And now I would like to speak about fish.I have never spoken about fish before.
At least, not that I can remember.Elvis Presley1984
The Fish Song – Written by Paul King
’m sure you’ve all heard the parable about theyoung person found throwing starfish into the
ocean. It is based on an essay called “The StarThrower” by Loren Eiseley – poet, scientist, andessayist. It was published for the first time in 1969in the book, “The Unexpected Universe”. It hasbeen repeated, paraphrased and reinterpretedmany times; only the starfish and the messageremain the same:
When the need is as vast as an ocean, you canmake a difference one starfish at a time.
The WFC empowers people to change their livesin ways that are positive and meaningful to them.Much like the star thrower, our work happens withindividuals, not groups or systems or continents.And yet, when an individual’s life changes, theworld changes too.
Onward to 2011.
Robyn- Jay Bage, M.P.A.Chief Executive Officer
CHANG ING THE WORLD, ONE PERSON AT A TIME
WOMEN & FAMILIES CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 2010
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2009-10
OFFICERS
Patricia Leone-Tincher PRESIDENT
Donna Leonowich VICE PRESIDENT
Benjamin Boutaugh, Esq.SECRETARY
Barbara Kaplowe TREASURER
DIRECTORS AT LARGE
Michael Del VecchioMonica MelchionniRhudean RayeMensimah ShabazzLydia Vasquez-HerediaKathleen Whelan-Ulm
MISSIONWomen and Families Center is committedto eliminating injustice and to improving the quality of life for women and familiesthrough services that foster empowermentand independence.
OUR GUIDING VISION• To support diversity and the elimination of racism and sexism• To be an agent for positive social change• To promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people
WOMEN& FAMILIESCENTER
REACH
Jose is a teen who has been in contact with staff onStreet Outreach for several years. He becamehomeless after being asked to first leave his family
home, then leave the home of a friend who he was stayingwith from time to time. REACH staff made contact with him
after he had been sleeping on the street and in cars forseveral nights.As no shelter beds were available,staff supported him in staying at a local moteluntil he was able to find a more permanent housingsolution and connect to support services throughDCF. His living situation stabilized, enabling him to
graduate from high school two months later.
S .T.A .R .
Julia, a creative, free-spirited fourth grader,needed an outlet to have fun and be herselfagain. After the death of her mother, Julia’s
father struggled to find her a place to go while heworked long hours.Then he found STAR. Juliaenrolled in the Science,Technology,Arts andRecreation program and she now has an enrichingenvironment where she can complete school work,express her individuality and grow socially.
CHANGING THE WORLD, ONE PERSON AT A TIME
88 % OF PARTICIPATING
CHILDREN DEMONSTRATED
INCREASED PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, EXCEEDING
THE GOAL OF 80%.
86% OF CHILDREN
PARTICIPATING IN THE S.T.A.R.EDUCATIONAL UNITS
DEMONSTRATED AN INCREASED
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT
MATTER AND EXCEEDED THE
GOAL OF 75%.
85 % OF THE YOUTH USED
AT LEAST 2 COPING AND/OR
SURVIVAL SKILLS DEVELOPED
AS A RESULT OF STREET
OUTREACH CONTACT WITH
REACH ADVOCATES.
2
Open DOHR
Zusheiry Otero graduated the Open DOHR job skillsprogram in November 2009. She enrolled in theprogram because she wanted the skills needed to get
a better job, in order to provide for herself and her child.Whilestill working a low paying job, she continued to take classes and study hard. Duringher participation in the program, Zusheiry learned that she was pregnant, this timewith twins. She retained her employment, completed the program and kept activelysearching for a position in the allied health field while taking care of her threechildren. It was hard work, and sometimes, Zusheiry wanted to give up. But withperseverance, determination, and support from Open DOHR she kept going.Recently, this determined woman called the office to let us know that all thesearching and time spent on interviews and applications landed her a job as a CNA.
100% OF YOUTH IN
IMMEDIATE NEED OF
SHELTER OR DISPLAYING
OTHER IMMINENT SAFETY
NEEDS WERE CONNECTED
WITH A SAFE OPTION.
