Category : General Topics

Can $15.00 Really Make a Difference?

Did you know that it costs Deschutes Children’s Foundation $15.00 for every child and parent who comes to one of our four nonprofit community centers to receive services?

So what does this cost entail?

It provides:

• Office and classroom space for 26 nonprofit agencies to provide services
• Facility management to ensure the community centers are safe and clean
• Kitchen space to provide hot, healthy meals for children and families

So here’s the challenge – if every one of our followers on Twitter, fans on Facebook, and e-newsletter subscribers were to make a $15.00 donation, we will meet our 2011 fundraising goal of $10,000.00.

Here’s how you can make a difference in a child’s life:

• Donate online at www.deschuteschildrensfoundation.org/donations

• Mail your gift to:

Deschutes Children’s Foundation

1010 NW 14th Street

Bend, OR 97701

(Must be postmarked by December 31, 2011 for 2011 tax deduction)

• Call 541-388-3101 to make a donation using your credit card

Thank you from all of us at Deschutes Children’s Foundation for supporting the work of so many!

 

The broad benefits of co-location

For tenants, fixed long-term leases at affordable rates provide stability and confidence for the future. Meanwhile, cost-sharing for common areas (reception, conference rooms, kitchen, break rooms) and even some administrative functions (I.T., phone systems, human resources) helps reduce their monthly overhead.

-Center Scene: A Newsletter of the Center for Healthy Communities

It’s no secret that the economy is having a negative impact on just about every sector in America. From an insider’s perspective – the nonprofit sector is feeling the crunch as well.

With nonprofits reporting a “mixed bag” in fundraising revenues for 2011 (http://t.co/gUfuqi0G), there has to be a way to help nonprofits make the best use of their operational dollars.

This is where the benefits of co-location come in. When nonprofit programs have the opportunity to work in a shared work environment, the benefits to the nonprofits range from financial to collaborative. These benefits extend even further to the clients who receive services from the nonprofits.

Think about it, if a nonprofit can reduce overhead costs through reduced rent, sharing of utility costs, and sharing of common areas, a higher percentage of expenses can go into program costs. Additionally, when the nonprofits work together in a shared space, program staff have the opportunity to share ideas, collaborate on projects and refer clients for complete services.

At Deschutes Children’s Foundation, we see these benefits every day. 26 nonprofit agencies work out of our four community campuses. This collaborative effort results in over $800,000 of annual savings to the nonprofits who provide services to over 10,000 clients on the campuses alone (this last metric does not take into account the clients who receive services off-site).

There is a growing movement in co-location within the nonprofit industry, and we support this growth. Having experienced the benefits firsthand, we know that this is a way to increase nonprofit efficiency while making the best use of the donations on which the nonprofit programs rely.

 

Save the Date!

It seems like it was just yesterday that DCF(‘s awesome) volunteers and staff were preparing the Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center for the 19th Annual Art & Wine Auction. Over 320 fantastic supporters of DCF mission and services contributed to making the auction a real success!

Well, go ahead and mark your calendars folks because the Art & Wine Auction is turning 20 this year, and you are all invited to help us celebrate on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the Riverhouse Convention Center!

Over the next month we will keep you posted on the preliminary details including who the Signature Artist will be and how you can contribute to making the 20th Annual Art & Wine Auction a smashing success!

In the mean time, are there artists, wineries, or packages that you would like to see at the auction this year? Let us know! This is your event after all.

 

 

Collaboration in the Community Fosters Results

When Deschutes Children’s Foundation started 21 years ago, it was in response to a clear community need for a “one-stop” facility for human service programs directly serving children and families. Over this 21 year span, Deschutes Children’s Foundation has managed five facilities and currently manages four campuses in Bend, Redmond and La Pine. The 26 campus programs are able to save, collectively, over $800,000 every year due to the rent-free space they receive from Deschutes Children’s Foundation. While this clear impact to the bottom line is incredibly beneficial to these programs, it is the collaboration and efficiency that fosters improved results.

The benefit of efficiency and collaboration to clients is of the greatest importance. Program client, Tasha, says:

We’re a low income family and there are times we don’t have the money for gas, or don’t have the availability to have a vehicle that’s ready for meand 5 children. The likelihood to be able to find that many places on my own isn’t really that great anyways, and being able to visit that many organizations in one building is unbelievably perfect. I couldn’t do it if I had to find them all separately.

When clients can have increased access to service programs, they are in a better position to get the help and support they need quicker and easier. The result is clients devoting less time to getting their needs met and putting more time into taking care of themselves and their family. There is nothing harder for a wage earner to have to miss multiple days of work or spend time going from office to office to receive support.

