123 Barton Boulevard, Rockledge, FL ─ 321·631·7776 ─ GRG-BREVARD.ORG

Annual Report 2011

The Child First

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard County, Florida

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Message to the Community

We are pleased to present Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) of Brevard’s 2011 Annual

Report. As GRG of Brevard evolved from a support group concept and into a community based

service delivery organization, the Community remained focused on our mission to provide

advocacy, support, and referral to relative care families throughout Brevard County. After 16

years in operation, we’ve enjoyed some remarkable achievements, including:

• The implementation of The Child First Program

• The largest relative care support organization in the State of Florida

• Showing statistically significant improvements

• Core operating values and family-centered service provider

• The creation of new services: 5 monthly support groups throughout the county

(mornings and evenings), legal services for custody of relative children, and annual

training conference for caregivers.

In a difficult fiscal environment for small businesses GRG of Brevard is surviving the

uncertainties by managing program funding wisely. Overall our scope of work has increased,

with more than 1,800 Brevard County children this year receiving critical services that build

and sustain healthy families for our most vulnerable youth.

GRG of Brevard has taken the opportunity to examine program services, to tighten and

streamline processes, to pay greater attention to measurable outcomes and to focus on the

greater needs of the community. In partnership with others, we have expanded our service in

areas where growth is needed.

Our leaders on the staff and Board considered this past year the perfect time to launch

strategic planning initiatives to strengthen our core vitality and ensure the future of GRG of

Brevard. In the following pages, you will read highlights of our initiatives for services, systems

to capture measurable outcomes, and other plans that underline our commitment to a strong

future of service to community.

We are justifiably proud of the staff, volunteers and Board leadership, program integrity, and

sustainability of GRG of Brevard. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate

Bob Johnson on his retirement. Bob has served on the Board of Directors for many years and

has provided financial oversight to the organization.

It is with heartfelt gratitude for the efforts, partnership, and commitment of the local

agencies, advocates, relative care families, and friends that we present this annual report.

Mary Ann Sterling Jim Proctor

Executive Director Chairman

“More than 1,800 Brevard County

children this year received

critical services that build and

sustain healthy families for our

most vulnerable youth.”

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Living in a place you can call

home and knowing that

someone will always be there

for you is something everyone

needs, especially children.

GRG of Brevard is……

New Beginnings for Children 4 Thriving Families and Communities 6 Success Stories 8 Strategically Poised for the Future 10 Fiscally Confident 13 Community Supported 16

Making a Difference! 3

New Beginnings for Children

Celebrating Beginnings

Harold and Barbara Koenig adopted their granddaughter, Liberty, on March

2, 2011. The picture shows the happy occasion with Barbara, Liberty, Jody,

Harold and Brevard County Chief Judge Silvernail.

From Sam Levenson’s, You Don’t Have to be in “Who’s Who” to Know What’s What.

“The simplest toy, which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent”

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Building and Maintaining Connection

Decades of research have shown that children need stable, permanent homes to

thrive. An alternative for some children who cannot safely remain with their birth

families is a relative’s home, where a natural connection to the biological family

can be maintained. Although many counties throughout Florida and the nation

have embraced relative care as a good alternative to foster care, it is not

without cost because of caregivers’ need for extensive support.

In 2011 there were more than 8,000 children in Brevard County living with

relative caregivers. Most come from backgrounds of abuse, neglect or

abandonment.

GRG of Brevard and its community partners bring critical services to relatives,

primarily grandmothers, who have had to step forward to raise one or more

children. GRG of Brevard’s "The Child First Program” relative caregiver support

program provides about 100 families each month with emergency assistance,

resources and referrals, education, counseling, parent training, children’s

therapeutic services, legal assistance, support groups and more.

For 15 years GRG of Brevard has created new beginnings for children by

advocating for caregivers and their relative children . We are committed to

ensuring the success of these new families by providing the full spectrum of

family-centered support, including hands-on assistance as grandparents learn to

care for traumatized children and help them overcome the scars of past abuse.

