Florence Crittenton Services of North Carolina
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children
2011 – 2012 ANNUAL REPORT
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children Our Mission The mission of Florence Crittenton Services (FCS) is to promote health and hope for tomorrow’s children by providing comprehensive health, educational and social services for pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents, women, and their families.
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children Florence Crittenton Annual Lucille P. Giles Award Luncheon On Tuesday, May 15 at Florence Crittenton Services’ Annual Luncheon, Mecklenburg County District Court Judge Louis A. Trosch, Jr. was honored with the agency’s Lucille P. Giles Volunteerism Award for his tireless efforts within the court system and advocacy of at-risk youth and families. In 2010 Judge Trosch became the first judge in North Carolina to be certified as a Child Welfare Specialist and is known as an expert in collaboration between court systems and community groups.
Our History In the early 1900s, a Charlotte newspaper reported the suicide of a 16 year-old single, pregnant young woman. Rather than face the shame and disgrace that she felt she would bring upon herself and her family, she ended her life. Religious leaders and concerned citizens throughout North and South Carolina joined forces. They were determined to provide a safe place of understanding and compassion rather than condemnation for single, pregnant women. Philanthropist Charles Crittenton of New York donated funds and requested that the program be named in memory of his daughter, Florence, who died of scarlet fever at the age of four. Since 1903, FCS has served 40,000 mothers, babies, and their families.
Tracy Hewett, FCS Board member, presents Judge Louis Trosch with the 2012 Lucille Giles Award. Photo credit: Ron Deshaies of Treasured Events of Charlotte
Judge Trosch is active in the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the National Steering Committee for the Courts Catalyzing Change Project, an initiative designed to reduce the proportion of children of color in abuse and neglect courts.
A native Charlottean, Judge Trosch graduated from West Charlotte High School. Over 300 gathered at Myers Park United Methodist Church to hear a client’s Testimonial speech and support the FCS mission of promoting health and hope for tomorrow’s children. Sonja Gantt, News Anchor, WCNC-TV and former FCS Board member, served as Master of Ceremonies for the program and Rabbi Judith Schindler, also a former board member, gave the invocation. Tracy Hanna Hewitt, Mecklenburg County Assistant Public Defender and FCS Board member, stated in the Charlotte Observer on May 14, “If the picture of healthier, happier moms and babies alone doesn’t move you to action, maybe this will: A single healthy baby saves $4 million in potential lifelong costs to taxpayers, compared to a baby born with a low birth weight, addictions or other health issues. I hope you will help us honor Judge Trosch and continue the amazing work of Florence Crittenton.” FCS Advisory Board members, Gail Brinn Wilkins and Catherine Eason.
Photo credit: Ron Deshaies of Treasured Events of Charlotte
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children Outcomes and Accomplishments
Our Services MATERNITY PROGRAM In 2011-2012, 92% of our residents chose to parent their babies upon leaving our facility. Listed below are examples of our typical maternity program residents. • High-risk, single, pregnant young women ages 10 or older who also may be homeless • Victims of incest, sexual and/or physical abuse, neglect and family violence • Pregnant women with substance addictions or at risk of becoming alcohol and/or drug abusers • Court-ordered adolescents and adults • Foster care clients SARAH’S HOUSE This residential program helps foster care teen mothers and their babies prepare for independent living by a focus on education and independent living and healthy parenting classes. LEGACY HALL Resident clients participating in this independent living program are at-risk, non-pregnant adolescent females from age 16-21 who are in the legal custody of the Department of Social Services. VOCATIONAL PROGRAM Our vocational program assists clients with obtaining employment and furthering their education by providing assistance in resume writing, interview preparation, job shadowing, internships and career mentoring. AFTERCARE PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAM (APEP) This home visitation program offers aftercare services for former clients living in Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Cabarrus counties. Services are provided for up to 3 years or longer if needed.
