2011 Annual Report
Committed to Excellence
our mission stands at the core of all our work
The Family Place is a parent-child center located in Norwich, VT. We proudly serve the entire Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire. We recently celebrated 25 years of helping our community, from 1985-2010. The Family Place supports the positive growth and development of all parents by offering services that encourage families to build upon their strengths.
income Federal & State 1,013,056 United Way 15,030 Medicaid Billing 131,724 Capital Campaign 361,870 Fundraising 134,099 Town 8,450 JewelryO’s Sales 17,045 Program Revenue 98,515
expense
Total Income:
Total Expense:
1,779,789
Management 77,572 Fundraising 67,610 On-Site Services 654,873 Home Visiting 702,599 Capital Reserve 277,135
1,779,789
advocating for families for 26 years
2011 Accomplishments
In recognition of our efforts to engage Dartmouth students in meaningful discourse with local, economically challenged families, we received the Presidents’ Community Partner Award from Dartmouth College. Families Learning Together, a
skills-based program for young parents striving to escape the confines of generational poverty, expanded from a twoday to a four-day duration to better meet the educational, employment, and parenting needs of the young parents.
programs and our community. Interview rooms, used for meetings between victims of childhood sexual abuse, therapists, and law enforcement, were upgraded to increase the mental and emotional safety of the victims and their families.
In partnership with the Vermont Business Roundtable, we invited A peer review found that The Family Place offers effective the community to a dialogue about and sustainable programs the importance of intervening that fulfill the widely varying early in the lives of young needs of a diverse population children, in particular those of families in the Upper Valley. most at risk for school failure. We completed renovations of the Governor Madeline Kunin was the keynote speaker for this event. Carriage House, which houses
our newly expanded Child Care Center, our reception area, and our lending library, all of which are now better equipped to serve the needs of our
In an ongoing effort to increase communal awareness of and therefore prevent the physical abuse of children, we joined with
CHaD and the Child Advocacy Center of Grafton and Sullivan Counties to co-sponsor the annual “Shield Our Children from Harm” conference. With the generosity of Saucier & Flynn Landscape Architects we developed a long-term master landscape plan to improve traffic flow and add play areas, gardens and outdoor walkways to our facility as part of our goal to provide a place where all families feel welcome. 2011 Annual Report • The Family Place 1
The Foundation of Community
harnessing valuable community spirit
When you’re a non-profit business in a rural area, neighbors are your lifeline. At The Family Place, we recognize that the communal spirit which infuses the air in the Upper Valley provides us with vitality and endurance. Dartmouth College, through the
William Jewett Tucker Foundation , has been a supportive neighbor for many years. This year we welcomed several student volunteers who provided tutoring for the young women in our Families Learning Together program. Students from Jack
Wilson’s landscape architecture class helped design an outdoor play area plus several gardens as part of a long-term plan for improving our campus. Another group of student volunteers interviewed our participants to add to our collection of narrative data that better informs us of our progress toward program goals. For the second year in a row volunteers also taught our Money Smart class, which guides young parents in making wise financial decisions. 2
The Family Place • 2011 Annual Report
Six Pediatric Residents from
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center accompanied our multidisciplinary teams on home visits as part of their training in family-centered care. Our staff in the Child Care Center and playgroup program provided practical instruction to six Psychiatry Fellows on the developmental issues that arise in early childhood.
Another bastion of support is just down the road from us. King Arthur Flour, the employee-owned baking product company, partnered with us at the Seventh Annual Great Issues in Medicine and Global Health Symposium at Dartmouth College to speak to the effectiveness of teaching nutritional cooking to families living in poverty. When the Original King Arthur 200th Anniversary Cookbook – Commemorative Edition was published in September, King Arthur Flour donated $5 from the first 2,000 book sales to The Family Place.
