Family Services of Blair County

Summer has officially arrived, vacations have begun and barbeque grills are being used to their fullest capacity across Blair County. At our recognition luncheon on June 2nd, we officially bid farewell to Marlene Mock who is retiring at the close of business on June 30th after almost twenty years of service. We thank her for her dedication to those we serve and wish her well in her new endeavors.

As many of you know, the Administrative Team has worked with me to design a reorganization of our administrative functions and responsibilities. We have created two new positions, Director of Outreach and Prevention Services and Director of Therapeutic and Direct Counseling Services. Based on responses to our internal posting of these positions, I have been able to complete the interview process for Director of Outreach and Prevention Services. Anna Fleck has agreed to accept the new position and is beginning the transition so she has an opportunity to gain from Marlene's knowledge before she retires. I will be completing the interview process for the other position in the next few weeks. The new administrative structure will transfer responsibility for direct supervision of some of our programs from me to the persons filling the two new positions. This will allow me to be able to increase my networking with the business community and to be more focused on our planning processes and outcome trends identified by the data we collect for all of our programs.

The preparation of the 2005-2006 Budget is progressing on schedule. The board will meet on June 30th to review and approve the budget. Its development has been another challenge as state and federal funding is mostly flat or, in a few cases, reduced from last year. We were very successful in competing for United Way of Blair County funding under their new impact funding approach. Peg Campbell and her team wrote a proposal to maintain and enhance services at our Runaway/Homeless Youth Shelter. It was selected in the competition involving the other proposals and will be funded for $31,254 for the twelve months beginning July1, 2005. Michele Grove and Peg worked with Gunter, Anna, and the Executive Director of the Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation to submit a proposal to provide life skill training to families and youth living at Evergreen Manors, as well as those passing through the shelter. That proposal has been selected and will be funded for $47,144. Thanks to the members of this team and to the members of the other two teams that prepared proposals that were not funded!

In this issue, you will find information from Susanna Tomlinson, Coach/Coordinator for our Teaching, Learning, Connecting (TLC) Program. We are making a significant difference in the lives of the women we serve as they acclimate themselves to the transition from the county prison back to the community and with their families.

Congratulations to all who sold tickets for the Longaberger Basket Raffle and to our board member, Vicky Mirenda, who implemented all of the details related to this fundraiser. Please note the upcoming fundraising events in August and September.

As we approach the end of another operating year (hard to believe it is my fifth), employees, board members, and volunteers need to be thanked for all of their hard work and dedication to the important services this agency provides to the residents of Blair County. At this time next year, we will probably look back and know that we have been able to realize one of our long term dreams, taking our expertise to other counties in the region. 2005-2006 will be another challenging year. But then, this agency has been able to grow and meet new and changing needs during 77 challenging years. Will the next be any more challenging than many in the past? I suspect the answer is relative to the variables involved. Regardless of our individual perspectives on this issue, I am certain that we will continue to work together, as employees, board members, and volunteers to tell our story to others and to ensure that the agency continues to move forward.

Mahlon Fiscel, Executive Director