The benefit of collaboration also yields positive results with the programs. Says Julie Lyche, Program Director of Family Access Network:

One of the really nice things about being co-located with other non-profits is that we’re able to walk down the hall and talk to groups about issues with families, and as a family comes to us and needs services, we can immediately help them. By being able to have facility fees that are very low, by being able to share a copy machine, by being able to share a scanner – those are the kinds of things that don’t sound too exciting. Really, our bottom line is benefitted by that, and it directly helps us push more of that money toward the families which is ultimately what we want to be doing.

Collaboration between programs creates mutually beneficial opportunities for sharing resources, referring clients and getting support on difficult cases. Many of the programs on Deschutes Children’s Foundation campuses have similar goals: to support the children and families of our community. When they work together, more people are able to receive support.

Tomorrow kicks off a week of events for the Sagebrush Community Challenge. This is an exciting opportunity for 106 Central Oregon non-profits. Sagebrush has recognized a diversity of need in the community and has come up with a unique, but powerful response - facilitate a fundraising campaign for Central Oregon non-profits, then match a percentage of the money these non-profits raise.

We have seen how collaboration can be successful when programs work together on service delivery, but now we are seeing over 100 non-profit programs work together on the most competitive aspect of the non-profit sector: fundraising.

This week will prove to be full of fun and exciting events all in support of one thing: working together to make our community a better place. Find out how you can take part in the Sagebrush Community Challenge and support the efforts of over 100 community programs!

 

Fostering Resilience in Children (Pt.2)

Last week we began a discussion about the resilience in children – their ability to bounce back after challenging situations. At Deschutes Children’s Foundation, we are very fortunate to have resident programs on our four community campuses that work with children to teach them skills and provide them with support to persevere through life’s struggles.

Here are five more tips to employ when you are working with youth who need a little extra help handling the stresses of life.

Continued from last week:

1. Take Control – During stressful times it is common to simply feel out of control. Get some of that control back by taking decisive action.
2. Express Yourself – Talk to somebody – a parent or a friend – and if talking doesn’t work do something else to capture your emotions like journaling or creating art
3. Help Somebody – Try volunteering in the community, cleaning-up around the house or helping a friend with his or her homework.
4. Put Things in Perspective – Think about other times when you got through tough situations or faced up to your fears. Learn relaxation techniques. Think about the good things around you that have remained consistent. And remember, when you talk about bad times, make sure you talk about the good times too.
5. Turn it Off – During times of stress, the news can contribute to your stressful feelings. It is important to stay informed, but sometimes no news is good news.

When employing resilience skills, some people may find they use a different mix of strategies. This is why it is important to learn a multitude of approached to handle the challenging times.

For additional conversations about resilience, check out this posting from the Women and Children’s Health Network.

Fostering Resilience in Children

For any of us who have spent time around children, we can all agree that children have an uncanny ability to bounce back despite hardships. For many years the topic of resilience in children has been discussed  by youth service workers, psychologists, and researchers  as a solution to many of the common (or not so common) problems children encounter every day. But what does this mean?

We all have built-in coping skills. Think of how you perform in times of pressure, or how you wind down after a hard day at school or work…These are ways that you cope with life’s stresses. The challenge as you get older is a collective consciousness about stress and hardships and how to deal with them. Adults and older youths also have more stressors: from relationships, to finances, to work-related stress.

Fortunately children do not have many of the stressors adults and older youths deal with on a daily basis. This is why fostering resilience in children during the early stages of life is crucial. When children learn ways to cope with life’s challenges, this will only put them in a greater position to respond well under pressure as adults.

This week we have been tweeting tips that children and teens can use to handle those challenging situations. Here are 5 of the tips we shared this week:

1. Get Together – Talk with your friends, parents and family about some of the challenges you are experiencing. Utilize the life experience that other people have so you can gain a clearer perspective about what is going on around you, and use those people for support – a shoulder to cry on, perhaps – during difficult times. Become part of a community – church or school group – for an even greater support network.
2. Cut Yourself Some Slack - Stresses tend to compound, and the more you let stress build, they will play a greater impact on how you feel. Go easy on yourself, and your friends, when something bad happens.
3. Create a Hassle-Free Zone – It is important to have a personal retreat for yourself when things are tough. This should be a space where you can feel at peace and comfortable. At the same time, remember that your support network wants to be there for you during tough times, so be open to letting them in.
4. Stick to the Program – Consistency is key when dealing with stress. There are also many opportunities for you to try new things – both positive and negative. When times are tough, stick to what you know – whether it’s getting a cup of coffee with friends or reading a book before bed – because routines can give you comfort.
5. Take Care of Yourself – Be sure to take care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually. And get enough sleep at night. When you are sharp, you will respond better during times of stress.

