A New Age of Aging Indeed

It is a New Age of Aging in America and in Chattanooga. According to most recent U.S. Census projections, 70 million Americans will reach age 65 by 2030, double the number in 2003! There will be a greater need for human services to meet the needs of this generation, and the approach of human service agencies will need to adapt to this groups's unique personality.

The Alliance for Children and Families has a new 5-year capacity-building initiative called New Age of Aging, and a new website full of resources and funding opportunities at http://www.newageofaging.com/ . Useful tools include a Senior Housing Directory, Workforce Assessment Tool, and webinars on various topics from the American Society on Aging. Grant seekers can also keep an eye on posted RFP's and mini-grants available for relevant programming. Check it out to stay up to date on the latest research and information relevant to your senior and aging clients!

The Partnership is also proud to be a 2008-09 Mentor Grant Award Recipient! Our talented Beverly Stuckey and Ellie Johnson have been paired with another agency to develop a mentor relationship, motivate leadership, and build organizational and staff capacity related to aging.

Tax Rebate: To Give or To Take?

To give or to take? That is the question that some are pondering as they receive their rebate checks now through the end of summer. Approximately 130 million Americans will receive their share of the economic stimulus package payout. So...what to do with our new found wealth?

With gas prices continuing to drain our checking accounts, and milk costing even more than gas per gallon - many are using the check to pay for basic necessities. Some plan to pay down debt or to save the money, and still others are buying electronics or other "wants" instead of "needs".

But what if your needs are met? What if you don't want that flat screen your neighbor has? What if you want your rebate to be more meaningful, to create more impact?

Consider donating your rebate to a charitable organization who is serving a population with great unmet needs. After all, the rebates were not planned - they are really small windfalls that with some careful planning and consideration, could be quite meaningful to someone in need. Your gift may even be deductible for federal and perhaps even state income tax purposes.

Check out the Partnership's Wish List by clicking here and look at our long list of items we need everyday to serve our clients. Call up any one of our programs and ask what their biggest need is and how a small donation could make a difference - or ask to come take a tour and learn more about what we do before considering a donation. Believe me when I say that you end up "taking" every time you "give" - you take a sense of community collaboration and support and the confirmation that you have helped someone build a better life.

It could be that you can't afford to make a charitable donation - but you can still give by volunteering your time and expertise. So, to give or to take? Maybe it's a little bit of both. Let us know how you plan to give.

Social Citizens Report Praises Young Activists

A new report commissioned by The Case Foundation, titled Social Citizens, recognizes the new Millinial generation for their passionate and tech-savy philanthropy - instead of the bum rap they've received lately of complacency and apathy. The 70-page paper provides insight into the motivations of young givers (Millenials are currently ages 15-29), and how their seemingly inborn ability to communicate through modern technology aides them in nurturing those passions.

The Partnership applauds Millenials for their innovative efforts to "change the world", and we would like to share this paper with others as a way to hopefully motivate people to "plug in", get connected, and stay connected . Just click here to start reading. Our agency's programs offer so much to this community; whether it's shelter for domestic violence victims, independence for the elderly, foster care for abused and neglected children, or services for the deaf and hard of hearing. There is a place for those who want to get involved to do so, and in a way that truly resonates with their core values and priorities.

Millenials, Baby Boomers, Gen X or Gen Y......contact the Partnership at 423.755.2702 or email info@partnershiptoday.org and let us know what your passion is. Together, we can empower people to build better lives.

Peyton Manning's Peyback Foundation "Peys it Forward" to Partnership Youth Services

Fans of local football favorite, Peyton Manning, have something else to cheer about - Manning's own Peyback Foundation has just awarded a grant to the Partnership's Youth Services!

The Youth Services program will soon offer new leadership training to youth served through the Gardner House for Boys and Northbridge House for Girls, thanks to a grant from the Peyback Foundation. Youth Services staff will utilize the Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program to help youth develop their ability to make positive life choices based upon sound values and a vision of a successful future. The program is also intended to help boost their GPA's and to develop positive attitudes and self-confidence, which can reduce risk behaviors. It is designed to help today's youth develop their personal leadership skills and begin to set goals and direction for their lives.

The Youth Services staff are thrilled to have received this grant award and look forward to the impact it will have on the youth they serve.

The Peyback Foundation was established by Indianapolis Colts quarterback and former UT Vols quarterback, Peyton Manning, in 1999. The foundation awarded a record $606,000 this year to charities serving disadvantaged youth in Indiana, Tennessee, and New Orleans. The Partnership's grant award was one of 34 agencies in Tennessee to receive a grant.

Volunteer Extraordinaire - Joy Gibson

The Partnership is blessed with many volunteers, all of which we would like to say "THANK YOU" to during National Volunteer Appreciation Week (Apr. 27-May 3). But one particular volunteer, Joy Gibson, was recently awarded the 2008 Community Service Award by the United Way Volunteer Center. We would like to share her story about her committment and passion for the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter and Services.

About Joy....

Joy Gibson signed up as a volunteer for the Partnership in February of 2006. After intensive training of over 20 hours, she began serving as a “Hotliner” in July and has maintained a constant service record of at least one four hour shift every week since that time.

