THE UPPER ROOM A FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER
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Mission Statement
Now in its 30th year, The Upper Room, A Family Resource Center, is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit organization providing prevention and early intervention services to children, youth and families in southern New Hampshire. Working to strengthen individuals, families and the community, all services support the healthy development of families, improve family interaction skills, lead families towards economic independence and help resolve problems at a pre-crisis stage before they become unmanageable. We are an integral part of the community, do not duplicate programs or services locally and help to fill the gaps in limited services available in the towns to help families navigate through challenges. Thousands of people walk through our doors each year looking for information and services to make changes in their lives. We know that prevention and early intervention support leads to a greater number of healthy families and a healthier community.
About This Cause
The Upper Room’s ultimate goal is to strengthen families, encouraging them to lead healthy lives and raise healthy children. Our programs target parents and their children, youth exhibiting unhealthy behaviors, out-of-school youth and individuals in need of information and resources. Agency wide objectives include reducing the incidence of abuse and neglect and interpersonal conflict among families, reducing drug and alcohol use and juvenile delinquency among youth and reducing economic dependence on the community. The predicted long-term outcome for The Upper Room’s prevention and early intervention programs is to increase the number of healthy children, youth and families in southern New Hampshire. The Upper Room has no financial or geographic limitations and served 16,630 individuals last year and has met or exceeded anticipated outcomes for families in multiple impact areas every year. It employs 25 (4 full time, 5 part time and 16 adjunct) highly qualified professional staff that includes a Certified Prevention Specialist and 2 Licensed Mental Health Counselors. The Upper Room addresses the most detrimental and costly social issues facing our communities today and has a solid understanding of the challenges people are facing. From academic failure and domestic violence, to poverty and drugs, they face a daunting array of problems with serious consequences and fewer safety nets at home and in society than ever before. During difficult economic times especially, families are under greater stress and need timely, effective help to address the problems and stressors they are experiencing. The Upper Room assists families in procuring not only their fundamental needs, but also receiving the intervention and prevention services that reduce the public costs associated with homelessness, family conflict, substance abuse, early delinquent behavior, academic failure and lack of resources, etc. The Upper Room helps to increase a family’s ability to provide for itself. All programs have years of successful outcomes and have impacted ten of thousands of children, youth, and families over the last 29 years. Problem: Many individuals, full of potential, are faced with barriers and challenges that prevent them from realizing success and independence. Effect: Barriers become long term roadblocks to independence resulting in lasting negative consequences for children, youth and families (i.e. youth dropping out of school, teen parenthood, youth and/or parent drug/alcohol use, abuse and neglect and other adverse child and family experiences). All Upper Room programs promote and support these protective factors that are founded in well-established research that culminates in an extensive history of documented success: • enhancing parent resilience; • providing an array of social connections; • facilitating parent knowledge and skills regarding parenting and child development; • providing concrete support in times of need; • providing resources and referrals in times of stress. Our Programs: Adolescent Wellness Program (AWP): Promoting adolescent wellness through educational programs, parent support and access to services. Greater Derry Juvenile Diversion (GDJD): Alternative to court for juvenile offenders. Parenting Education (PE): Classes & workshops to help parents be the best parent possible. Community Service Learning Opportunities (CSLO): Supervised community service for youth. Parenting Support (PS): Various education/ support groups for parents. Greater Derry Family Outreach (GDFO): Short term in home parenting education and counseling. Preventative Counseling Services (PCS): short term behavioral counseling. Families Reaching Our Goals (FROG): Support and playgroup for parents and children 0-6. Teen Information for Parenting Success (TIPS): Support program for young parents. High School Equivalency Course (HiSet): Preparing youth 16-21 for the High School Equivalency test. Additional services include a substantial volunteer and internship program, a volunteer operated food pantry and resource and referral. Our Outcomes: TIPS, FROG, GDFO and PE share the goal of reducing the incidence of abuse and neglect and interpersonal conflict among families. Impact: NO TIPS families have an open child abuse and neglect case with the state. 