Pro Deo Annual Report 2021-2022

From the Executive Director

Dear friends,

What an incredible year! Our teen center has opened our doors five days a week to any teenager who wants to make a new friend, wants to be accepted, or wants to feel loved. Each time our staff and volunteers are interacting with the Pro Deo teens, you just know that something “big” is happening. By “big” we mean behavior, identity, and goals.

Behavior, Identity, and Goals

Pro Deo promotes positive behavior through modeling, but also by teaching the teens about being sensitive to verbal or social cues. Also, we think you will agree that some teens struggle with their identity. Our staff addresses this by giving teens the confidence to speak up about what’s important to them. Thus, validating their feelings. And finally, Pro Deo staff reinforce having teens set goals to help overcome anxiety about the stressors in life.

Impact

The impact of Pro Deo is best told through some data points. While data points may seem impersonal, it truly tells a story of impact. We live in a data-driven culture. As you peruse the next few pages, we firmly believe the strength of our organization rests with our supporters and what we call “friends of Pro Deo.” YOU are the reason we have been in operation for 12 years. YOU have been with us all along the journey – never faltering with your care and kindness.

Thank you for your support and love. We look forward to many more years of serving families in our community.

Pro Deo loves our community!

Dr. Elaine Metcalf Executive Director

“Charlene helped me with my homework every week. While she seemed to be relentless at times, I know I needed that. Thank you, Charlene!”

When Charlene was chosen for the 2022 Pro Deo Youth Center Amanda Wells Service Award, our teens had this to say:

Impact Through Data

At our core, Pro Deo is about prevention services to combat youth mental health issues, like depression, anxiety, self-harm, etc. We are a nation that must improve access to mental health care for children and youth. Suicide rates among children 10 and older have climbed significantly since 2007 (APA, 2022). Pro Deo is doing our part by offering all of our services from fun activities, to tutoring, to counseling. Pro Deo must first get the teens to come through our doors. To do so means planning activities that appeal to that age group. Once they engage with the adults, then we can develop that solid relationship of trust. Every time a teen checks in at the center for an activity, we call this an “encounter.” Encounters, focus groups, tutoring, and counseling are considered direct client services. Take a look at the data points that show you where and how we document our impact.

849 1-on-1

White Black/African American Multi-Race Hispanic & African American Hispanic or Latinx

RACE 56% 37% 7% direct client services provided in 2021-2022 impacting 93 family households

29% OF TEENS living at or below POVERTY LEVEL

Two-year aggregate data from client intake forms report at-risk behaviors: Depression | Anxiety | Anger Management | Self Harm | Autism | ADHD

2021-2022 Accomplishments

• Launched a new database called Apricot for tracking student encounters and volunteer applications

• Set a record of $13,000 for our Twisted Trivia fundraiser event

• Expanded services to provide more free after-school tutoring programs to middle and high school students

• A 24% increase from FY21 to FY22 in donations from all sources

Partnerships Make Us Stronger

Pro Deo Rotary Learning Garden

The learning garden (sponsored by Rotary Clubs in Lee’s Summit as well as St. Matthew Lutheran Church) is a place for students to learn about gardening and community service by raising produce for food pantries and families in need. They harvest the flowers, make arrangements and deliver to supporters, the elderly, hospice centers, etc. Pro Deo operates the learning garden to create positive change for the community, the environment, and the teens who participate. This hands-on experience teaches youth the importance of caring for the earth while learning how to grow their own food, work in a professional environment, and operate a small business. The “Seed Crew” meets weekly during the growing season to harvest the fruit, flowers, and vegetables.

prodeoyouthcenter.org/learning-garden

Successful Tutoring Services Expanded to Include Middle School

The spring of 2022 brought a new Level Up Success Tutoring Program. With the help of a grant from the Eastland Giving Circle, Pro Deo expanded our free tutoring services to include middle school students. Through a partnership with Campbell Middle School in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District, counselors identified students who could benefit from an eight-week tutoring and confidence building program. Below is some data points to help you feel the same pride our staff and tutors did in seeing young people gain confidence and raise their grades:

Feedback from 2021 Pro Deo Teen Survey

There is a youth mental health crisis.

Through social-emotional education, students gain confidence, emotional intelligence, and social skills, which will influence them for the rest of their lives. These learned skills affect the families and the communities where they live. The RAND Corporation conducted an analysis of after-school programs across the US that included at least some element of programming directed at developing social and emotional skills and concluded “positive effects in the reduction of problem behaviors in youth.”

The Value of Out-of-School Time Programs, RAND.org (2017)

We are on a mission to change that.

We believe that our large suburban community wants to change the scenario of how we address the challenges of the youth mental health crisis. During the past year, Pro Deo conducted an internal assessment asking teens for feedback on their interactions with the parents/guardians in their households. Below are some of the highlights:

What do your parents do that allow you to feel like you can talk to them?

