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Staff
The quality of work carried out by the direct service
staff is what makes the Charlotte White Center an
agency truly "worth its salt." In this society we
often define ourselves by what we "do." We should
also define ourselves by the quality of our relationships.
When people seek out mental health services it is
quite likely to arise from a problem in their relationships,
with family, friends, co-workers, or loved ones. Our
duty here is to work on building positive, healing,
healthy relationships. It is the "business" we are
in.
When
board members speak about the effectiveness of the
Charlotte White Center in breaking the "cycle of community
placement and re-institutionalization" for the consumers
we serve they are crediting the power of the relationships
that develop here among staff and consumers. When
we observe that individual consumers know that they
are valued, are given unconditional acceptance, and
interact on a daily basis with people who truly care
about their welfare it doesn't take long to figure
out why people would want to stay.
It
is our direct service staff who form this active partnership
with the consumers to bring forth the "great wonder"
that results from forging strong connections. Some
of the unique efforts supported by the staff included:
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Arranging for the smooth transition of numerous
consumers into new residential living situations.
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Supporting many consumers with complicated medical
needs.
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Developing thoughtful interventions to assist people
in managing behaviors in positive manners.
- Creating
positive relationships with individuals that promote
building personal resiliency for consumers and mutual
sharing of "unconditional positive regard."
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Contributing significant efforts and donations towards
the Charlotte White Center's fundraising drive to
contribute to the Angels Project.
When
you discuss the Charlotte White Center with the consumers
we serve, it is always the quality of the staff that
they rank as the most important. Their relationship
to the staff is what makes the difference. However,
if you flip the coin and ask the staff what they value
best about their work, it is the consumers who come
in first place (and co-workers as a close second).
Again, it goes back to the work of relationships.
Recovery,
healing, and growth can begin with the feeling that
someone else values you. We tell an anecdote to introduce
the children's section about the young child who looked
at his behavior specialist and said she was the "only
one to value him." Offering unconditional positive regard a
scenario that gets repeated every day throughout the
Charlotte White Center. It comes in very small
packages of easy conversations, suggestions, advice,
counseling, gentle coaching, and teaching between
people who care about and believe in each other.
We
know of situations where staff could have gone on
to other jobs that paid more money but they have stayed
here because of their connections, their dedication,
and their commitment to the people who make up the
Charlotte White Center. It is these individuals, the
direct service staff, the behavior specialists, the
residential care specialists, the psychosocial aides,
supported living facilitators, independent living
specialists, day treatment case aides, clinical counselors,
and support staff who make it all work, three hundred
and sixty five days a year. They deserve great credit
and deep appreciation for helping Charlotte to choose,
get, and keep her very simple goal through the decades.
Management
Eric Hoffer once wrote
that "mass movements" are, "started by fanatics, furthered
by idealists, and consolidated by managers." While
we suspect Hoffer had a value judgment in his statement,
we would have to say that after almost thirty years we've
come through our fanatical stage (perhaps). Hopefully,
we haven't lost our ideals, and certainly we would
not be afloat today if it were not for the excellent
managers who oversee the daily operation of our own
version of a "mass movement."
Having
a terrific group of dedicated direct service staff
is dramatically enhanced by the presence of an equally
sincere and devoted group of managers. We have an
exceptional agency because we have exceptional staff
and managers. While the managers are key players in
making the daily routine productive for staff and
consumers, they are critical staff when challenges
arise. It is the managers who apply their skills,
experience, and veteran knowledge in meeting the sudden
changes, storms, breakdowns, crises, and upsets that
inevitably occur in any social service agency. They
are quite adept at bringing their creativity and energy
to bear whenever problems arise. The work they carry
out is compelling when things are running smoothly,
it can be extremely demanding when difficulties are
encountered. Many of the interventions they conduct
are "deadline driven" and require extra effort to
bring to conclusion. Yet time and time again they
rise to the occasion.
As we travel about the region and engage in meetings
and conferences with other providers we are encouraged
on many occasions to hear people speak in glowing
and positive terms about the high quality and caliber
of our managers and their staff. It is the managers
who put their reputations on the line but also get
to put their personal stamp on the success of their
programs. We are truly fortunate to employ such an
excellent cadre of "'thoughtful, committed citizens"
because in truth they "can change the world" and they
do it every day.
Administration
The
dramatic, rapid growth of this agency can be quite
staggering to review when we run out our list of comparisons.
From our opening in March of 1979 to our fiscal year
end in June of 2006 the agency budget grew from a
start of $65,000 to nearly $14 million.
With this increase
in dollars comes the important and vital knowledge
that we have effectively increased our services to
people in need. We now manage twenty-seven distinct
programs that provide services to over 1200 people per month. It is our profound good
fortune to have a top-notch Finance, Human Resources, Clinical and Quality Assurance team managing
the fiscal activities of this agency.
It is the tremendous effort and willingness to "go
the extra mile" that makes this service a reality.
From
the human services view, this translates into increased
opportunities to assist people in meeting, coping
with, and recovering from significant life challenges.
We are fulfilling our mission of service.
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