Message from the President and Board Chair: Creating Possibilities

When families are in crisis, it can often seem as if there is no possibility of finding a way out. Whether the problem is a mountain of debt and impending foreclosure, or being trapped in an abusive violent relationship, or struggling with depression, substance addiction, or trauma from childhood abuse, Family Service of the Piedmont strives to empower individuals and families by creating possibilities where none existed before.

In our recent Annual Report (pdf) you can read stories of four clients who found new possibilities at Family Service of the Piedmont.

For Family Service, the 2010-2011 year was one filled with challenges and triumphs. We had a busy year with a 9% increase in the number of clients our agency served. At the same time, many of our funding sources were cut dramatically, particularly the grant funding we receive from the state, local, and federal levels.

Meanwhile, thanks to the tremendous level of support we received from people like you, we enjoyed one of our most successful fundraising years ever, despite the sluggish economy. Our special events, including the High Point and Greensboro Oyster Roasts and the Jamestown Pig Pickin’, all broke previous records. Our exceptional volunteers, led by our governing Board and two Foundations, and our two Guilds in Greensboro and High Point, continue to exceed expectations and garner support far beyond years past.

We began the year by examining all our programs and eliminating “mission drift” to support our long-term vision for the future. We made sure all our services were focused in our four core areas: victim services, counseling services, family support services, and consumer credit counseling.

We continue to be challenged by a paradigm shift in our business model. Many funders no longer disperse monies at the beginning of the year, but wait until the work has been completed and expenses have been incurred. In fact, over 93% of our budget now adheres to this new model. This creates a challenge in terms of cash flow. We met this challenge by focusing on program sustainability, utilization review, strong financial infrastructure, and solid guidance from leaders in the financial community.

We are using new technologies to eliminate barriers for clients, improve productivity, and provide accurate and timely data for management decisions. We also found success in increasing our involvement with decision makers at the local and state levels, and educating law makers about the significant impact Family Service makes in our community.

Looking forward to the upcoming year, we are assured that our staff’s dedication to clients and determination to forge ahead through any economic climate will continue our path to success. Our vision this year has a three-fold approach: to maintain fiscal sustainability, stay focused on our agency’s mission and core programs, and attract and retain high caliber staff.

We will continue to seek evidence-based and best-practice programs that are high quality, outcomes driven, and cost effective. This will allow our clients to reap the benefits of superior services at a cost they can afford. Our agency also prides itself on our caring and professional staff, and on providing them with the resources and support they need. By setting high work standards and requiring accountability for all, we foresee continued success.

With the dedication of supporters like you, the possibilities are endless. With your help, Family Service of the Piedmont will continue creating possibilities for safe and healthy families in our community.