“I cannot express my gratitude for the help and care I received during my stay. I will forever be grateful to the staff and services I received. I was alone during that time with no support and Florence allowed me to see a light at the end of the tunnel. My daughter just turned 14 years old and I was reminded of where we both started out. I have come a long way since then. I just started my 1st semester of nursing school. I wanted to thank you Florence Crittenton and hope you will forever help those in need as I was!” – Former FCS Client
2011-2012
MATERNITY PROGRAM
59 FCS residents served 4,212 days of care 96% of infants born to FCS mothers achieved an APGAR scores equal to or greater than 7 after one minute and 7 after five minutes
100% of residents delivered drug free babies 7lbs and 7oz average birth weight of an FCS babies SARAH’S HOUSE MOTHER-CHILD PROGRAM
11 Mothers served 15 Children served 3,802 days of care VOCATIONAL PROGRAM
57 Girls and Women served 92% School-aged clients remained in school or prepared for their GED while in residence APEP AFTERCARE PARENTING EDUCATION PROGRAM
11 Mothers and 16 babies served 92% of participants had no substantiated cases of child abuse/neglect 89% avoided repeat, unplanned pregnancy after the first year 85% of Children were appropriately immunized at one year of age 83% of the sample group participants excelled in Parenting Competency Skills
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children Message from CEO, Marilyn Thompson
Health and Hope for Tomorrow’s Children FCS Events
2011-2012
In September 2011, Florence Crittenton Services lost a very dear friend, Judy Harrison Barry. A strong advocate for the agency and the young women and children that we serve, Judy worked tirelessly to ensure that North Carolina Maternity Home Funds were maintained in the state budget. She spearheaded efforts to enable the FCS’ Sarah’s House program to become a reality for teen mothers and their children.
The FCS 1903 Giving Society Reception was hosted at Hodges Taylor Art
As a way to honor Judy’s legacy to ‘promote health and hope for tomorrow’s children,’ FCS has established a permanent memorial to Judy called “Changing the Future, Two Lives at a Time.” This fund is an ongoing tribute to our friend and advocate. The purpose of this fund will be to provide assistance to the young women in need prior to the availability of state funds, thus ensuring healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.
benefitting FCS, was held in May. The 2011 Florence Crittenton Golf Tournament was held at Cedarwood
Consultancy in September. The FCS Auxiliary held the annual Wine Benefit at Bonterra Restaurant in February. The 3rd FCS Alumni Reunion Picnic was held at Veterans Park in April. Two Men and a Truck’s 4th Annual Movers for Moms donation drive
Country Club and organized with the help of Rodgers Builders. Annual Agency Holiday Open House took place in early December.
As FCS of Charlotte will turn 110 years old next year in 2013, we look at our past as a “home for unwed mothers” and to current day issues of homelessness, adolescents in foster care, cyclical abuse and neglect and the grave need for prenatal care. We are proud to report that 100 % of babies delivered by FCS clients were born drug-free over the last five years with an average birth weight of 7 lbs. 7oz. Thank you for making the investment in Florence Crittenton and the women we serve.
KPMG Golf Team led by FCS Board member, Pat Binetti (second from left)
Financials at a Glance Revenues 4% 1%
Expenditures 4%
4%
Government Agencies Grants United Way Contributions Special Events Investments
Program Services 8%
Fundraising Management & General
14% 57%
92%
16% Eric Reichard, Event Chair and COO of Rodgers Builders and Marilyn Thompson CEO of Florence Crittenton
Board of Directors Michelle Jennings-Anderson Pascal Binetti Jennifer R. Bishop Dr. Octavia M. Cannon Nichola Fleming Donald S. Gately Elizabeth Harkey
Tracy Hewett Victor Holloway Alexandra J. Jenkins DeWitt F. “Mac” McCarley Gregory L. McDowell Dana Meiselman Eric Reichard Lisa Rhyne
William T. Ryans Anna Schleunes Kenneth Sipes Charlene Slaughter, Chair Grace Sotomayor Christie Taylor Valerie R. Thigpen
Board of Advisors Jim Abbott Charles Albuquerque Scott Anderson Donna Armstrong Terry Armstrong Tom Baldwin Sadler Barnhardt The Honorable Bishop George E. Battle Jr. Pat Boyd Ty Boyd Jean Brayboy Sarah Bryant Fern Culbreth
Catherine Eason Dianne English Lisa Field Anthony Fox Mary Liz Francis Sarah Belk Gambrell Harvey Gantt Robert Goodale Elizabeth Harkey Lana Hathaway Susan Kelly Harriet Martin DeWitt F. “Mac” McCarley Pender McElroy Dr. William McMillan, Jr.
Chris Moffat Bruce Parker David Perkins, Chair Lisa Torgler Perkins B. D. Rodgers Dr. Charlie Sanders Susan Sewell Ken Sipes John A. Tate, III Dr. Michael Wattenbarger B. J. Harrison Waymer Gail Brinn-Wilkins Tom Woollen Barbara Zeigler
Auxiliary Toni Clune Frances Eckle Sallie Fitton Helen Gounis Beth Grice Judy Harris
Lana Hathaway Elaine Langstaff, Co-Chair Claire MacGregor Maggie Miller June Nunn LaCarla Page
P.O. Box 36392 Charlotte NC 28236 704-372-4663 | www.fcsnc.org
Gene Ruth Poler Jane Sellen, Co-Chair Lou Watson Earlene Woods