Annual Report - Home - Conley Outreach Community Services

Annual Report20141 Page

Mission StatementConley Outreach Community Services is a 501 c (3) not-for-profit organizationdevoted to “Caring for the Heart of Community”. Our mission is to provide andcoordinate community mental health and human service programs in ruralWestern Kane County by understanding community needs, creating systems ofsupport, and collaborating with other community and faith-based partners.We are humbly committed to: Caring for our communities and itsresidentsLoving our neighbors unconditionallysharing life's burdens prayerfully andTrusting God's direction patiently.We strive to work collaboratively with a diverse cross-section of communityminded individuals and organizations to develop programs and services thatmeet the emerging needs of this rapidly growing area.We seek to be: a catalyst for community developmenta hub for human services, anda place for nurturing the lives of individuals, families and neighborhoodsWe hope, through the Habitat for Community at the Conley Farm to preservethe rural traditions of Western Kane County and integrate traditional farmingpractices into holistic mental health services.2 Page

A Message from the Executive DirectorDear Friends of Conley Outreach,Last May, I attended a workshop that changedthe way I look at our benevolence services.Understanding Poverty: Looking at Poverty throughDifferent Lenses looked at four causes of poverty,only one of which was the behavior of the individual.We are often quick to blame people for their povertywithout truly seeing the context within which thesepeople live. Poverty is not only a reflection of aperson’s choices or personal circumstance (job loss,health issues, education level etc.) but involves“hidden rules” that govern many aspects of life forthe poor. People in poverty are often in survivalmode, and support systems taken for granted in themiddle class and wealth are largely non-existent. Asa result of this workshop, a coalition of serviceproviders, including Conley Outreach has beenmeeting to develop a community-wide response tosystemic poverty called Hope in Action, based on theseminal work Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-ByWorld by Philip DeVol. We will be offering a seriesof workshops in the coming year aimed at helpingpeople out of poverty once and for all througheducation, support and empowerment. Hope inAction is the logical next step in “Caring for theHeart of Community” for Conley Outreach as welook to provide people not a hand out, but a hand up.Sincerely,Carol Werdin AlfreyCarol Werdin Alfrey, Ph.D.Executive Director3 PageA Long History of Caring forthe Heart of CommunityFor over 35 years ConleyOutreach has been caringfor this community. From itsstart in bereavementaftercare, our services haveexpanded to meet the everchanging needs of the area.The West Towns offices,Community Care Team andFamily Nurturing Programwere all developed inresponse to the need formore mental health supportservices. As the economiclandscape changed, COCStook a more active role inproviding financialassistance to families inneed. The Good SamaritanClothes Closet and the FoodPantry Meals program werestarted in 2012 to helpstruggling families. This pastyear Conley Outreachhelped 191 people withrent/mortgage payments,food, medical bills, utilitybills, gasoline, car repairsand other critical needs.Over 21,670 wasdistributed from the GoodSamaritan Fund, SalvationArmy Fund or the HolidaySpirit Emergency AssistanceFund. We remain committedto standing in the gap for ourneighbors in need.

Board of Directors and StaffBoard of DirectorsMarjorie AndersonClaudia TremaineAllen MillerSarah ConleyCheryl HackbarthWilliam King, Jr.Lynn MeredithEric RyanPresidentVice erMemberStaffCarol Werdin Alfrey, Ph.D.Colleen Kindelin, B.S.Wendy Peck, M.S., LCSWSue SchultzLora Windsor, LCSWKim Wendling, B.S.Executive DirectorInternOn-Site Bereavement CoordinatorFarm CoordinatorBereavement Support Group FacilitatorFinancial Agent2014 Angel AwardsThe lifeblood of Conley Outreach is its volunteers. Most of our community basedprograms and all of the work at the Conley Farm is done by our team ofdedicated volunteers. From staffing the Salvation Army kettles, to sorting,cleaning and arranging donated clothes and serving the Food Pantry monthlymeals, it is our volunteers who make these services happen. The West Townsoffice relies on volunteers to fix computers, prepare mailings and staff the WestTowns booth at area festivals. The extremely talented and hardworking Farmvolunteers keep our gardens beautiful, the grounds mowed and buildingsmaintained. This year we recognize Ken Schultz as our Angel Award recipient,for the many hours he spends at the farm on repair projects and lawnmaintenance. Our Angel Award for Business recognizes Kuipers Family Farmsfor hosting our annual Chili Cook-Off and other fundraising events. Thank youso very much for your service!4 Page