King Arthur Flour also shows us support with the delicious bread they donate to our programs every week and the gingerbread cookies they supply for our annual Gingerbread Festival. And finally the larger Upper Valley community honors us every year with their monumental show of support. Our Capital Campaign , which began in 2009, has been a valuable lesson in the generosity of our neighbors. We strive to give as much to our community as they give to us.
addressing developmental issues in the comfort of home
In-Home Services
“If I hadn’t taken the state’s advice to reach out to The Family Place, I wouldn’t be with my son or my daughter.” - Family Education Participant
children’s integrated services: early intervention Addressing Developmental Issues In The Comfort Of Home
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Young children can benefit from Early Intervention for a variety of needs including speech problems, medical issues, or delayed motor skills. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, our team evaluates and assists those families facing developmental challenges in their children ages birth to three. Therapists visit families in their homes to provide therapy and to offer guidance on how parents can help their children reach their developmental goals.
“They bring me information on what he should be doing at his age. Then they give me stuff I can do with him.”
In those cases we offer home visits and parenting education to increase the family’s functionality and teach parents the skills they need to care for their children.
In addition to working directly with families on their child’s developmental issues, our staff helps make the transition to school services as seamless as possible. Families and children can feel vulnerable during this time of change; we work closely with schools to help ease the process.
Families involved with the Vermont Department for Children and Families often choose to work with us to better equip themselves for the task of caring for their children in their own homes. There is no judgment, only offers of help. At the heart of every successful family beats a healthy parent-child relationship, one that is nurturing, mutually beneficial and loving. Our Family Educators devote themselves to helping families find that connection in order to build a healthy family.
family education Supporting Families As They Overcome Challenges Poverty, trauma, mental health illnesses and physical disabilities can sometimes prevent a family from reaching its full potential.
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2011 Annual Report • The Family Place 3
On-Site Services
weekly playdates for families and skills-based learning for women in poverty
“Families Learning Together gives me self-confidence, they did that for me. I feel like I can accomplish more than I used to…because I get help. I feel like I’ve gained a lot of family, too.”
playgroups
playgroups, which are open to the entire community. In Weekly Playdates for Local Families January, we added a new playgroup for children ages Playgroups are often the first birth to five to extend The Family contact a new family makes Place experience to families with other local families. The who have graduated from the warm, informative atmosphere birth to age two playgroup. We of our playgroups inspires continue to co-host a playgroup friendships, mutual support with the Orange County Parentand future engagement Child Center in South Royalton with The Family Place. where several grandmothers who provide childcare for their “Seeing how another kid plays grandchildren have formed an with a shovel in the sandbox – impromptu support group.
that’s an educational experience, for you and your child!” Last year we established a designated playroom in the newly renovated Olcott House for our weekly 4
The Family Place • 2011 Annual Report
families learning together Skills-based Learning for Women Facing the Challenge of Generational Poverty Families Learning Together is one of fifteen programs in Vermont that offers skills-based education to young parents living in poverty. By helping families improve the quality of their lives through tutoring, job training, and parenting education, we can make a difference for future generations. Last year, we expanded the program to twenty hours over four days each week. This has allowed for greater consistency and focus among the women who are enrolled; they come here ready to learn, work, and be productive members of our community.
support for families in need of child care
Child Care Financial Assistance “They are very good at giving you the resources you need to keep going.”
Any parent who works outside the home knows that quality child care is an essential part of successful employment. But sometimes that care is hard to find, and hard to afford. Vermont parents who are working, self employed, or furthering their education and who meet certain income guidelines may be eligible for Child Care Financial Assistance, a subsidy program that makes the work-life balance a little easier to achieve. We offer support through the application process and afterwards.
2011 Annual Report • The Family Place 5
Child Advocacy Center
comprehensive support for victims of childhood sexual abuse
“Our lives have been saved. We’re lucky to be safe.” Our role as a Child Advocacy Center, one of nine in Vermont, means we are on the front lines in the effort to support victims of childhood sexual abuse. Our staff works with families, doctors and law enforcement to ensure victims are supported throughout the discovery process.
