NEWSLETTERSNew Year 2011 Executive Director Newsletter
Dear Friends of Children Left Behind, Arkansas Voices for the Children Left Behind has completed a year of changes and new capacity-building, new board members, new grants, and new opportunities to serve our constituency. We welcome 2011 with joy and a sense of gratitude and appreciation to all of our supporters, our staff, our board members, and our families. We look forward to the board’s strategic planning meetings with Arkansas Non-Profit Services. We anticipate two successful fundraising (and educational) events during this Spring, and hope these help us to raise the funds to renew our Annual Southern Summit Conference on Children with Incarcerated Parents and their Families next Fall. We will see showers added to our building off of West 145th Street to make it more suitable for the originally planned Family Center to provide family reunification services for parents returning from prison. We intend to offer services and support for the parents and children in an intensive setting that integrates the parenting skills we have taught during the parent’s incarceration. The role adjustments, the fears and anxieties of each family member will be acknowledged and new skill sets will be practically applied. Our New Futures Capacity-Building Grant will end on March 31, 2011 with multiple accomplishments that include a greater awareness of the organization, improved fiscal management controls and an even better-informed board. The quality of our services and advocacy will be reviewed and placed on our new website, along with our outcome data for some of the grants that will be ending during the spring of 2011. Our best wishes and thanks to our donors, supporters, volunteers, board, and staff. See you next year!!! Peace, Dee Ann Newell, Executive Director |