2022 Cape Assist Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT

2022

Cape Assist is dedicated to preventing and treating substance misuse and related issues in Cape May County through education, advocacy, counseling, and community collaboration.

Cape Assist is strongly positioned as the leading prevention and treatment agency serving Cape May County residents. A 501(c)(3), the organization specializes in drug and alcohol education and counseling services. The nonprofit’s work with adult and youth populations in Cape May County has become a vital service for the community, made possible through strong partnerships and collaborations.

ist s s A e rs - Cap ty Membe ni u m m Co

2022

John Amenhauser President

2010 Cathy Phillip Treasurer

2009

1993

Patty Weeks Trustee

1982

Katie Faldetta Executive Director & CEO

Dan Borawski Director of Operations

Heather Saul Associate Director

Kathryn Gibson Director of Recovery Services

Joseph Faldetta Director of Prevention Services

Tusa Magalogo-Fitisemanu Director of Communications

A N O TE FR O M T H E EXEC U TIVE DIR EC T O R I am happy to present our Annual Report for 2022 on behalf of the Cape Assist team and their 40 years of service to our community. We are thankful to have so many caring and passionate individuals dedicating their lives to supporting the people of Cape May County. Our resourceful team has worked tirelessly to adapt and transition our work back to hybrid and in-person events. It is so wonderful to be able to speak to our community face to face again through our events, advocacy, and support. We aim to be there for our neighbors in good times and bad, and nothing can stop us from doing so -- not even a pandemic.

Our 40th anniversary year has been one of perseverance and greater rewards for it. Staple events of our organization, like the Peer Leadership Conference, were held in person for the first time in two years. We have been lucky to work side by side with so many fellow health and advocacy organizations that have made events such as The Reels on Wheels or The Halloween Spooktacular a reality. It takes a community to uplift a community!

After 20 years of work with this amazing group of individuals, I cannot help but look forward to how Cape Assist will grow in its next 40 years of serving the community. I think about the number of people affected by our work and the families and friends we have made along the way. It is truly humbling to be able to dedicate our lives to help others.

Katie Faldetta

2014

Fundraising Growth

Cape Assist marks one decade in its Wildwood headquarters

Total for 2022 - $103,344 Fundraising has more than doubled since 2021 and more than tripled since 2020. Between years 2020 and 2022, we see a growth of 213%.

Endless Summer Growth

Between 2019 and 2022 the total income from the ESB went from $30,000 to $84,000, a 184% increase.

Cape Assist raised just over $9,000 at the first ESB in 2013, an increase of 823% in 2022.

2022

Cape Assist celebrates 40 years with a team of over 25 staff members

Program Service Growth

Mental Health First Aid Training - 65 individuals trained, a 132% increase in those trained in 2021 TIPS Training - 216 individuals trained, a 620% increase from those trained in 2021 Botvin: LifeSkills - In 2022, 6 schools and 1,434 students were reached, a 203% increase from 2021 Police and EMS Camps - In 2022, 5 camps were offered and hosted roughly 190 students, an increase of more than a 66% from 2021 Hope One NARCAN Training - Over 270 individuals were trained, a 161% increase from the number trained in 2021

1993

The agency becomes Cape Assist after initially being called Cape May Co. Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

2001

The organization has an annual budget of $900,000, tripling from the decade prior

1982

Five founding members receive a seed grant from the NJ Dept. of Health for $25,000

Counseling Program Growth

Population Serviced Growth

Over 170 schools and businesses reached in 2022 Over 2,000 youth reached , over 13 times the number reached in 2003 The Peer Leadership Conference attracted more than 400 students

The counseling program served over 150 individuals, with over half of those completing their goals in 2022.

The number of people served who have not completed or will not complete treatment dropped from 74 in 2021 to 63 in 2022.

Staff Growth

Over 25 staff members supported Cape Assist's goals and mission in 2022, almost quadruple the 7 staff members we had in 2004

The Strengthening Families Programs (SFP) are evidence-based programs that are recognized nationally and internationally for encouraging family bonding. There’s even a Strengthening Families Program specifically geared for military families (MSFP) and the unique challenges they face. SFP and MSFP are multi-session programs for In 2022, 46 families and 173 individuals participated in SFP, families who want to improve their family dynamics and 46 families and 184 individuals participated in MSFP. in several areas including communication, discipline strategies, limit setting, and more. Cape Assist offers incentives for families to participate, such as providing dinners for those who attend and gift cards for those who successfully complete the program.