Our Services Include: • • • •
Case management Therapy Information Assistance obtaining compensation and relief from abuse orders • Coordination of medical exams • Referrals to other services and agencies 6
The Family Place • 2011 Annual Report
The foundation of our work with victims of sexual abuse is the interview process. Last year, as part of the renovations to the Carriage House, we added another interview room to our facility and upgraded the technology in each room to better fit the needs of the staff and families. Last May our multi-disciplinary team engaged in Advanced Forensic Interview Training to decrease the likelihood that interviews will have to be repeated, and to increase the chances that law enforcement will get the information they need to substantiate the abuse.
a nurturing environment for infants and toddlers
Child Care Center
“I trust everyone here. They know my kids, they know everything that’s going on with me. It’s a whole other family.” For many parents, leaving their children in the care of others - even licensed child care providers - is a leap of faith. Our Child Care staff understands this, and approaches each family with plenty of patience and reassurance to facilitate a healthy, happy transition for both children and parents. This past year, we received four stars from Vermont’s
Step Ahead Recognition System (STARS), an accreditation system
PM four days a week, which better serves the families in Families Learning Together. We also increased enrollment from eight to sixteen. In addition to providing quality care for the children of the mothers in our Families Learning Together program, our Child Care Center serves as a learning lab. Here, young mothers learn how to respond to their babies’ behaviors to achieve the best possible outcome.
developed and implemented by the Child Development Division of Vermont’s Department of Children and Families. This is the highest number of stars any program in its third year is capable of receiving. In September we extended our child care hours to 8 AM - 4:30
2011 Annual Report • The Family Place 7
With Sincerest Gratitude
BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS Creative Communications Center Co-op Food Stores of New Hampshire and Vermont Earthstar Pottery Farrell Distributing Corporation Gates-Briggs Company Granite Value Capital Haynes & Garthwaite Architects Hotel Coolidge King Arthur Flour King’s Sons & Daughters KVO Capital Management, LLC Ledyard National Bank Lufkin Graphics Mascoma Savings Bank Norwich Wines & Spirits Norwich Women’s Club Re/Max Group One Realtors Snyder, Cahoon & Co., PLLC Stave Puzzles Trout Brook Farm State of Vermont Saucier Flynn Landscape Architects TomTom Valley Flower Company Valley News Vermont Law School Wheelock Books White Mountains Capital, Inc. Wolter Institute
Anonymous A.D. Henderson Foundation, Inc. Agnes M. Lindsay Trust Blandina Rojek 1997 Charitable Lead Trust Donley Foundation Emily Landecker Foundation Inc. Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation James N. and Jane B. Levitt Charitable Trust Jane’s Trust Kevin/Suzanne Schon Foundation, Inc. Mascoma Savings Bank Foundation Barrette Family Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Upper Valley Region Whit and Closey Dickey Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Upper Valley Region Nobadeer Foundation, Inc. People’s United Community Foundation The Byrne Foundation The Couch Family Foundation The Help For People Foundation Trust The John M. Shapiro Charitable Trust The Landmann Family Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation The Salmon Foundation, Inc. The Salon Family Foundation The Turrell Fund Thomas Marshall Foundation TooCap Foundation Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Cashden/Stein Great Grandmother Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation
CHURCHES
INDIVIDUALS
Bethany Mennonite Church Church of Christ at Dartmouth College Lebanon United Methodist Church Norwich Congregational Church St. James Episcopal Church The Children of the Upper Valley Jewish Community
Elizabeth and Clay Adams Lauren Adams Jim and Brooke Adler Bill and Betty Ann Aldrich Roberta & Watt Alexander Brenton and Jamie Anderson K. Sandra Anderson and Reeve Williams Peter and April Andrews Anonymous Mary Ryan Larry and Jane Armstrong Winslow and Nancy Arnold Robert and Deb Ashton Steven Bachner and Janet E. Matz Anne Badgley Martha Bailey Chris and Christine Bailey-Kellogg Kenneth Baker Barbara R. Barnes Ray and Cynthia Barrette Christine and Donald Bartlett Ronald Bean William Beinecke Albert and Laura Beliveau Steve and Cinny Bensen Iris Berezin James and Judith Bernat Jody and Rick Biddle Christie Binzen Victoria I. Bippart
COMMUNITY PARTNERS Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Program Antioch College Curves DHMC - Boyle Community Pediatrics Program Dartmouth Hitchcock Psychiatric Associates Granite United Way Hartford Vocational Technical Center Hypertherm Johnson State College King Arthur Flour Norwich Bookstore The Haven The William Jewett Tucker Foundation at Dartmouth College Tri-Delta Sorority Valley Terrace
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FOUNDATIONS
The Family Place • 2011 Annual Report
Thank you to all who
Debra Birenbaum Mark and Katherine Blanchard Elizabeth Blum and Nelson Kasfir Varujan Boghosian Lynn and Charles Bohi Jim and Leeli Bonney Sally Bower William and Susan Boyle Colleen and Paul Bozuwa Robert Brack and Janet Bailey Jinny Brack and Clay Block Ann and Bill Brine Jean and James Broehl Mary and Scott Brown Claire T. Brown The Cadow Family Phyllis Cail David Callaway Peter and Debbie Carter Nancy and Conrad Carter Elizabeth and William Chabot Robert and Kate Chamberlin Steve Chapman and Cathy Shubkin Mary Childers Mike and Nita Choukas Robert W. Christy Jeff and Nicole Chu Tom and Andrea Ciardelli Carolyn Coker Christopher S. Connor Warren Coughlin Kathleen Coughlin Joseph and Carolyn Murray Cravero Fred and Sophia Crawford Jay Davis Kevin Davis Anne Day & Alex Rimberg Karin Dell’Antonia and Rob Seelig Archer and Gina des Cognets Mel Dickenson Mary E. Dickson The DiRenzo Family Frank and Gail Dolan Robert and Mary Stelle Donin Margo and Paul Doscher Marianne and Brian Doyle Patricia Higgins and Scott Drysdale Barney Dwyer Beckie & Jim Eakin Jean Essex and Michael Linehan John C. Everett Jr. Peter and Justine Fahey Frank and Nancy Farinella Dorothy Ann Farrell Charles and Charlotte Faulkner Lynn Feenan Vicky Fish and Hugh Huizenga Mary Ellen Flanagan Ken Force Joanne Foulk and Denis Kelemen James Fowle Peter and Carol French Milton and Carolyn Frye Kate Gamble Fran and Paul Gardent Arthur Gardiner and Robin Nuse Peter and Victoire Gardner Lucinda Gibson and Gregory De Francis Albert and Susan Gillotti
donated to our 2011 Annual Fund and to our Capital Campaign!
Stuart Gordon Kathleen Grant Alan Green and Frances Cohen Rod Griffin and Kay McCabe Elaine Guenet and Luke Fisher Deborah Hall and James Woods Louise Mca Guion Barbara Hall Gerald and Laurie Halpern Susan Harper and Christopher Nice Frederic C. and Anne G. Hartman John and Fiona Heaney George H. and Jill Helmer Bruce Hettleman Brad and Lori Hibner Julie Hobert Romer and Deming Holleran Jan and Mark Hopkins Ann and Jim James Douglas and Martha James Sven and Laura Karlen Dennis and R. Sue Kaufman Karen Kayen and Terry Boone Jim and Elaine Kearns Lia and Tom Kehler Larry and Lorraine Kelly S. Kirincich and C.P. Wooster Barb and Bob Kline-Schoder Ron and Sara Kobylenski Murray and Betsy Kohl Richard and Beth Kolehmainen Jennifer and Justin Krawitt Madeleine M Kunin & John W Hennessey