1.  WHAT COMMUNITY NEED(S) DOES YOUR AGENCY MEET?

• On almost all measures - unemployment, welfare rates, crime, infant mortality, teenage births, school achievement, homelessness, and substance abuse the condition of families in recent years has worsened.

• There is a declining sense of community and an increasing trend toward alienation and isolation.

• Violence in the home and community is increasing at alarming rates.

• The population is aging.

• Corporate downsizing is accelerating, with job growth being primarily in the service sector where the pay is frequently less than the pay in the manufacturing sector. Job loss now increasingly impacts white-collar as well as blue-collar families.

• Abuse of alcohol and other drugs is a significant issue for many families.

• There is rising concern that young people are not being adequately prepared to assume jobs and an

assumption that the problem lies primarily in the education

system, with little focus on the role of the family and community in resolving these

issues.

• Families experience more stresses and strains as a result of the changing world of work and the overall economy,

2.  WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET IS FUNDED BY

UNITED WAY?

United Way funds approximately 18% of our 2010 Budget.  The remaining 82% comes from Federal, State and Local government grants, and donations from corporate and private foundations and donors.

3.  IN ADDITION TO MAKING A FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION, HOW ELSE COULD SOMEONE HELP YOUR AGENCY?

We have a great need for individuals to serve on our Quality Assurance (QA) Committee.  The committee meets quarterly and reviews case files to insure that they are complete, that clients are receiving quality services, and that we are maintaing Best Practice standards.

We also have a variety of special event committees, including the following:

• National Family Week/Annual Dinner

• Penny Harvest
• Golf Outing
• Cinderella Ball

4.  SOME FACTS ABOUT FAMILY SERVICES:

• we are not a government agency
• we do not serve only the poor
• we do not provide family planning/abortion counseling
• we are not totally funded by United Way
• we DO rely on donations to supplement grants and other sources of funding
• we are able to respond to immediate crises
• we provide services for the lifespan of individuals and families, from newborn to older and disabled persons.

5.  WHAT ELSE WOULD YOUR AGENCY LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

• we work with families of all ages and income levels
• we can help employers deal with workplace issues which arise because of employees' family and/or personal problems, as well as workplace violence and trauma
• we have a talented staff of credentialed professionals
• we take most mental health insurance coverage
• people do not have to be in the depths of despair to benefit from our services
• we often serve as the "first stop" for clients in developing a plan to address their problems which incorporates not only our own programs but also a variety of other community resources
• we collaborate with a number of agencies and organizations in the area to offer referrals and cultivate support
• we serve thousands of families and individuals each year in Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties