We wanted to share the message Jim Thurman, our President / CEO, sent earlier today regarding the devastating tornado in Joplin. 

I’m sure you all are aware of the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, MO last night.

Information is still hard to come by because of communication failures and just natural state of things.

This we know from our staff:

1.   Our staff appear to be okay although some had damage to their homes.

2.   Our office was not involved as far as we know so far.

3.   We are trying to assess whether our children or their families or foster families are okay and their status.

4.   Senior management from Springfield are on their way to Joplin to assist our staff there with whatever necessary.

I’ll let you know more as I become aware.

Please keep the people of Joplin in your thoughts and prayers!   At this very moment Joplin is under another severe thunder/hail storm advisory!

If you follow us already, this campaign might seem like ‘preaching to the choir.’ Everyone adamantly agrees that child abuse is B-A-D. Yet this consensus is exactly why  dedicating thirty days to National Child Abuse Prevention Month is crucial. While anyone would agree that abuse should be prevented, do all of your family members  know how to spot the signs? Would all of your co-workers know how to respond if abuse is suspected ? Do your Facebook friends know how to help parents before abuse begins?  The month provides an easy launching pad for conversations with the people in your life about a topic that can be difficult to bring up. Each day offers another opportunity to initiate conversation & educate in detail.

The month also brings a great burst of inspiration and collaboration. Just following the conversation on Twitter (#NCAPM2011) for three days has been a fantastic opportunity to interact with our child advocacy doppelgängers! The exchange of ideas and passion and purpose is exhilarating. We hope that you will add your voice to the conversation.  At every step we welcome your valuable questions, stories, insight and feedback. Let us know how we can help you prepare yourself and others to stand against child abuse. Because this month is the time for all of us to bring the message “beyond the choir.”

Three Easy Ways You Can Help Today

TELL YOUR FRIENDS
Send a note to your friends & colleagues suggesting that they join you in supporting our work by simply following us on Facebook or Twitter.

DONATE
Your donation will help strengthen families across Missouri and help reduce abuse.

VOLUNTEER
Mentors are on the frontlines of abuse prevention, helping vulnerable children on their path to strong and confident futures.

From our official release:

“Our services have outgrown our current location,” said Jim Thurman, President and CEO, Children’s Foundation of Mid-America. “In order to keep pace with the number of children needing care, we have been adding services and adding staff to handle the load. We have been leasing our current space for many years and, thanks in part to one generous donor, we had the opportunity to purchase permanent space. It’s thrilling to see so many families and kids whose lives are being impacted by the dedication and support of our staff and our donors.”

The phones will remain the same.  Our new address:

1220 North Lindbergh
St. Louis, MO 63132

We look forward to seeing you at the new location!

Wednesday – March 30, 2011
{ All Day }

Our supporters at Garbo’s Pizzeria are offering a fantastic fundraiser for Friends of the Regional Girls’ Shelter.  Print this flyer and present it at the time of your purchase and Garbo’s will donate 15% of dine-in sales and 10% of carry-out sales to the Regional Girls’ Shelter.

Everything on the menu counts:  Any pizza, gift card, or drink.

For carry-out orders , please call ahead
(417) 883-9010

Location:
2101 W. Chesterfield Blvd, C101,
Springfield, MO 65807

Say Hello & Thanks to Garbo’s: “Like” Garbo’s Pizzeria on Facebook or visit www.garbospizzeria.com

**This offer cannot be combined with ANY other discounts or coupon. We kindly request that these flyers not be handed out at the door.

A national search has begun for the position of President & CEO of Children’s Foundation of Mid-America, Inc. CFMA’s current President & CEO is retiring at the end of 2011. CFMA is seeking a new Executive with a passion for quality child and family care and treatment and innovative programming, who will lead the organization into the future. This individual will:

• Be accountable to the Board of Directors, and serve as the Chief Executive Officer, giving direction to the formulation and leadership of the organization’s philosophy, mission, strategy and its strategic plan.
• Perform a wide range of difficult to complex management activities related to finances and accounting, marketing and promotion of services, staffing and personnel operations, and discretionary activities that serve to support effective business operations.
• Use considerable independent judgment in decisions that influence operations, and advise and assist the Board of Directors in planning, policy, and operation matters.

