Given the economic crisis that faced the country last year, "Do More With Less" were the watch words for most non-profit agencies. CARING for Children was certainly no exception to that rule. Not that do more with less is a new concept for CARING. Since the beginning, do more with less has been a familiar mantra. Since the beginning, CARING has always operated with as little administrative overhead as possible.  (Last year, less than 8% of the total budget went toward administration.)  Since the beginning, CARING has always found way to create and maintain valuable programs despite funding issues. Since the beginning, CARING’s staff have been willing to work long hours for low salaries to help ensure that CARING’s clients’ needs are met. Since the beginning, CARING has responded to the needs of children and families first and worried about funding second.

 

For CARING for Children as well as the rest of the country, last year was difficult on a scale of epic proportions. CARING for Children was not immune from the economic realities facing Buncombe County, the nation, and the world. Funding cuts and increased expenses took their toll. And, since CARING always has done more with less, we faced the double whammy of trying to do more with less than less. To ensure the viability of the agency, many many Board and staff hours were devoted to making the difficult and painful decisions that had to be made. For the first time in CARING’s history, we closed a program (the Latino Mentoring Program) purely for financial reasons. For the first time in CARING’s history, we were not able to unconditionally accept all clients without regard to funding. And, for the first time in CARING’s history, we had to attend to how services were paid for, as well as what services were the best for a particular child or family.

 

Although difficult, last year was also a year of many successes. CARING for Children was there for more than 500 Buncombe County children and families. One of those children, Susan (not her real name) came to CARING through Trinity Place – CARING’s Runaway and Homeless Youth Shelter. At seventeen years old, Susan had lived in more than 40 different placements including kinship placements, foster homes, group homes, residential treatment centers, and jails. While at Trinity Place, Susan enrolled in CrossRoads, CARING for Children’s Alternative School and Day Treatment program. Susan’s goal was to complete a GED program and enroll in AB Tech. Susan moved directly from Trinity Place to Cornerstone, CARING for Children’s Transitional Living Program, where she remains today. Susan has been at Cornerstone for nearly a year, by far her longest stable placement since she was ten years old. With the stability provided by Cornerstone and CrossRoads, Susan is working on completing the GED, has a part-time job, and is beginning to make long-term plans and save some money. 

 

Allie (not her real name) came to Angels Watch when her young parents fell victim to the country’s economic doldrums and lost their jobs and their home. Homeless, and with no extended family in the area, Allie’s parents had nowhere to turn for help. CARING for Children and Angels Watch were able to provide Allie with a safe and nurturing home while her parents worked to find new jobs and a new place to live. Knowing that their daughter was safe and well cared for allowed her parents to focus their attention on recreating their home. After just a few weeks, Allie went to her new home with her mom and dad. Perhaps as important as the new home was that the Angels Watch foster parents became a much needed source of long-term help and support for Allie’s parents.  

 

As difficult as last year was, this year may prove even more challenging. Due to the State’s budget crisis, funding for mental health and social service programs promises to be severely reduced. It is likely that many area providers will be forced to either reduce services or close their doors completely. While needed programs and services are likely to be reduced, the need for those services will almost certainly increase. Fallout from the ongoing economic crisis will result in increased numbers of children and families living in poverty. And, when the number of people living in poverty increases, the need for social services also increases.

 

Although the outlook for the coming year appears to be difficult, the silver lining is that CARING for Children has been doing more with less for nearly 35 years. Through the dedication of our staff, foster families, and Board of Directors, we will continue to make the absolute MOST out of the resources we have. In ever-changing times like these, when resources will most assuredly decrease and needs will most assuredly increase, CARING, with your support, will continue to be a rock and a safe haven for Buncombe County’s neediest children and families.