Programs & ServicesGrief Support Friendship Night - support group for adults grieving any type of death lossMourning After - support group for younger widows/widowers or those who havelost a life partnerGrieving Parent Support - group for any parent who haslost a child, no matter how long ago the loss occurred orthe age of the child at the time of deathGood Time Out/Grief Time Out (GTO) - special monthlygrief events for children, teens and familiesGood Grief Day Camp - weeklong camp for children ages6-12 who have lost a parent of a siblingOn Site Crisis Assistance – help for schools, businesses and other groups experiencinga traumatic lossCommunity Services The Family Nurturing Program - information and support to parents of preschoolspecial needs children through a series of Parent Coffee Talks and Family FunNights and the Summer Connections Program.The Community Care Team – a network of adultnatural helpers who receive specialized training inhow to effectively listen, respond, and refer friendsand neighbors for help and assist area residentsthrough a variety of volunteer opportunities.Emergency Assistance Program – limited, short-termfinancial assistance to local individuals through the Good Samaritan Fund, HolidaySpirit and Salvation Army Extension Services. Help also available through the GoodSamaritan Clothing Closet and Monthly Meals program.West Towns Human Services Referral and Advocacy – free, confidential resource and referral service links arearesidents to over 80 health and human agencies in Kane, Kendall & DeKalb countiesTwo Local Offices – space available for area mental health providers to see clientsclose to home in Elburn and Sugar GroveWest Towns Community Resource Team – group of 20 local agencies that meetmonthly to discuss service needs in rural western Kane County.5 Page

DemographicsClients by Program TypeGriefWest TownsCCTFNPFinancial SupportIn FY2014 Conley Outreachtouched over 2730 lives inour community.493 families were linked toover 85 health & humanservice providers throughthe West Towns Network.Over 721 requests for helpwere answered.191 people receivedfinancial assistance fromone or more of ourbenevolence funds; 135children received toysthrough Holiday SpiritFinancial SupportMonetary SupportHoliday SpiritMealsClothes Closet600 hot meals wereprovided by partnerchurches; 511 peoplereceived clothes from theGood Samaritan Closet225 volunteers providedover 800 hours ofcommunity service throughthe Community Care TeamGriefHours/ContactsFNPClients ServedCCTWest Towns06 Page500100038 Early Childhood studentsand their families received194 hours of support andtraining through the FamilyNurturing ProgramOver 540 people receivedgrief support through oneof Conley Outreach’sprograms; 665 hours ofdirect support wereprovided.

2014 HighlightsRecord Salvation Army DonationConley Outreach Community Services serves as the SalvationArmy extension site for the Kaneland and Big Rock area. Eachfall we receive between 2000 and 3000 from the MetropolitanDivision to help area needy families. This money is used to payfor rent, heat, food, clothing or other necessities. TheChristmas kettles enable Conley Outreach to raise additionalmoney to replenish this fund. All the money collected in ourarea kettles stay in the Kaneland-Big Rock area to help localfamilies. In 2013 a record 7700 was donated through ourkettles and checks mailed to us for that purpose.BBB Charity Division Re-certificationThe Charity Division of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) produces impartial evaluativereports on charitable organizations every two years. Organizations that are tax exemptunder section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or that conduct charitable solicitationsare evaluated on 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.The BBB Charity Division examines each non-profit organization’s programs, finances,governance, and fund raising practices. Each organization is then rated on the 20 standardsand the results published on line. If the charity does not meet standards, a detailedexplanation is provided along with comments, if applicable, from the charity itself.Conley Outreach was once again recognized as an organization that meets all 20 CharityStandards. Only 40% of all charitable organizations in Northern Illinois have received thisdistinction.Lyle Oncken AwardThe Lyle Oncken Award was created by the INC Board in 1990 in honor of its first full-timeexecutive director upon his retirement. It was established to recognize individuals ororganizations of Aurora, Batavia, Big Rock, Blackberry, Kaneville, Sugar Grove and VirgilTownships who have made outstanding contributions in support of services to persons withmental illness, developmental disabilities or substance use disorders within our service area.Conley Outreach Executive Director, Carol Alfrey along with AID’s Wanda Thomasreceived the 2014 award. Carol was presented the award by INC Assistant Director MartiCross at the annual Conley Farm Clean-up and Volunteer Appreciation Day7 Page

FinancialSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONJUNE 30, 2013 AND 2014ASSETSCURRENT ASSETSCashTOTAL CURRENT ASSETS20142013 42,695 27,44542,69527,445FIXED ASSETSEquipmentLess – Accumulated DepreciationTOTAL FIXED ASSETS5,6374,5101,1275,6373,3822,255 43,822 29,700 6713,127 1,601745TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES3,7982,346TOTAL LIABILITITES3,7982,346NET ASSETSUnrestrictedTemporarily Restricted34,2065,81822,8154,539TOTAL NET ASSETS40,02427,354TOTAL ASSETSLIABILITIES AND NET ASSETSCURRENT LIABILITIESAccounts PayableAccrued LiabilitiesTOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 43,822 29,700(Conley Outreach’s Financial Records audited by Knutte & Associates, P.C. in 2013 and 2014)8 Page

FinancialTotal Income-- 142,555Grants & Contracts--56%Contributions--22%In Kind Donations--20%Interest-- 1%Other--3%Total Expenses-- Program Expenses-- 115,124West Towns-58%Good Samaritan--12%Good Grief--10%Holiday Spirit--10%Family Nurturing--6%CCT--3%9 Page