Organisational Response to a Community Development Process

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Organisational Response to a Community
Development Process
Community Development December 5, 2003 By
Krystalyn Jones
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Purpose of Assignment
3. Identify Create
4. Establish Evolve
5. Mission Statement, Goals, Principals
6. Planning Process
7. Board of Directors
8. Staff Volunteers
9. Financial
10. Challenges
11. Conclusion
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1. Introduction
Youth Aflame Ministries is a Christian social
service organization registered with the Canada
Customs and Revenue Agency as a charitable
organization. Established in 1991 in Lindsay, ON,
it has since moved to the Northern part of the
City of Kawartha Lakes. Programs offered include
Community Food Advisor program Food Reach (food
security, school breakfast programs, etc) mobile
clothing program S.E.R.V.E a high school
initiative after school programs Child Safe
puppets Mental Health / suicide presentations
and support healthy communities crime
prevention and community mobilization.
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2. Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is first a class
project for Community Development and secondly,
an opportunity for the learner to have hands on
experience with a local agency, and its
staff/volunteers, that was created in response to
a community development process.
Purpose

Assignment

Community Development Process
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3. Identify Create
How was the need for the organization identified
and what were the community development
strategies and steps that led to its creation?

• Youth Aflame Ministries was developed because a
  group of people, including two that were more of
  the advocates, identified a need for a stable
  living environment for at-risk street teens in
  Lindsay, ON. They wanted to create a loving
  atmosphere where people would feel comfortable,
  while at the same time having rules, boundaries
  and life skills training. This was identified
  through the use of surveys, publications, and
  advertisements in local papers. Key stakeholders
  as well as current community info, such as the
  statistics for local crime and homeless rates in
  youth, also provided input.
• The organization utilized an Asset-based
  community development approach by matching
  community assets with community resources.
• Steps that led to the creation of the
  organisation were
• The need was identified in the community and no
  services to meet this need were found.
• A plan and commitment from volunteers to meet the
  need was developed.
• A suitable resource base - a home suitable for
  12-15 people was found.
• Support of local people and organisations was
  developed.
• Linkages to other community resources and
  co-ordination of various events developed.
• Formal partnerships with CAS, Social Assistance,
  and other youth organisations made.
• Resource volunteers, such as live-in staff for
  the home obtained and trained.
• Financial support for insurance and other costs
  developed.
• Program review and adaptation to meet the needs
  and address issues.

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4. Establish Evolve
When was it established and how has its role
change or evolved over time?
Youth Aflame was established in 1991, and
received official charitable status shortly
after. Since then the organization has evolved to
meet the changing needs and to respond to
community input and organizational review. They
have gone from being a group home to more of a
community development and support organisation.
They have adapted to the times, shared resources,
and have tried to fill whatever needs the
community identifies. Often they have been an
umbrella organization that helps to initiate
projects and then gets the community involved so
that they take over ownership of the program in
order to ensure sustainability. A big change has
been relocated from Lindsay to the Northern part
of the City of Kawartha Lakes. The focus is now
based more on the rural communities such as
Norland, Coboconk, and Kinmount although
sometimes they branch off into Kirkfield, Fenelon
Falls, and back into Lindsay. The rural programs
have brought forth new challenges such as the
need to take the programs out into the community
rather than having people come in for services.
Thus, many of the programs have become mobile.
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5. Mission Statement, Goals, Principals
What is the organization's Mission Statement and
Long Range Goals?
Youth Aflames Mission Statement is An
organization with Christian based principles
dedicated to supporting the children, youth, and
families in our local communities. Long range
goals include 1. The further development and
support for programs that enhance the health of
our local communities. 2. The development of a
community resource centre that will be the base
of the operations of the organization. 3. The
development of a private foster care agency. 4.
The development of a stable funding base in order
to support the existing programs as well as the
development of new programs, either alone or in
partnership with others.
Do they have a set of Operating Principals or
Philosophy of Service Delivery?
- Serving with simplicity and sacrifice - An
authority of influence without control -
Reconciliation in restoring broken lives,
relationships, families, and communities -
Integrity, respect, and love for human kind --
The Mission of the Gospel - Non-stigmatizing
programs promoting a healthy community
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6. Planning Process
What type of long range planning process do they
employ to identify future challenges and
directions?