With the assistance of the attorneys Jody Culmer & Scarlett Davidson, GRG of

Brevard provided legal assistance to 28 children, with 18 adoptions.

Don and Nancy Swickert have two adopted great grandchildren and both have accomplished great things this year.

Nicholas attends Merritt Island Christian School and is in the 4th grade. The school is putting on a play, “Music Man.” Many children tried out for the play and Nicholas was one who was selected. He also is learning to play golf. His golf instructor said his golf skills are “phenomenal” at this point.

Nathan also attends Merritt Island Christian School and is in the 2nd grade. He has consistently been on the honor roll, as well as the principal’s list, which is the highest level of academic performance. Nathan also is in a school play and recently joined the basketball team.

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Thriving Families & Communities

GRG of Brevard Receives Grant From

The Boeing Company

On March 8th, 2011 we received a grant in the amount of $5,400 from the Boeing Company. Mary Ann Sterling is shown receiving this great gift from the Boeing Company Employee Community Fund representative Janet Rollins at our office. Thank you Boeing for your continued support!

GRG of Brevard volunteers and staff

participated in the Brevard Family

Partnerships 6th Annual Walk for

Love In recognition of National Adoption

Month – November 2011 at the Avenue

Viera.

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On April 29th GRG of Brevard join 40 other non-

profit organizations participated in the Cocoa

Beach Area Chamber of Commerce 7th

Annual Fiesta Brevard at the International

Palms Resort & Conference Center in Cocoa

Beach.

Festivities included live entertainment with

Latin music, salsa dancing, games, drawings,

raffles, salsa contest, fiesta hat parade and contest, lots of food and more!

It’s HOT, HOT, HOT

GRG of Brevard’s 6th Annual

Children’s Summer Picnic

There was a large water slide, snow cones, hot dogs, hamburgers, organized children s games. Space Coast River Tours provided a wonderful trip on the Indian River to see the dolphins and manatees. This adventure was courtesy of grandparents Michelle and Mark Anderson.

On June 14th we had a wonderful field trip to the

Green Meadows Farm in Kissimmee, attended by 57 relative care families. The children loved petting the animals and riding the ponies. We went on a train ride and a hayride. We all brought our lunches and ate under a huge pavilion. Everyone really enjoyed the adventure.

Thriving Families & Communities 7

This year’s Children’s Christmas Party was a

great success with a visit from Santa, cookie

decorating, bounce house, face painting and even a

clown. With the financial and in-kind support of

local businesses and agencies GRG of Brevard

provided Holiday meals to over 60 families and Holiday Toys to over 200 children.

Nate is the grandson of Elaine Murray, and he has had an outstanding year. Nate attended Satellite High School and graduated in May of this year. He has received a 4-year football scholarship from Virginia Military Institute. Nate was awarded Athlete of the Year at Satellite High School and has a plaque placed on the Hall of Fame at his school. He also came in fifth in the discus in the state. We are so proud of Nate for his excellent effort and performance.

Three years ago two grandsons, Shane Carter (14) and Jacob Scott (6) came to live with grandparents Scott & Carol. It can be quite challenging to make this new family work together. Thinking back Carol says “we did some things correct and some things not, but I know it was all worth it”. Jacob finished third grade and has been on the A & B honor roll all year at Apollo Elementary School. Shane had failed ninth grade math three years ago and he had a love for skateboarding. He took the challenge to do his best in school and his grandparents supported his endeavor of skateboarding. Last November he was awarded best overall skateboarder for age category 16 & up 2010 at the Skatepark of Tampa. He also has maintained all A’s in school this year. In February, he was nominated for a National Mathematics Award from the United States Achievement Academy. He also is dual enrolled in Brevard Community College this semester. Shane graduated from Titusville High School on May 19, 2011, just ten days after becoming seventeen years old. Needless to say, his grandparents are so proud of the boys.

GRG of Brevard

Success Stories

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Melani Jean Leonard, granddaughter of Lily Leonard, now deceased; has accomplished her studies to obtain her Master of Oriental Medicine. We are so proud of her. Lily was a dear friend of Mary Ann and many others in our group. She was so proud of her grandchildren. GRG of Brevard wants to let Melani know how much we share in her happiness of obtaining this goal.