K.A.R.E.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

CareGiver Support - Caregiver Support Group is a FREE five-week program available to anyone currently caring for a loved one or a patient. Caregivers who are feeling stressed, confused, overwhelmed, depressed, or burned out are encouraged to join as they would greatly benefit from the group. The support group is an effective way to reduce stress, receive useful advice, discover local resources, and be surrounded by others who are going through similar experiences.

The Quit Center - Cape Assist’s Quit Center program provides Cape May County residents with free assessments, individualized case management, one-on-one and group counseling, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). Assessments are done over the phone; the counseling and support groups are currently held through Zoom or by phone; and Cape Assist will mail the NRT to the person’s home. Community groups are also offered virtually.

W.I.S.E. - The Wellness Initiative for Senior Education is a wellness and prevention program for older adults. The program is designed to celebrate healthy aging, make healthy lifestyle choices, and avoid medication misuse.

The program provides valuable educational services to older adults on topics including medication misuse and management, stress management, depression, and substance misuse.

We spend a lot of time talking about ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences, which are traumatic events that negatively affect brain development in ways that cause lasting health challenges, both emotional and physical. More than 40% of children in NJ – more than 782,000 – are estimated to have experienced one ACE, and 18% of children are believed to have experienced multiple ACEs. (Statistics from the report: Adverse Childhood Experiences: Opportunities to Prevent, Protect Against, and Heal from the Effects of ACEs in New Jersey – July 2019). But, research has shown that ACEs can be counterbalanced through positive experiences, support, and nurturing relationships.

Let’s talk about a different kind of ACE - Advocacy, Community Collaborations, and Education. Building a resilient community means working on one sector at a time. What started as a substance misuse prevention initiative has turned into a community-wide shift in philosophy.

Building resilient and healthy communities takes multiple sectors coming together and advocating for youth. This advocacy relies on strong collaborative partnerships and community education – all of which the Healthy Community Coalition has been fostering for more than 20 years.

Understanding of the ACEs research and emerging brain science has enabled the coalition to broaden its prevention practices and focus on creating a trauma responsive community by utilizing the following three methods.

1. Bring awareness of neuroscience to multiple sectors of the community and inspire them to utilize this knowledge to make their interactions with youth more meaningful and more brain aligned.

2. Have the coalition members look at strategies for community change through a trauma informed lens.

3. Inspire seemingly disconnected sectors of community to collaborate more and weave a tighter community net where children and adolescents can find safety and support.

By regularly engaging directly with our county’s youth about drug misuse during our annual Peer Leadership Conference, we make sure our messages of support and prevention hit our target audience – 400 middle and high school students. We had an even larger audience the past two years with the conference being held virtually because of COVID. Our annual Public Service Announcement Contest provides another opportunity to reiterate messaging to our county’s youth.

CAPE ASSIST'S COMMUNITY Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC) is a group of community members representing: Youth, parents, schools, law enforcement, youth-serving organizations, the faith-based community, substance misuse treatment agencies, local government, healthcare, businesses, media, civic/volunteer groups with a mission to create healthy communities by reducing substance misuse.

Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition (LTHYC) is a group of community members of all ages and all walks of life. Members include educators, law enforcement, parents, youth, faith leaders and businesses focused in Lower Township. Their mission is to plan and implement strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance abuse and its associated consequences.

The PRIDE Committee (Prevention, Resources, Innovation, Development and Education) includes representatives from the Sea Isle City School Board, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, the Cape May County Office of Education, county educators, the County Department of Human Services, and Cape Assist.

The Hope One Van of Cape May County travels throughout the county to help educate the community with the help of local partners and provides addiction treatment services.

CMC Youth Resiliency team brings a youth perspective to the work being done with The CMC Healthy Community Coalition and the surrounding communities. Open to all high school-age students, the team meets once a month to discuss substance misuse prevention and promote the overall well-being and resilience of young people.