Of course, there are many ways to take care of yourself – and encourage others to take care of themselves – so be creative in finding those ways to deal with stressful situations. Next week we will continue this topic and discuss several other strategies. If you have your own strategies, share them with us because surely they will be helpful for others!

Celebrating Fathers

With Father’s Day just two days away, and being a first year father myself, I’ve been thinking about the important role dad’s play on the development of their children.

There are measurable differences between children who are raised in homes with a father and those raised in homes without a father. These children exhibit different levels of self worth, social competence, and the likelihood to use drugs – to name a few. The fact of the matter is an active father enables his children to increase social competencies and decrease negative behaviors.

This weekend as you celebrate Father’s Day – whether as a father, a mother or a child – realize how important fathers are in the lives of their children and be proud of the important role you play.

Happy Father’s Day!

The Creation of Becky Johnson Community Center

I have been a DCF board member for 12 years.  I had a specific goal when I first agreed to join the board. I am a long time resident of Redmond and was involved in other boards within that community. It was apparent to me that the most needy individuals within the Redmond community, and those with the least amount of resources to access services they needed, had to drive or find a ride to Bend to access services. There was no consistent place in Redmond for them to go.  I knew there was interest on the part of the Foundation to expand to other communities and felt it would be beneficial to have a Redmond representative on the board to urge them in that direction.

Once on the board, it was an incredible experience.  Before 18 months, we had a design and a plan.  The ultimate outcome was the Becky Johnson Community Center in Redmond.  It is a beautiful facility with programs and services for children and families.  The array of services is broad, representing both Deschutes County services such as WIC and the Health Department, and early childhood services!  Families now come to one place and can receive both services and referral information.   It has been so rewarding to work with the foundation and to now see 4 community campuses!  I have loved the work and feel that we have really lived up to the mission of the foundation!
–Kathy Emerson, Board Member

What is a Board Member?

Young people might ask:  “Why should I be on a Non-Profit Board?  It sounds boring and I would rather be doing ‘hands on’ work.”  Well, there are lots of reasons.  I have been on many Boards over the 23 years of my legal career.  As a lawyer, it seems almost expected that I should serve on boards.  I have also, done “hands on” community work too.  I think both are important for the community and for our own personal development as a caring and productive member of society.

However, I think that one of the roles of a Board is to reflect the broad spectrum of the community we serve.  We need the perspective and creative ideas of our younger generation.  I think I have learned much from both ends of the age continuum.  I think we can all learn from people from different backgrounds and perspectives. Besides, it is fun and rewarding to do good public work.

To those of you just starting your working life, I challenge you to be involved.  Pick a board and volunteer!  You will not regret it.
–Sharon Smith, Deschutes Children’s Foundation Board Member

Deschutes Children's Foundation Staff Reflections

As we move into a new phase of leadership at Deschutes Children’s Foundation, the staff would like to say a few words about Jan Eggleston and what we are looking forward to with our new director, Kim McNamer.

I will sincerely miss working with Jan. She has taught me so much in the time that I’ve been with the organization and has been a great leader. I’m really looking forward to learning from Kim, as I know that she has so much to share with Deschutes Children’s Foundation. I am excited about a new adventure with Kim guiding our organization to great things. I know that we will all make Jan proud of us in what we accomplish together.
–Heather Crawley, Administrative Assistant

I look forward to taking what I have learned from Jan’s years of expertise of DCF events and combining them with Kim’s fresh ideas.  I think this will put an exciting twist on the DCF traditions!
–Erica Poulos, Event and Development Coordinator

I look forward to meeting Kim and her many talents.  I’m sure this will be a smooth transition for all of us even though Jan is leaving big shoes to fill.  In my years at DCF I have learned that “change is good” from Jan herself.  Welcome Kim – a great team has chosen you and we look forward to new ventures.
–Dona Curtis, Facility Manager, Becky Johnson Community Center

It’s been such a pleasure learning about  Deschutes Children’s Foundation, and what Jan has accomplished in her years with the program.  I look forward to getting to know Kim, and I am excited to hear her plans and ideas for the future of DCF!  Welcome, Kim!
–Tracie Kirzy, Facility Manager, East Bend Campus

I am sad Jan is leaving, but I know she is going to enjoy her retirement. I will miss her very much.  On the other hand, I am looking forward to the future with Kim at the forefront.  I’m sure our future will be very bright and long-lasting.  Welcome Kim!
–Sharon VanWormer, Facility Manager, La Pine Community Campus

Working with Jan has been an adventure and a privilege.  Jan’s vision for the foundation has always been her driving force and she has brought the organization thru some exciting and challenging times.  I wish her well as she faces new experiences.  We’ll miss her much but rest assured she’s leaving us in good hands. 
–Yvonne Dahl, Bookkeeper