Annual Report 2008-2009
The Interagency Council of Norristown (ICN) had another active and productive year. We remained dedicated to improving human services in central Montgomery County through the enhancement of communication, networking, advocacy and collaboration among human service organizations, schools and government agencies, and citizens. ICN’s important work was carried out through the volunteer efforts of its Board of Directors and through its part- time paid coordinator. The Finance and Fund Development Committee, the Community Education Committee, the Program and Professional Development Committee and the Community Advisory Board (CAB) Committee also worked to strengthen ICN.
As it has for 25 years, ICN’s Board of Directors continued to focus most of its energy on the organization’s primary purpose, its monthly membership meetings. The Program and Professional Development Committee planned and, with the assistance of the coordinator, executed monthly membership meetings (from September through May) that covered a broad range of informational and interactive topics which helped human service professionals assist more effectively their consumers. Discussions increased members’ understanding of area resources and the needs presented by the diverse population in central Montgomery County, provided valuable information about how their agency’s services may interact or complement other agencies and offered agencies strategies to build capacity within their own organizations in the face of difficult financial times. Monthly topics this year included: Expungement of a Criminal Record, Caring for the Caregiver, Recovery-Based Mental Health Supports, and Youth Violence Trends.
To present a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues than the member meetings provide ICN offered one low-cost, full day workshop to our member agencies. Many of ICN’s members are non-profit agencies with small training budgets. The low cost of the workshop allowed many agencies the ability to send a representative. A successful partnership with Family Services and the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit affords ICN the ability to provide CEU and ACT 48 Credits. This year ICN sponsored a workshop on The Realities of Poverty. 75 participants attended this workshop which focused on how a middle class view of poverty impacts the quality of service delivery.
In an effort to expand ICN’s efforts around Communication and Information Sharing, ICN and the Norristown Area School District continued to collaborate on a community education initiative available to ICN members. School districts and human service agencies are always seeking effective and cost efficient mechanisms to educate the community and residents about their organizations and the programs and services they provide. Agencies also seek to raise awareness about personal, family and workplace concerns and pressing community issues. Utilizing the Norristown Area School District Community Access Channel, opportunities for Public Service Announcements, Informational and Promotional Spots about agencies and a monthly panel TV show, “ICN Presents: Making Connections,” is about relevant health and human services topics made available to the community. This is an effective way to reach the community and educate students and their families about services available to them, issues and concerns in the community, and ways they can be involved in making solutions. During 2008-09, some of the topics presented included Family Strengthening by Building Adult Protective Factors, Securing Employment with a Criminal Justice History, Recovery-Based Mental Health Supports, School Readiness and Academic Supports, and The Role of a Caregiver.
During the 2008-09 year, ICN and NASD, (Norristown Area School District), formalized a joint partnership to work together to create professional development workshops for both education and health and human services staff that will describe and introduce staff to the central Montgomery county area, broadly explain the education and social service systems, deliver family development related topics, and build connections and relationships among the key professionals who work with children and families.
Human Service professionals are dedicated to meeting the needs of their clients. ICN is interested in providing the bridges between those who have resources and those who need them. Connections, our regional resource guidebook assists in this endeavor and is an invaluable asset to area professionals. In 2008, ICN’s, Connections guidebook and pamphlet was updated. Although Montgomery County unveiled INFOLink, a web-based directory of services, ICN’s member feedback consistently supports the value of a print resource directory.
This past year ICN remained dedicated to integrating human services and promoting collaboration among organizations in the central Montgomery County region to reduce duplication of efforts and meet the needs of the community. We did this through active participation on the Norristown Weed and Seed Advisory Board, Norristown Area School District, (NASD), Core Management Team for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students, Norristown Youth Development Coalition, and Norristown Area Communities that Care.
This year, ICN continued to play an instrumental role within the Montgomery County Collaborative Board. The Community Advisory Board (CAB), serving the Central region of the County, is a Board of committed key leaders in this region that are working together to improve public systems and enhance communication and collaboration among health and human services and local stakeholders. In the fall of 2007 ICN assumed formal leadership of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and was re-structured as an active board committee. CAB’s focus in 2008-09 has been to educate children and families who reside in the greater Norristown Area School District about available health and human service resources. In September 2008, CAB coordinated information and resource tables at all of the NASD open houses. This served as a positive mechanism to connect families with available community resources. In April 2009, the CAB committee sponsored a Family Summit on Basic Needs designed to link families with employment, housing, healthcare, and energy assistance services. Free healthcare screenings were provided and individualized assistance was provided to assist families to increase their capacity to adequately provide for their families.
ICN appreciates the support of its members, presenters, funders, and community. We value the support of the Pat Kind Family Foundation, the Douty Foundation, the Connelly Foundation and the Claneil Foundation who supported our efforts this past year. The Norristown Area School District’s in-kind support of office space and telephone service is greatly appreciated. We are also grateful for the support of these facilities: the Montgomery County Department of Workforce and Economic Development office for hosting the ICN board meetings and the Montgomery County Human Service Center for hosting our monthly membership meetings.
Making Connections TV Show
2008-2009
September 2008
Topic: Community-Based Health and Human Services
Panelists: Dave Wilkinson, Central Montgomery MH/MR Center
Janet DiCenzo, M.C. Economic/Workforce Development
October 2008
Topic: Expungement of a Criminal Record
Panelists: John Walder, Legal Aid of SEPA
Bill Geary, Cabrini College
Dawn Ramsey, REDI
December 2008
Topic: Services to Seniors
Panelists: Diane Selwood, Goodwill Employment Services
Deb Keller, Family Services
Linda Collins, Senior Adult Activities Center
January 2009
Topic: Recovery-Based Mental Health Services
Panelists: John Galie, Circle Lodge
Phyllis Wisner, Circle Lodge
Jan Blumenthal, Circle Lodge
February 2009
Topic: Family Strengthening by Building Adult Protective Factors
Panelists: Alissa Mc Bride, Family Services
Oglatha Ingram, Family Services
March 2009
Topic: Trends in Youth Violence
Presenters: Charles Gray, Chester Education Foundation
Angela Bell, Norristown Communities that Care
Kelly Brown, Family Services
April 2009
Topic: Caring for the Caregiver
Presenters: Linda Bean, ICN Coordinator
Kay Nairns, Central Montgomery MH/MR
Linda DeFrancisco, ICN Board and Community Advocate
ICN Fiscal Report
Fiscal Year July 2008 – June 2009
*6/30/09 Unaudited figures based on some estimates
Beginning of the Fiscal Year Bank Account Balance (7/1/08) $53,500.00
Annual Revenue: $30,290.00*
Major Categories:
Foundation Grants: 11,000.00*
Project Administration Fees: 10,000.00*
Membership Dues and Fees: 6,000.00
Workshop and Meeting Fees: 3,000.00*
Annual Expenses: $26,377.38*
Major Categories:
Administrative: 3,750.00*
Member Meetings: 1,500.00*
Workshops: 1,050.00
Personnel: 20,000.00*
Bank Account Balance as of 5/19/09 $53,000*
This report is generated from actual and anticipated income and expenses. Those figures that include estimated amounts are followed by an asterisk (*). All figures are rounded to the nearest one. Report completed 5/19/09.
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