Incorruptible.US Cape May County aims to educate students, parents, teachers, and members of Cape May County about the dangers of BIG Tobacco and the ever-growing vaping epidemic that is affecting so many individuals. The group is open to any high school-aged students in Cape May County that are motivated and passionate about making a difference.

I N I T I A T I V E S

Youth Support Initiatives of Cape Assist Cape Assist’s community coalition initiatives (Cape May County Healthy Communities Coalition & Lower Township Healthy Youth Coalition) strive to inspire more meaningful and intentional connections between youth and adults. The efforts also promote cross-sector collaborations to weave a thicker community net where youth can find hope, safety, and support.

The groups work to reduce youth substance use in the community through collaboration and environmental change.

The coalition's Youth Resiliency Team looks to bring the youth perspective to work being done in the community through community events and more.

The coalitions transitioned their monthly meetings into both virtual and in-person events (hybrid). The hybrid approach provides flexibility to those who may not be able to participate out of health concerns or other reasons, while also providing much needed, face-to-face community connections.

Cape May Co. Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC) coalition activities coalition members adults reached youth reached organizations reached schools reached

Lower Twp. Healthy Youth Coalition (LTHYC) coalition activities coalition members adults reached youth reached organizations reached

Cape Assist understands that community partnerships anchor any successful social service agency. Cape May County is a tight-knit and supportive area that benefits when organizations join forces for the greater good. Many non-profit organizations and groups are able to support Cape Assist's mission and goals while helping focus on two specific areas: educating the community and creating a platform/safe space for substance misuse awareness, establishing powerhouse partnership opportunities in the process.

As part of its "Elks Care – Elks Share" initiative, the Greater Wildwood Elks Lodge has worked with Cape Assist for more than a decade to provide Thanksgiving meals to community members.

The members-only organization participates in programs to better its communities, donates to Cape Assist, and regularly provide s support to clients in need.

The Greg DiAntonio Memorial Fund, run by Kreni and Pat DiAntonio in honor of their son, helps raise funding and awareness to advocate for individuals dealing with substance misuse. The fund provides strong support for recovery, community service, and destigmatizing these issues for families and friends alike.

As a longtime supporter of Cape Assist and Coastal Prep Recovery High School, the memorial fund made several donations to both the organization and the recovery high school over the years.

‘WE’RE LIKE A FAMILY’: RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOL A SAFE HAVEN FOR TEENS STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION Since 2019, Coastal Preparatory High School has provided students with a safe, non-judgmental environment where they can continue their education and receive recovery support. The unique setting makes it easy for students to find a sense of belonging and develop lasting connections with their teachers, counselors, and peers that contribute to recovery success. As one of only three recovery high schools in New Jersey, Coastal Prep helps students focus on setting goals, learning life skills and mediation. There is no cost to the family or sending school district.

Students Served

15

Students Graduated

10 5 0

2018-2019

2019-2020

2020-2021

2021-2022

2022-2023

Coastal Prep held a ceremony for its largest graduating class to date

Serves 14 students - a 180% increase from 2020

Celebrates first graduate

Opens as South Jersey’s only recovery HS in partnership with Middle Twp. School District

REVENUES

FUNDRAISING/DONATIONS 4%

PRIVATE INCOME 17.2%

FEDERAL GRANTS 18.2%

REVENUE INCREASE 2022 SHOWS A 4.16% INCREASE IN REVENUE COMPARED TO 2021

EXPENSES

PRIVATE GRANTS 8.1%

PROGRAM SERVICES

COUNTY GRANTS 4%

MGMT & GENERAL

FUNDRAISING STATE GRANTS 48.5%

81% 18% 1%

MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS INDIVIDUALS WHO UTILIZED SERVICES INDIVIDUALS WHO COMPLETED THE PROGRAM (IN 6 SESSIONS)

GOALS COMPLETED

43.9% INCREASE

PARTICIPANTS WHO UTILIZED NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (NRT) THROUGH THE QUIT CENTER

YOU'RE INVITED!

www.capeassist.org/donate