United Way Speaker’s Training

1. United Way Speaker’s Training Family Services of Greater Houston August 2006

2. Mission • Dedicated to strengthening individuals, families and communities through the provision of preventive, supportive and therapeutic services

3. Who are we? • One of Houston's oldest non-profit social service organizations • Established in 1904 • One of the founding United Way member agencies (more than 75 years ago)

4. What do we do? • Services have evolved as needs of families have changed • 1900s Smallpox epidemic • 1930s Great Depression • 1940s Mothers entering WWII work force • 1970s Substance abuse • 1980s Growing needs of Hispanic families • 1990s HIV/AIDS • 2001 Tropical Storm Allison • 2006 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

5. What do we do? continued • “Help people help themselves” • Provide a myriad of counseling, education and support services to give children and families tools and skills to improve their lives

6. Who do we serve? • More than 55,000 clients in 2006 • Approximately 80% of the families have household incomes of less than $25,000 • About 50% clients are Hispanic

7. Where do we see clients? • 7 Offices • 2 inside the city (Montrose and Central) • 5 outlying offices (Bay Area, Baytown, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Waller) • Community (80% outreach) • 40 schools (HISD, Spring Branch) • 30 community sites

8. How do we help? • Six Service Areas: • 1) Individual / Family Counseling • 2) Substance Abuse Prevention and Education • 3) Parent Resource Services • 4) School-based Services • 5) Family / Senior Support • 6) HIV/AIDS Services

9. How do we help? • 1) Counseling • Helps clients to develop coping skills to solve a variety of problems during times of stress and/or crisis • Located at Family Services offices, schools and community sites • Mental Health Corporations of America Award of Excellence for Best Practices awarded 7 years

10. How do we help? continued • 1) Counseling • Employee Assistance Program – Professional counseling for employees of companies such as Bank of Texas, British Airways and Houston Chronicle • 2) Marriage Education • Greater Houston Marriage Coalition – Leadership role in establishing Coalition in Houston and developing services in the community

11. How do we help? continued • 2) Substance Abuse Prevention / Education • Informs youth and parents about the negative effects of drugs and alcohol • Includes prevention, intervention and education activities for students and their families in school and at home • Ensueños del Futuro ("Dreams for the Future") – Two national awards for exemplary strategies in working with Hispanic youth and their families

12. How do we help? continued • 3) Parent Resource Services • Helps families improve their parenting skills and family relationships, includes: • Parent Education Classes – "Discipline Techniques", "Improving Family Communication Skills" • Family Consultation Services – How to settle bedtimes or approach problems in school • Conversational English Classes – Improve ability to communicate in English

13. How do we help?continued • 4) School-based Services • Enables at-risk students and their families to achieve personal, social and academic success • Includes counseling, outreach and support services

14. How do we help?continued • 5) Family / Senior Support • Helps families access resources needed for self-sufficiency • Includes support for families coping with illness, family loss, aging, immigrant status or other family life issues

15. How do we help?continued • 6) HIV/AIDS Services • Offers support for individuals and families infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS • Includes case management and counseling services (i.e. receiving medical attention, securing housing, and applying for benefits)

16. Who do we collaborate with? • Montrose Clinic • Ripley House • San Jose Clinic • Spring Branch Family Development Center • Strake Jesuit • Wesley Community Center • YMCA • Bay Area Rehabilitation Cntr • Boys & Girls Club • Communities-In-Schools • Fort Bend Family Health Cntr • Good Neighbor Health Clinic • ISDs – HISD, Spring Branch • Haverstock Apartments • La Casita Apartments • Memorial Assistance Ministries

17. Examples of how we help? • Counseling at Fort Bend Family Health Center • Family Support at Boys & Girls Club and Good Neighbor Clinic • Senior Support at Ripley House and Wesley Community Center • Parenting at Keagans & Lychner State Jails

18. Impact of United Way • Annual budget $5.5MM – close to $2M from United Way • All programs funded in some way by United Way • Administrative expenses are 17% (below BBB standard of 25%) • 80% direct care staff

19. Why is United Way important? • Affordable Services • Free-of-charge or on a sliding scale • Accessible Services • Office space in their service center • Referrals / Resources • Helpline • Corporate volunteers (Days of Caring) • Supplies and materials (Gifts-In-Kind)

20. Why is United Way important?continued • Leverage Additional $ • Individuals • Businesses / Corporations • Private foundations • Government sources (Department of State Health Services, Ryan White) • Recognition / Credibility

21. Conclusion • Thank audience for time and considering a gift to the United Way