REACH MADE 378UNDUPLICATED CONTACTS
WITH YOUTH ON THE
STREETS OF MERIDEN.
ENGLISH FOR THE
WORKPLACE EXCEEDED
THE STATE GOAL FOR
RETENTION BY 7%.
95% OF YOUTH
CREDENTIALED THROUGH
OPEN DOHR GAINED
EMPLOYMENT.
SE XUAL ASSAULT CRISISSERVICES: COUNSELING/ADVOCACY & PREVENTION
A young girl came to our New Haven office guarded and unwillingto speak about the feelings she was having after being sexuallyassaulted by a family member. Her Counselor Advocate used
collages, art projects and journaling to help her to open up and exploreher feelings in a nonjudgmental, unpressured environment. Over the course
of three months, she was able to engage in verypowerful, transformative conversations. Her finalproject with her Counselor Advocate was creating a t-shirt with a quote from Albert Camus: "In thedepth of winter, I finally learned that there was inme an invincible summer".
School Readiness
The Calibran family was experiencing a great deal of transition when the younger children were enrolled inSchool Readiness.The holidays were a particular struggle.
With the support of the program, the familyreceived gifts of clothes, toys and gift cards atChristmas so Mom could make the holidaysspecial. Mom is now working and going to schoolwhile her children are learning and having fun in our program.
3
90 % OF 502 CLIENTS
REPORTED IMPROVEMENT
IN MANAGING THEIR
CURRENT CRISIS.555 VIOLENCE PREVENTION
PRESENTATIONS WERE
FACILITATED. PARTICIPANTS
REPORTED POSITIVE CHANGE IN
PRO-SOCIAL VALUES AND BEHAVIORS.
27 FIVE YEAR
OLDS SUCCESSFULLY
TRANSITIONED TO
KINDERGARTEN.
CHILDREN DEMONSTRATED
GROWTH IN THE AREAS OF
PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE,SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT.
2010 FI N A N C I A L S
Expenses~$2,076,369Total Revenue & Support~$2,146,730
WOMEN & FAMIL IES CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 2010
PROGRAM SERVICES
SUPPORTING SERVICES
GRANTS & PUBLIC SUPPORT
FEES FROM CHILDCARE PROGRAMS
INVESTMENT & RENTAL
CONTRIBUTIONS & OTHER – 1%
SPECIAL EVENTS –1%
The complete, audited WFC Financial Report is available upon request.
A. N. Giacco Aetna Foundation Albertus Magnus College - Acct. Dept.Allen's Abatement Services, LLC Anna Liffey's Irish Pub and Restaurant AT&T Community Service Fund AWB Electrical Services Bank of America Employee Giving Campaign Barbara & Joe Kaplowe Barker Specialty Ben Boutaugh Bob's Discount Furniture Bongiovanni Insurance Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.Café Dolce Carmody & Torrance, LLP Charity Bridge Marathon Members Charles & Sherry Stohler Child Guidance Clinic for Central CT Chili's Restaurant Chris & Robert Scully Chrysalis of Meriden & Wallingford Community Health Center Mericare DentalServices
CT Sexual Assault Crisis Services Cuno, Inc./3M Foundation Dennis Pisco Diane Smith Woodruff Diversified Physical Therapy Donna Leonowich Donna Stimpson Doug Tomlinson Dr.Wilfredo Nieves Edible Arrangements Elaine BaigertFamily Resource Centers (John Barry & B. Franklin Schools)
Fiore Il - Restaurant First Congregational Church Florence Griswold Museum Funny Bone Comedy Club G.Tyler Vartenigian G.T. Silver City Tire, Co.Gertrude Brady Girls, Inc.Gouveia Vineyards Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce Hampton Inn Harrison,Tarlov & Associates Hidden Valley Mini Golf Holiday Cinemas Home Depot Hunter's Golf Course Imagine Nation Museum Ivoryton Playhouse Jane Milas Jean McElroyJen's House of Hair JoAnne Grabinski Jonal Laboratories, Inc.Joseph Melillo Middle School Kathy Whelan-Ulm Keyes & Murphy Law Offices Kid City Lake Compounce Liberty Bank Liberty Lagana Lindley Food Services Long Wharf Theatre Lydia Vasquez-Heredia Main Switch Beauty Salon Meredith Fenwick Meriden Board of Education Meriden Children's First Meriden Dept. of Health & Human Services Meriden Housing Authority Meriden Public Library