When they show me trust. Having a neutral time where I can talk with them without feeling judged or that I will get into trouble. When my parent is transparent about their own life and things they have done and learned from it. When they go out of their way to actively talk to me. When they give me advice and are happy to help me.

What could your parents do differently to help you feel more comfortable to talk to them?

Stop yelling at me, give me time to process what you want me to do. Don’t talk to me like we are buddies after you have yelled at me. Don’t tell your friends about the dumb stuff I have done. Listen, don’t shout at me or cut me off when I do try to talk to you. Don’t put so much pressure on me to feel perfect. Let me be me. Just let me be me. I feel like I can’t because of the expectations you put on me. Be careful with your words, sometimes they hurt my feelings.

This is the kind of anecdotal data that can help households lead to change. It can help our staff and volunteers be compelling advocates for youth and the stress they face each day. Thank you for being part of our message to change the narrative around youth mental health issues in our community!

By the Numbers

Our supporters are the lifeblood of our organization. About six times a year, we activate the community through campaigns such as Christmas in July, Giving Tuesday, Amazon Wishlist, church serve days, and service organizations. This helps Pro Deo fill our cabinets with the supplies and snacks needed for programming. It helps us know we have the revenue and resources to plan for another semester or summer or free activities for teens.

Pro Deo is proud to report another strong year of generating support from the community. While revenue was up from previous years, so were expenses for 2021-22. You helped us raise $192,542 which equaled 40 weeks of programming and resulted in 3,398 direct services offered to families in eastern Jackson County, primarily Lee’s Summit.

$592 has been earned from supporters who choose Pro Deo Youth Center as charity under the Amazon Smile give back program.

The People Who Make it Happen

Board of Directors

Andy Campbell, President – Summit Ridge Academy

Angela Turner, Vice President – Bel Fiore Farm & Floral

Jan Nelson, Secretary – Retired LSR-7 Counselor

Mikel Isaacs, Treasurer – Heart of America Counsel, BSA

Seth Allen – Libations

John Beaudoin – KC Communications & Media Matters

Kathryn Christian – CBIZ

Rexanne Hill – Lee’s Summit R-7 School District

Fred Lane – City of Lee’s Summit

Kent Ruehter – Tetra Tech

Contract Staff

Samantha Jahn, Middle School Site Coordinator

Janie Joling, Garden Specialist

Staff

Elaine Metcalf, Executive Director

Melissa Ward, Administrative Director

Karla Williams, Community Relations Director

Courtney Brummett, Program Director

Julianna McKee, Site Coordinator

Leah Shipley, Program Assistant

Amy Wieboldt, ReDiscover Youth Mental Health Coordinator

Drivers

Dymon and Susie Wood

Cliff Horton

Charlotte Yates

Mike Ditty

Bob Paradise

Partners

Lee’s Summit Sunrise Rotary Rotary Club of Lee’s Summit

Our Supporters

Al Black

American Family Charities Inc

Amy Middaugh

Bel Fiore Farm & Floral

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Bishop Family

Bob Glaser

Bobby and Christine Bushyhead

Brokenicky Family

Candace and Bob White CBM, Inc.

Chad Lantsberger Ins. & Financial

Chamberlain Family

Christopher Kavlick Cinematic Visions

Citizens Bank & Trust

Ditty Family

Tutors

Shannon Underwood

Amy Charpie

Dave Aubuchon

Sashi Gannavaram

Rebecca Salley

Sean Sandstrom

Carol Gardner

Charlene Metcalf

Iman Hollins

Nautica Wiggins

Facebook Fundraisers

First Presbyterian Church

Gale Communities, Inc

Grace United Methodist

H. Davis Family

Hawthorn Bank

Hobbs Child Abuse Survivors

Jan and Ron Carter

Jan Nelson

Jim & Mary Stilley

John Knox Village Missions Group

K. Ryan Family

K. Williams Family

Karlye Cygan

Kelley Manning

Kent Ruehter

Krones Family

L. Williams Family

Lakeland Community Church

Lee’s Summit Chamber

Lee’s Summit Christian Church

Lee’s Summit Knights of Columbus

Longview Chapel Christian Church

Luminate Home Loans

New Beginnings Church

New Covenant Community Church

Nextgen Wealth LLC

Nowell Family

Paragon Star

Phoenix Women’s Fitness

PLMS Cross Country/Girls BB Renaissance Charitable

Robert and Tricia Hile

Roger Young Insurance Agency

S. Morris Family

Sarah West-Effland Family

Security Bank of Kansas City

Settle Family

Shepard’s Center of Lee’s Summit

Slaughter Photography

Smile Doctors

Sprouts Farmers Market

SS&C Technologies

St Matthew Lutheran Church

Steven Shockey

The Horn Law Firm

University of Central Missouri

Weed Man

Bob & Jane Rutherford Dan Williams