100% of TIPS parents report an increased knowledge of effective and positive parenting skills and 100% report at least a 75% improvement in using new discipline skills & strategies.12.5% of GDFO families had an open child abuse and neglect case with the state when they started the program. 100% of open cases were closed upon completion of program. No new reports of abuse or neglect were filed for families enrolled in the program. 98% of parents who took parenting classes improved their parenting skills and knowledge. : 100% report reduced stress. 95% of FROG families have an increased understanding of community connections and resources. GDJD, CSLO and AWP share the goal of reducing drug and alcohol use and juvenile delinquency among youth. Impact: GDJD’s lifetime recidivism (repeat offense) rate is 12.3% (the national average is 60-90% for youth who go to court). 94% of participants report an increase in positive decision making skills and 91% of referred youth successfully completed their contracts. CSLO: 75% of participants report increased knowledge of community supports and services. 75% of participants report they have acquired a new skill, 99% report having made a positive impact on the community and 100% report an increase in self-confidence. AWP: 89% of youth participants report increased knowledge about the effects of drug & alcohol on the one’s body, feelings and ability to relate to others. 100% of youth participants can identify what triggers their anger, 94% have learned better ways to handle anger. 89% of URParents respondents report increase in effective communication skills and 86% report increased confidence in their ability to parent their child. HiSet’s goal is to reduce economic dependence on the community through education. Impact 100% of students report increased access to supports that alleviate barriers to high school completion with 70% passing the HiSet exam. 75% of students report increased knowledge and skills to overcome problems and challenges Organization Information: As a past recipient of the Smith Award for Excellence in Service to Families, a Citizen's Bank/WMUR-TV Champion in Action, a Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award recipient, a finalist for the Corporate Fund Nonprofit Management Award and a member of Family Support New Hampshire, The Upper Room is recognized statewide as a leader in quality programming that responds to community needs. Staff members sit on numerous committees and are actively engaged in statewide networks that support children, youth, and families. Personnel Policies are comprehensive and inclusive of benefits, ADA compliance, job performance and conduct, open door policy, confidentiality, reporting abuse or neglect, harassment, smoking, drug free workplace, conflicts of interest, and agency meetings schedule. It has an active, diverse, dedicated Board of Directors whose expertise has led us through challenging economic times. All Upper Room programs and services follow the Principles of Family Support and provide culturally competent practices. Staff is respectful of age, abilities, sexual orientation, self-identification, family status and diverse cultures and backgrounds (racial, ethnic, geographic, religious, economic, or other) and the impact of culture on the behaviors, attitudes and values that a family adheres to. The agency manages more than 20 grants and contracts per year. Each is tracked by a unique cost center number, which is used for all expenses (personnel and non-personnel) associated with that grant or contract. The agency operates with a Financial Administrator and a well- designed written set of fiscal policies and procedures to ensure responsible use of funds. Budgets are developed in consultation between fiscal, program staff, and the Board Finance Committee and are monitored by fiscal and supervisory staff on a monthly basis to ensure compliance with program contracts. All fiscal tracking systems are computerized and securely maintained. Due to TUR’s nearly 30 years of experience, the agency is highly familiar and compliant with all audit requirements and approved accounting procedures. Payroll expenses are allocated based on staff time spent on each project. The Board of Directors meets nine times a year and a financial report is delivered at each Board meeting. The Upper Room incorporates data collection, reporting and program evaluation into all programs and services and is fully compliant with the reporting requirements of every funder. The program coordinator is responsible for reporting and evaluation. Demographic information is collected on the agency-wide registration form. A program specific intake form is used to identify immediate needs as well as problems the family is facing. Program component data is captured on attendance sheets, case management records, face to face meetings and recall surveys. Results are examined at monthly supervision meetings and as needed with full results tabulated at the annual evaluation day. Data is documented through the intake process, exit interviews, 1-1 meetings, observation and through case management files. By providing effective solutions to a variety of challenges encountered by children, youth and families and a supportive environment in which to address them, The Upper Room is a catalyst for positive change in individual lives and in the community.