Grant Proposal

Prepared by: Caroline Logan, Sarah Ashley Barnett,

Danielle Nichols, and Grant BooneApril 24, 2013

Introduction

NHCA will seek to fill the void for

children in the court system without a

voice, advocating for their best

interests in court

Project Summary

Statement of need

Children in the system will be assigned

a Guardian Ad Litem

Guardians recruited as community

volunteers

Project Description

Role of Guardian Ad Litem

GAL Training

Problem Statement

No organization exists within the New Hanover County courtroom setting

to ensure that abused & neglected children are afforded the proper

level of attention once they enter the court system & foster care.

① Inadequate Representation

② Overburdened Legal System

③ Overburdened Social Service System

Lack of sufficient information & detailed case analysis available for

judges to use in making legal decisions concerning child placement.

Inability to provide the resources to accommodate the children who

have been removed from home due to on-going safety issues & have

no other appropriate family members to care them.

① Inadequate Representation

The New Hanover Department of Social

Services is required to recommend whether the child should be removed from home

Once a court decides the child will enter the court system, DSS assumes the responsibility of working with birth

parents to address safety issues in an effort to return the child home

Although an effort is made to locate extended family members to care for the child, DSS ceases to play an accountable role in the child’s

allocation

Only about 23% of children in out of home placement reside with relatives while the remaining 77% are placed in foster care

As children enter the court system, they

are not being afforded the necessary

support to navigate local bureaucracy

Although Child Protective Services is

being offered in all 100 counties of North

Carolina, there is not always enough

staffing provided to be able to give

each case the attention that it needs

and deserves

NHCA provides a direct need for these

children to be provided with an

advocate – an individual that can

provide the necessary support to

supplement DSS and help ensure the

safety of the child

① Inadequate Representation (cont…)

Judges make the final determination concerning the fate

of an abused or neglected children.

Sufficient information & detailed case analysis is needed in order for judges to

understand the true facts of a child’s condition in an over-burdened child welfare

system

Currently, New Hanover County Department of Social Services is the court's only

source from which to base judicial determinations.

However, because of budget cuts, understaffing, high volume caseload, and

duty to work with birth parents, DSS is unable to deliver adequate perspective

pertaining to the best interest of the child. Consequently, judges often produce

ill-advised verdicts.

Children without properly trained advocated are then quickly transitioned from

an over-burdened and misinformed legal system to an over-burdened and

depleted social service system.

② Overburdened Legal System

NHCA presents a unique position to work in the system without

actually being of the system.

Trained Guardian ad Litems are granted tremendous authority by

the court, and are able to do what it takes to see that a child is

not ignored, their best interests and critical needs are addressed,

and that the presiding judge is well-informed.

Throughout the process, NHCA have permission to visit the

children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers,

doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give

an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge.

Ultimately, New Hanover Child Advocates help kids through the

legal system safely, quickly, and more effectively.

② Overburdened Legal System (cont…)

Between 2008-2009,

there were a total of

4,702 children under the

age of 18 that were

removed from the

custody of their parents

for a median total of

approximately 365 days

(NCDHHS).

Star News reported in

January of 2012 that the

total number of child

abuse or neglect reports

for New Hanover

County has increased

by 50% when compared

to the previous year

(Star News).

Although Child

Protective Services is

offered in all 100

counties of North

Carolina, there is not

always enough staffing

provided to be able to

give each case the

attention that it needs

and deserves.

③ Overburdened Social Service System

When children cannot return to their parents because of

on-going safety issues and there are no other appropriate

extended family members to care for the child, the child is

placed in the first available foster care residence.

New Hanover County is only able to accommodate about

38% of children in out of home placements, but the

remaining 39% are moved outside of New Hanover County.

Placing children in unfamiliar environments after they have

already experienced abuse or neglect may damage their

overall development, create distrust in the social service

system, and impair their ability to form vital attachments.

③ Overburdened Social Service System

③ Overburdened Social Service System

NHCA provides a direct need for these children to be

provided with an advocate – an individual that can provide

the necessary support to supplement DSS and help ensure the

safety of the child.

By allowing another program

to come into the

Child Protection

Services, the

needs of the child will be held as the

highest priority.

Key Benefits Provide consistency through adult presence

Speak up for the best interest of abused/neglected

children in the courtroom setting

Reduce the amount of time spent in long-term foster care

& the likelihood of reentering care

Goals/Objectives

1. Have at least 75% percent of

cases placed into permanent homes.

2. Have less than 15% of cases

filed, return into foster care.