Essential Job Functions of the Position:

• With the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, enable the Board to fulfill its governance function and facilitate the optimum interaction between management and the Board.
• Ensure the organization’s philosophy and mission statements are pertinent and practiced throughout CFMA.
• Provide oversight to the regular updating of the organization’s strategic plan which directs and achieves the organization’s mission.
• Manage staff, ensuring best practices and high professional standards; maintain an effective management team, with provision for succession.
• Oversee fundraising, in collaboration with staff and Board, and ensure the flow of funds and their full reporting to the Board to permit the organization to make steady progress towards the achievement of its mission; and assure those funds are allocated properly to reflect present needs and future potential. Participates in fund raising activities by building and maintaining contacts and rapport with potential high level donors.
• Provide overall planning, direction, oversight and evaluation for all risk management and quality improvement activities.
• Ensure the development and implementation of personnel training, and develop plans and programs which will provide the human resources necessary for the achievement of the organization’s mission.
• Maintain a climate which attracts keeps and motivates top quality people—both professional and volunteer.
• Recommend policies to the Board for their oversight and governance responsibilities; and administer all approved policies.
• Serve as chief spokesperson for the organization and thereby see that it is properly presented to its various audiences
• Represent CFMA in legislative advocacy and professional organizations in which CFMA has membership or special interest; engage in effective community relations with various constituencies to represent the organization and maximize partnerships.
• Build alliances with organizations with similar missions.
• Assist in the orientation of all new Board members and new administrative staff.

Job Requirements of the Position:

• Education: A master’s degree in social work, counseling, social work administration, psychology, or a related human service degree from an accredited college or university.
• Experience: Must have at least 5 years’ experience in a senior management position; responsible for management of at least a comparable size budget and similar program services provided by this organization; have current experience with managed care contacting, and demonstrated experience with the COA and/or CARF Accreditation requirements and process.
• Skills: Must be able to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in a diverse range of audiences and settings; persuasion and negotiation of conflicts and problems; assessing operational, program, staffing, and fiscal needs; interpreting legal documents and government regulations; evaluating fiscal and financial reports, forms and data; analyzing complex written documents, identifying and resolving administrative problems; working long and irregular hours under pressure conditions; delegating responsibility and achieving results through subordinates; maintaining order in an environment of changing priorities.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Directly supervise the Executive VP-Program,

VP-Community Relations, Controller, VP-Development, VP-Human Resources,

VP-Information Technology, VP-Quality Assurance, and Executive Assistant.

• Equipment To Be Used: Must be proficient with Microsoft software and able to operate computer and other office machines such as fax, calculator, and telephone.
• Typical Physical Demands: Requires sitting, standing, bending and reaching. May require lifting up to 25 pounds. Requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate standard office machines such as computers, fax machines, calculators, the telephone, and other office equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and vision.
• Typical Mental Demands: Must be able to analyze many variables and choose the most effective course of action for the organization at any given point in time. Must handle novel and diverse work problems on a daily basis. Personal maturity is an important attribute. Must be able to resolve problems, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure. Must have a long attention span in order to listen to people, perceive the real problems and bring issues to a successful conclusion. Must relate and interact with people at all levels of the organization in a culturally competent manner.
• Working Conditions: Works in a typical office setting. Spends a great deal of time driving an automobile and occasionally travels in an airplane.
• Other Requirements: Must hold a valid Missouri driver’s license, have and maintain a risk-free driving record. Must be willing to undergo initial and periodic child abuse/neglect, criminal history, sexual offender, and child care/elder care disqualification screenings as conducted by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services utilizing the Family Care Safety Registry. Must submit fingerprints, if requested, for review by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Must undergo a pre-employment drug screen and a pre-employment physical with the results showing no evidence of communicable disease.