The Crisis Hotline serves the community as a “basic” resource for those seeking a broad variety of resources to meet needs, but it is the primary point of contact for those who are facing domestic violence or who have been sexually assaulted in this greater Chattanooga community. “Hotline volunteers are critical to the function of the Crisis Resource Center”, says Regina McDevitt, Director of the Crisis Resource Center. “The Crisis Hotline (423.755.2700) is available 24 hours per day to ensure all victims of violence have someone to turn to. We would not be able to provide the level of care and attention that we do without our volunteers.” The Crisis Resource Center provides crisis intervention services, emergency hotlines, counseling, shelter, and advocacy and referral services to individuals and families in crisis situations. Last year, 5,023 people were served through the Partnership’s Crisis and Emergency Services.

In July, 2007, as the Hotliners were in desparate need of additional volunteers, Joy stepped up not only by covering additional shifts each week, but by agreeing to serve as “team leader” and assume a major role in the complete updating of the Hotliner resource manual. Thanks in large part to Joy's hard work and leadership, the Hotliners are now stable, revitalized and growing. In addition to serving many shifts on the Hotline, she leads each monthly meeting, puts together the monthly calendars of service, and facilitates communications among the team and with the PFCA staff. She averages over 50 hours of service every month.

As a person with lupus, she is a role model for all people with disabilities demonstrating that they too can serve effectively and meaningfully in meeting the needs of our community through volunteer service. John Sims, Partnership Volunteer Coordinator, also notes : "Family call her ‘Joy to the world’ and she is a person who not only lives up to that name by bringing joy to all the staff and volunteers at FVSS with whom she works, but she brings hope through her compassion for callers and the helpful resources offered.”

For more information on how you can volunteer with the Partnership, visit our website or call (423) 755-2702.

Celebrate Earth Day and Support the Partnership

Earth Day 2008 will be celebrated throughout our community on Tuesday, April 22nd, and it is easy being green! Being a good steward of our environmental resources is as easy as turning off lights when not in use, carpooling when possible, and buying products made with recycled packaging. But did you know that you can "go green" and support the Partnership at the same time? That's right! You can help the area's largest social-service agency in two ways:

• Donate your used and unwanted cell phone year-round to the Partnership to be recycled or refurbished and keep them out of landfills! Just drop your phone and battery off at any Partnership office location, including 1800 McCallie Ave. or 300 E. 8th Street in Chattanooga. All phones received are turned into funds that support the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter and Services. Call (423) 697-3829 to find out more.

• Become an ePartner and upgrade your Partnership quarterly newsletter subscription to be emailed to you, instead of sent through the mail. You'll save paper, postage, and a trip for the mailman while still getting the latest Partnership news. Simply send your email address to lgilder@partnershipfca.com with Email My Newsletters! in the subject field.

The Partnership would also like to say a special "Thanks!" to community partner Greenlife Grocery for helping raise money for the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter & Services through their Donate a Bag campaign. They raised over $300 by asking customers to bring their own shopping bag and/or donate one back to the store. This helped to save nearly 6,000 bags! Thanks, Greenlife, for supporting the Partnership.

National Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Partnership wants the community to know about the available resources through our Sexual Assault Crisis Resource Center. Our center is the only facility in the Greater Chattanooga area that offers such an encompassing list of services all under one roof. Victims of sexual assault do not have to fear walking into a police station to report the crime, or sitting in an emergency room for hours to receive an examination. The Sexual Assault Crisis Resource Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide services in a private, secure setting. The Partnership also offers a 24-hour Crisis Hotline at 423-755-2700 to anyone in need of help.

The Partnership is also offering a support group for adult female survivors of sexual assault called Seeds of Healing. It will be held, free of charge, every Monday from April 14th - May 19th from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. We encourage you to share this information with your friends, family, and co-workers to let them know help is out there. Visit www.partnership.com to learn more about this program and upcoming events.

A Letter from the CEO

A LETTER FROM PARTNERSHIP CEO, SANDRA HOLLETT

This is what we believe, at the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults:

When we help people, today’s problem may be successfully managed; when we empower people, their chance of independently managing future problems increases dramatically. This belief has inspired us to adopt, as this agency’s mission: “empowering people to build better lives.”

• We empower our clients:
  People who turn for help to the Partnership feel powerless: powerless to handle debts threatening their financial stability, to transcend destructive behaviors perpetuating individual and family conflict, to escape physical and emotional abuse, to remain independent and self-sufficient and to advocate for their own well-being.
  Every Partnership program is built on “best practices” models, focusing on outcome-based counseling and case management, and working with clients, to develop the skills with which to improve their lives.

• We empower our staff:
  We strive to create a work environment in which every employee feels him/herself to be a true “partner” whose opinions are valued, professional growth assisted, decision-making encouraged and need for a competitive, livable salary recognized.

• We empower our community:
  We collaborate and share resources with area agencies, businesses, religious organizations and schools, thereby empowering our community to help its citizens.
  We provide opportunities for scores of area high school, college and university students to do their internships and community service hours with Partnership programs, thereby empowering the next generation to build a better community.
  Each year, we match an average of 300+ community volunteers with the needs of Partnership clients and programs, thereby empowering both those who receive and those who give.

We invite you to learn more about the Tennessee Valley’s oldest and largest social service agency, now celebrating over 130 years of service, by contacting the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.

Sandra Hollett, CEO