3. Increase the number of cases

that NHCA is involved with by

20%.

4. By the end of year 1, be able

to hire a full-time case-

manager.

5. Host a charity auction and

dinner with a goal of raising $20,000.00.

6. Plan and execute at least 2

other fundraising events within

the first year.

7. Increase number of volunteers

by 25% by the end of year 1.

Benchmark s

To ensure NHCA on track to reach our first year

goals, measures will be taken throughout the

year to monitor the progression of the

organization.

Weekly meetings between the Director of

Volunteers, attorney on staff, and the volunteers

to ensure all members of the organization are on

the same page & to confirm the proper resources

are being provided to children in need.

Volunteers will complete monthly case reports to

turn into the on-staff attorney. This will help to

supervise the children’s whereabouts, view their

progression thus far, and reveal the next steps to

take.

Benchmark s

Evaluation

NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one

year.

NHCA will first examine our overall effectiveness within the New Hanover

community by comparing legal and social statistical data from the

previous year.

Purpose comparative analysis:

Determine level of effectiveness & formulate new methodologies in

areas needing improvement

Approximate the number of cases that NHCA can reasonably

expect to be involved in an grow internally as a result.

Determine if we need to increate the number of volunteers,

establish volunteer strengths and weaknesses in order to develop

skills, and potentially reevaluate methods of training volunteers in

regard to the previously established characteristics needing the

most improvement.

Evaluation

NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one

year.

NHCA will also conduct a comprehensive review of all

budgetary aspects.

Purpose of comprehensive budget evaluation:

To establish where funding can be more efficiently allocated

Determine areas of the organization that can withstand

cutbacks

Establish additional benchmarks to implement in future

operations and evaluations

Evaluation

Conducting a yearly evaluation will emphasize the importance of

reaching goals set for the previous year.

Annual review will also promote our organization’s intention to set even higher, yet attainable, goals for the year to come.

Combined, New Hanover Child Advocates’ implementation of

benchmarks & evaluations will result in continuous positive growth

within New Hanover County.

NHCA will work to evaluate its progress after one

year.

*Position is paid by Board of Directors

and not included in the total NHCA will

allocate $37,685.00 in funds for furniture,

electronics, equipment, supplies and

utilities. These necessities have been

itemized by quantity and price.

Position Funds

Executive Director $64,500.00 *

Attorney on Staff $62,500.00 *

Director of Volunteers $52,000.00

Fund-Raiser/Grantor $40,000.00

Administrative Support $38,000.00

Lease ($1,250.00/month) $15,000.00

Insurance Benefits ($16,000.00/employee)

$80,000.00

Total Cost $225,000.00

Budget

&

Key

Personnel

We are budgeting $15,000 to lease a Class C property in Downtown Wilmington. The lease will include insurance

through the property owners insurance on the contents of our

office.

We are asking for $250,000 and have received an installment loan from Bank of America to provide 10% matching.

We will provide insurance benefits to all five employees

accounting for $80,000 of the budget.

The Board of Directors will coordinate a charity auction/dinner

to raise $20,000 to purchase a passenger van to transport ad

litems and consumers.

Budget

Budget

&

Necessities

Price Qty Total

Chairs $100.00 23 $2,300.00

Conference Table $500.00 1 $500.00

Desks $250.00 5 $1,250.00

Panel Workstation $6,000.00 6 $6,000.00

Shelves $100.00 4 $400.00

Filing Cabinets $160.00 3 $480.00

Copier $400.00 1 $400.00

Shredder $150.00 1 $150.00

Accent Chairs $250.00 4 $1,000.00

Safe $250.00 1 $250.00

Desktop PC $1,200.00 5 $6,000.00

Laptop PC $800.00 2 $1,600.00

Projector $600.00 1 $600.00

Projection Screen $300.00 1 $300.00

Computer Software $3,500.00 7 $3,500.00

Continued…

itemized by quantity & price

(continued…) Price Qty Total

First Aid $150.00 1 $150.00

Dry Erase Board $100.00 2 $200.00

Bulletin Board $75.00 2 $150.00

Time Clock $250.00 1 $250.00

Trash Can $15.00 7 $105.00

Lamp/Lighting $400.00 N/A $400.00

Misc. Décor $800.00 N/A $800.00

Misc. Supplies $2,000.00 N/A $2,000.00

Utilities $200.00 12 $2,400.00

Office Supplies $6,500.00 N/A $6,500.00

Bank of America

Loan $474.65 12 $5,696.80

Tota

l $43,381.80

Budget

&

Necessities (cont…)

itemized by quantity & price

Questions?