ours: Foster and Adoptive Family Education 15,000 Programs / Education and support for non-traditional families, Cocoon House / Outreach, prevention, residential services 20,000 both pre- and post-foster care and adoption. and advocacy for homeless and highly disconnected youth. Family Law CASA / Representation and advocacy for children 15,000 Communities in Schools of Lakewood / Mentoring, tutoring, 12,500 in custody cases involving allegations of abuse and neglect. and emergency services for underprivileged children provided through a network of community volunteers. Jumping Mouse Children’s Center / Long-term, intensive 14,600 play therapy and social advocacy for neglected and abused Communities in Schools of Orting / School-based mentoring, 10,000 children. enrichment, and outreach program for youth at high risk of school failure in Orting. Kindering Center: Children Encouraged by Relationships In 14,550 Secure Homes (CHERISH) / Program to address the social, FareStart: Barista Training & Education Program / 7,100 emotional, and other developmental issues of the most at- Comprehensive job training and support services for risk children in foster and