Jr. Toni LaMonica & Larry Young Bonnie and William Lawlor Lee and David Lemal Theodore Levin Gary and Dianne Levine Jason and Mary Lichtenstein George and Dominique Lightbody Mary R. Lincoln Margaret D. Little Nina Lloyd Suzanne Lovell Allegra and Steve Lubrano Franklin and Teresa Lynch John H. and Teresa G. Lyons Laurel Mackin and Tim Briglin Tom MacMillan Claudio & Jean Marzollo Linda Mason & Roger Brown Jr. Donald and Alison May Elizabeth B McCabe Don and Lisa McCabe Stuart and Nina McCampbell Philip and Stephanie McCaull Peter McCormick & Joanne McCormick Bettye R. McCouch Marlene McDonald Terry McDonnell J. Michael McGean P. Scott and Cathy McGee Madeline McGonis Leo C. McKenna James and Judith McKeown Peter J. and Jane Kitchel McLaughlin Buff and Susan McLaughry Patricia G. McWilliams Frank and Yvonne Mefferd
Andre and Kathy Menard Ann Merrick Sherry Merrick Peter and Carolyn Mertz Sarah Meyers William and Pamela Miles Eric and Allison Bramley Miller Donald and Evelyn Miller Ashley and Peter Milliken William and Margaret Montgomery Allison Schutz Moskow Peter and Ellen Mulvhill Giavanna Munafo and James Walsh Eugene and Candace Nattie Deborah Nichols Karen Nielsen and John Baron Dick and Sharon Nordgren Dianne M Norton Bob and Fran Nye James B. O’Brien Jr. James O’Brien III and Cathy Lines Bill and Nancy Osgood Theodore Osgood Peter and Carolyn Owens H. Worth Parker Barbara B. Parry Kristin H. Pekala Don and Abbie Penfield Dale and Marian Penny Jane and John Phipps Jodi Picoult and Tim vanLeer Bill and Liz Pierce Cindy Pierce and Bruce Lingelbach Win Piper Sue and Bob Pitiger Timothy Plohg Judith Pond Alex and Leslie Potter Steve and Becky Powell Gregory and Toni Prince Deborah Pullin and Robert Spottswood Robert and Sharon Racusin Edward and Margaret Redpath William and Beverly Reed Jeffrey B. Reed Heidi K. and Tobias W. Reiss Jennifer Rickards & Jonathan Roberts Leslie and Chris Rimmer Mrs. Kathryn Robbins Bob and Nancy Rosenblum Mary Rossley Arline and Barry Rotman Alan Rozycki and Diane Kittredge Frederic Rueckert Elizabeth Ryan and Jennifer O’Flaherty Frank and Brinna Sands John and Jill Schiffman Sue Schiller Sue Schlabach & Ryan Newswanger Mark and Paula Schleicher William C Schults & Elizabeth L Maislen Nannette and Joseph Schwartzman Sam Seaver Ann and Dean Seibert Jeff Shapiro and Mary Howell Pam Sheperd Emily Silver Clayton and Susan Simmers Marion and Michael Simpson
Ursula Slate & Mark Bolinger Mark and Martia Smith Jacqueline Y. Smith Barry Smith E.M. Smith Whit Spaulding and Caroline Cannon David and Marianne Spaulding Polly Spaulding Steven and Sarah Spencer Mark Splaine and Joyce DeLeo Jacqueline Springwater and Sydney Alonso Lydia and John Starosta John and Freda Stephens Joel Stettenheim and Signe Taylor Marcia K. Stone Angelo Strenta and Alice Feola Pegge Strickler Kris and Judith Strohbehn Matthew and Tanya Swett Lydia Taylor and Bill Culp Louise Nunan Taylor Mark and Martha Tecca Thomas and Anne Tetreault Vijay Thadani and Onita Connington Douglas and Betty Thomson Judson C and Veronica L Thurston George and Lynn Tidman Bill and Rita Tingle Will and Becky Torrey John and Anne Trautlein Chris Trimble & Lisa Christie Dirk van Leeuwen Geoff and Noelle Vitt Ron and Susan Voake Steve and Robin Voigt Richard Wallace and Ann Gormley Suzanne and Graham Wallis Daniel and Teri Walsh Mary Fayette Waters Bruce and Marion Waters Clyde Watson and Denis Devlin Peter Welch and Margaret Cheney Craig and Holly Westling Huntley and Lynne Whitacre David and Tammy White Doug and Leslie Williamson Jack and Anne Wilson John Woodward-Poor Jim and Betsy Wooster James and Susan Wright Rosalie and William Wyman Eugene Yeates Mrs. Doris Zappala
www.FamilyPlaceVT.org
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the family place 319 us route 5 south norwich, vt 05055