Other:

• Salary is competitive and commensurate with Executive experience and credentials.
• Excellent benefits.
• Children’s Foundation of Mid-America is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applicant Information:

Send cover letter and resume, in confidence, by March 31, 2011 to:

Charles Scully Stikes, PhD, Chair Board of Directors

Children’s Foundation of Mid-America

1353 N. Warson Road

St. Louis, MO 63132

The expected date of selection for this position is October, 2011.

About Us:

Children’s Foundation of Mid-America (CFMA), first established in 1914 as the Presbyterian Orphanage and later known as Presbyterian Children’s Services before being re-named Children’s Foundation of Mid-America, is committed to its mission: “Based on the teachings of Christ, CFMA provides compassionate and therapeutic social, psychological and education services to children and families of all faiths”. Today, CFMA operates programs across the state of Missouri. Services include intensive residential care and treatment, foster care case management, in-home therapy, therapeutic mentoring and in-home supports, transportation, transitional living and community counseling.

CFMA is governed by an 18-member volunteer board and has a $10+ annual budget. Revenue sources include individual and corporate donors, grants, state reimbursement, and professional services fees. There are approximately 180 full-time staff members and 130 part-time. CFMA is accredited by both COA and CARF.

Ashley Rhodes-Courter

Ashley’s memoir, Three Little Words, detailed her childhood spent in foster care and her eventual adoption at age 12. The book became a New York Times Best Seller.

Her activism on issues of foster care seemingly has no bounds: She has recently been named American Humane Association’s National Ambassador for Child Welfare; she is the Youth Advocacy Ambassador for Levi’s popular community site Shape What’s To Come and has been featured in countless publications across the country. Oh, and she’s in graduate school and working towards becoming a foster parent herself.

Basically, she’s a powerhouse.

Follow her at:

@RhodesCourter
http://www.rhodes-courter.com

Proceeds to benefit Regional Girls’ Shelter

Friday, February 11, 2011

Tickets $75 person
Cash Bar 6:30p  Dinner 7:00p
Enjoy entertainment from Springfield Symphony Orchestra
Win wonderful items in our Silent Auction
The Tower Club

901 E Saint Louis St # 21
Springfield, MO
RSVP by January 28 to Jamie Fowler 862-9634

Thank you to
Regional Girls Shelter Advisory Board
Great Southern Bank
for their support.

Cookies are a holiday tradition, as is COOKIEFEST, a day-long delicious fundraising treat  to benefit Children’s Foundation.  Stop in and purchase packages of holiday deliciousness, and have your picture taken with Mrs. Claus!

Holiday Cookies Galore at Cookiefest

WHEN:     Thursday, December 2, 2010
WHERE:  400 W. Reed – 4th & Reed in Moberly
(former SA Styles Kids Boutique)

Coming into the system was never my plan. I never even knew what foster care was. I must admit I was an out of control teenager who became too much for my mother to handle.

First I moved in with Ms. Monica, then Ms. Rachelle, and another foster home that I didn’t like at all. After that was another home, but I had returned to my old ways. When the judge ordered me to Farmington Children’s Home, I was shocked and I was furious. But now by working this program, I feel I accomplished a lot of things. The program is very hard but somehow I did it and I’m very proud of myself. It was mainly me learning I don’t need to fight every battle or get the last word. I can honestly say Farmington helped me a lot and I just want to say thank you, Mrs. Ford, for recommending this to me. Without this wakeup call, who knows where I would be right now? Thank you for being there even when I was making bad choices.

Love,

Stephanie

We will also be selling raffle tickets for more prizes!

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Purchase in advance at any Metropolitan National Bank location (map) or by calling 417-862-9634.

Cash bar.  Limited to 250 people.  21+

Location:
Historic Firehouse
101 E. Commercial
Springfield, MO
(Directions)

Thank you to our sponsors: Meeks Lumber, Bates and Associates, Metropolitan National Bank, Hansen’s Tree Service, A-1 Roofing, Courtney Law Firm, and Dental Associates of the Ozarks, Liberty Press, Midwest Family Broadcasting, 417 Magazine, KSPR, and Vino 100.