Cyrah is the granddaughter of Priscilla Livingston; she was a proud 1st grader on May 16th. She received an award for being an outstanding student in Math, Spelling, Reading and Science. She also received an award for making the A+ Honor Roll and a Citizenship Award. Cyrah attends Imagine Schools at West Melbourne. As of August she is now a second grader.

GRG of Brevard

Success Stories

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Strategically Poised for the Future GRG of Brevard’s vision embraces excellence, innovation, effective use of resources, and

the most positive outcomes for children and families.

GRG of Brevard Strategic Plan

Goal 1:

Improve and expand the communication network

between relative caregivers and community

service providers.

Goal 2:

Develop financial reserves and diverse income

streams to protect and sustain the organization

and its programs

Goal 3:

Develop a training resource guide for relative

caregivers seeking assistance.

Goal 4:

Create an administrative infrastructure that will

strengthen GRG of Brevard’s effectiveness and

communication

Goal 5:

Position the organization to create maximum

positive brand and mission recognition, and to

increase visibility and influence in the community

Goal 7:

Create consistent outcome measures and

articulate outcomes for organizational benefit

“The strategic plan will not only provide a living roadmap for where our

organization is going, it will outline how we’re going to get there, and, very

importantly, how we will know if we got there or not.”

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Infrastructure

Childhood Successes

Stability & Credibility in Challenging Times

• Trained Volunteer Staff

• Full Time Program Director & 2 Part-time Program

Facilitators

• Website & Facebook Page

• Monthly Newsletter

• Over 16 Years in Brevard County

• Largest Support Organization in the State of Florida

• Continuing Growth

• Grant award $5400 – The Boeing Company

• Grant award $15,000 – Brevard Family Partnership

• Current United Way Funding $18,500

• Brevard County CBO Grant $46,087.50

Solutions for Current & Emerging Needs

• Monthly Support Meetings Countywide (5)

• Emergency Infant Supplies

• Emergency Food Pantry & Children’s Closet

• Assisted over 1800 Children & Families in 2011

• Matthew Armstrong – Practicing attorney in Orlando and member of GRG of Brevard BOD.

• Teresa Meyers gained custody of her 5 disabled great grandchildren, and achieved stability and normalcy in their lives.

In Florida there are 19,156 children living in foster care and

150,391 grandparents are raising grandchildren.

In Brevard County 8,000 children are being raised by grandparents.

71% of grandparents are under 60

40% are below the poverty line

32.3% of the children have physical/mental disabilities.

Relative care placement reduces child abuse and neglect

Siblings are kept together in relative care placement

Family stability will increase opportunities for higher education.

Fiscally Confident

GRG of Brevard exercises the best in responsible

stewardship and financial management practices

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Brevard County CBO Grant

United Way Funding

In-Kind Services

Non-Government Grants

Fundraising

Membership

87¢ of every dollar

is used for Direct Program

Services

Celebrating Grandparents Day

The Child First Gala

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Community Supported

GRG of Brevard extends our deepest gratitude

to those who made a difference in a child’s

life with gifts in 2011.

15 Express LCL Services

Asbury Arms

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GRG of Brevard 2011 Board of Directors

Name Company/Organization

Jim Proctor – Chair Retired Harris Corporation, VP & Gen Mgr

Cliff Valentine, LMHC, CAP, CEAP -

CoChair

Counselor – Employee & Health Assistance

Consultants, General Partner

Bob Walters Health First – Director of Human

Resources

Dr. Valerie Allan Licensed School Psychologist

Ann B. Hodge, LMHC Independent Living Counselor

Lillian Clover Attorney

Dolores “Dee” Ferguson-Ray Business Owner

Dr. Disa G. Sacks Physician

Jackie Erickson Manager, Bank of America

Matthew Armstrong Attorney – Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster,

Kantor, & Reed, P.A.

Bethanne Hall Business Professional