• Individual programs are reviewed and adjusted at
  regular intervals (depending on the scope and
  length of each program)
• Members are encouraged to volunteer with various
  other groups in order to identify community needs
  and opportunities for networking and partnerships
• Feedback from community members, partners,
  funding sources, etc. help to identify challenges
  and potential direction of services
• Members are connected to various initiatives
  ranging from the local communities to regional,
  provincial, federal and universal in scope that
  provide input to the planning process
• The Board of Directors as well as the program
  managers meet on a regular basis to develop long
  range goals sometimes utilizing the skills of
  outside resources

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7. Board of Directors
What is the nature, size, and composition of
their Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors for Youth Aflame
Ministries Inc. consists of community members who
adhere to the philosophy of the organization and
are willing to commit to the support of the
organization. It can consist of 3 to 12 members.
The average size is relatively small, usually 5
individuals not related to each other or
program members.
What is their background and term of office? What
are the Boards responsibilities?
The recent members of the the Board of Directors
included a Correctional Officer, a Counselor, a
Farming Assistant, a Truck Driver, and a Business
Owner.
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8. Staff Volunteers
Who are the paid staff in the organization and
what are their roles?
Youth Aflame is a volunteer based organization.
Paid staffing is usually done on a contract basis
based on funding available for each individual
program. Summer students were hired through a
summer job program sponsored by HRDC. Currently
there are two interns from a college program
working on administration and children programs
who receive room board as well as an
honorarium. Special speakers may be brought in on
a donation basis.
What is the organization's chain of command,
control, and communications?
The Board of Directors are ultimately responsible
for the organization although they work closely
with the program managers. The program managers
oversee the staff and volunteers and take any
concerns or decisions to the Board. The
organization has a financial manager responsible
for fiscal management. Staff and volunteers are
directed to communicate with the program managers
first. If there is an issue of high concern, it
would be either brought up at the next board
meeting or immediately dealt with.
Do they have an organization flow chart, if so
what does it look like?
B of D oversees the Program Managers and
Financial Manager who oversee volunteers.
What role do operational volunteers play within
the organization and how many of them are there?
The organization relies on volunteers for program
operation, for evaluation purposes, for
organizational planning development, for
information dissemination, for community
partnerships, etc. Volunteers form the basis of
support for the organization from the Board to
program development and review.
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9. Financial
What are the major cost areas in their budget?
Transportation, insurance and program expenses
are a few of the largest expenses.
What are the range of revenue sources they rely
on to offset their budget costs?
This really varies between each program, but in
general the revenue comes from Private
Foundations, Fund-raising, Various levels of
Government, and Individual /Corporate Donations .
Do they do any capital conservation budgeting and
have they developed any reserve funds to deal
with this issue?
At this time there are no reserve funds for
capital conservation although the organization
does have some assets that may be liquidated in
the future for capital expenses.
Do they have an annual report that makes a public
accounting of the past years program and
financial efforts available to members and the
public at large?
A yearly report is submitted to the Canada
Customs and Revenue Agency Charities Division.
It is available on the CCRA web site or by
request.
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10. Challenges
What are the major challenges the organization
faces over the next 3-5 year period?

• Secure funding
• Committed volunteers
• Ongoing vision and determination by the Board to
  meet the organizations goals
• Changes in regulations and liability insurance
  costs

What are they attempting to do to address these?

• Partnerships with other organizations and funding
  sources
• Alternate means of program funding including the
  development of business plans
• Training of volunteers and Board members
• Volunteer recognition and support

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11. Conclusion
Youth Aflame Ministries is an organization that
is grass-roots in nature it began at the
community level because of an identified need. It
has continued to grow and change to meet new
community needs while maintaining its initial
values. It continues to be volunteer driven and
supported. Funding is found through various, and
sometimes unique, means. It has supported other
groups and does not maintain ownership of
community programs but rather directs them to
where they belong in the hands of the community
and its volunteers. The organization has at its
base the Christian values it began with. They
have been able to transfer these into interesting
and supportive programs that are available to the
whole community. At the same time, they have been
able to reach out and support those who share
these values. The organization is able to be
flexible and adaptable because it is volunteer
based. It is an independent organization that can
meet the needs of the community quickly because
the members all hold these same values and are
willing to work alongside all of the other
members of the organization. The future should be
quite interesting for this organization.