Meriden Public Schools Adult, Career, andContinuing Education
Meriden Rotary Club Meriden School Readiness Council Meriden Schools Federal Credit Union Meriden YMCA Michael Del Vecchio Michael J. Looney Michael Vicino Middlesex Community College Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Middlesex Hospital Middletown Multi-Disciplinary Team MidState Medical - Birthing Center MidState Medical - CQI Division MidState Medical - Materials Management MidState Medical - Pavilion A Staff MidState Medical - Transport Team MidState Medical Center Mohegan Sun Monica Melchionni Mystic Aquarium N.V. Perricone, Ltd.Nancy SquireNew Britain Rock Cats New England Patriots New Haven City Wide Youth Coalition North End Artists CooperativeOdd Fellow's Playhouse Pat Ladner Patricia Leone-Tincher Praline's Ice Cream ProCare Physical Therapy Professor Shyamala RamanPyramid Technologies Quassy Amusement Park Quinnipiac University Robert Tarlov
Robert Weschler & Emily Aber Robyn-Jay Bage Salon Nathaniel San Souci Restaurant Sara Jones Sara Koenigsberg Shoreline Trolley Museum Six Flags New England Southern Connecticut State University Stephen Samascott Steve Volpini & Janet Hiller Susan Bysiewicz Tari Marshall-Day Temple Symonds The Technology Group, LLC Town of Cromwell Town of Durham Town of East Haddam Town of Essex Town of Guilford Town of North Branford Town of Westbrook Tri State Kiwanis Truist Unitarian Universalist Church United Health Group United Way of Central & Northeastern CT United Way of New England United Way of Waterbury Verizon Wireless Wake Robin Inn Wallingford YMCA - Aquatics Dept.Webster Bank Wellpoint Foundation Wesleyan University Worker's Compensation Trust Workforce Alliance, Inc.Yale Peabody Museum Zorba's Restaurant
Contributors & Community Partners FY 2009-10
CARMODY & TORRANCE, LLP . . . . .Gold Sponsor
LIBERTY BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Silver Sponsor
WORKFORCE ALLIANCE, INC. . . . . . . . .Silver Sponsor
WEBSTER BANK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bronze Sponsor
ALLEN’S ABATEMENT SERVICES, LLC . .Program Sponsor
THE TECHNOLOGY GROUP, LLC . . . . .Award Sponsor
Flower Sponsors:BOB’S DISCOUNT FURNITURE CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONBONGIOVANNI INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL, LLCKEYES & MURPHY LAW OFFICESMERIDEN SCHOOLS FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONMIDDLESEX COMMUNITY COLLEGEN.V. PERRICONE, LLCTARLOV FINANCIAL GROUP
Women in Leadership Luncheon 2010 Sponsors
STATEDepartment of Education (School Readiness)
Department of Public Health(Sexual Assault Crisis Services)
Office of Policy and Management(Sexual Assault Crisis Services)
Judicial Department(Sexual Assault Crisis Services)
Department of Labor - Workforce Alliance (Open DOHR Employment Programs)
OTHERCommunity Fund for Women & Girls
City of Meriden
CT Health & Education Facilities Authority (CHEFA)
George & Grace Long Foundation
Meriden Housing Authority
Middlesex United Way
Napier Foundation
Nellie Mae Education Foundation
United Way of Meriden and Wallingford
FEDERALU.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Social Service Block Grants
(Lead State Agency - Department of Social Services)U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
(Administration for Children and Families)U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(City of Meriden-Community Development Block Grants)(Meriden Housing Authority)
U.S. Department of Justice(CONNSACS - Crime Victim Assistance,Violence Against Women Grant,Recovery Act-State Victim Assistance)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (Child Nutrition Program)U.S. Department of Labor (Workforce Alliance Employment Programs)U.S Department of Education
(Adult Education-Open DOHR Employment Program)(STAR Before & After School Program)
Major Funding Streams-2010