November 2012
The L.I.N.K. A Letter from Leslie... This has been a very exciting few months at CFF! We have had great success in our grant writing which has resulted in implementation of new programs, expansion of existing programs and intense recruitment efforts. Community Schools: We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Red Clay Consolidated School District to establish a community school at both Warner and Shortlidge Elementary Schools in Wilmington. Tamara Horsey (Mari) is currently the site coordinator at Warner and we hope to move ahead with Shortlidge early 2013. We are also hoping to replicate the model in Sussex County. IM40 : We were selected to be the Community Mobilizing Organization for Wilmington’s Eastside as part of the Youth Health Program funded by Astra Zeneca and United Way. Daneya Jacobs is busy learning what is available to youth ages 12-15, and will soon begin to train adults and youth in developmental assets. Nurse-Family Partnership: We are able to expand NFP services for pregnant first time moms with additional nurses, part time supervisor (Tynisa Howell) and administrative support for Kent and Sussex (Tanika Isler) Healthy Families America: We are implementing Smart Start, along with Public Health, using this evidence-based model. The program will focus on pregnant women who do not meet NFP criteria or have a child up to three months of age at start of service. Tara Murdock is heading a four person team in NCC and Jessica Byram is heading a four person team for Kent/Sussex. Amanda Davidson is providing administrative support. Intensive Outpatient Services: We are currently providing individual, group, and family counseling, as well as psychiatric services, in Kent and Sussex Counties to youth in need of more support than can be provided in office-based therapy. Much of the work is provided in the family home. Camika Tingle and Brenda Smith are working in Sussex County. Teneshia Winder and Kerri Lohrfink are in Kent. Kerri is the Program Manager. Seaford House: We now have an additional 4 slots in day treatment and have just hired Tina Carter to be our third fulltime therapist at Seaford House. We are also training staff in Collaborative Problem Solving as a behavior management strategy for day and residential treatment. Early in 2013, Beth Cantwell will train staff in principles from the Building Bridges Initiative that stresses family-centered, youth-guided work. FAIR (Family Assessment Intervention Response): CFF has just been selected to provide assessments and interventions for teens and their families in the community as an alternative to foster care placement. This is part of DFS’s Differential Response strategy to decrease the number of youth in foster care. We have hired a Program Manager, Rita Fisher, and will hire 5 social workers to assess family need and implement the Family Keys model which provides intense crisis management, connection to resources and mediation. In addition, where appropriate, our current FFT staff will be providing functional family therapy to some of the families. Strengthening Families Program Birth to Three: CFF was awarded a four year federal grant to offer SFP to families affected by substance abuse and/or HIV. Half of our population will receive only SFP while the other half will receive 6 months of Parents As Teachers, following the SFP series. We will be hiring two part-time team leaders, two case managers and a number of part-time parent educators to implement the program. We will be working with the Lutra Group and the University of Maryland as evaluators. All of this growth is wonderful and has kept our Human Resources staff very busy recruiting new staff! Special thanks to them and to our “crackerjack” Development Team who have worked with our program managers and staff to write these grants. Our fine reputation for providing quality services is helping us to grow. Thanks to you all for your dedicated service to children and families in DE.