The MASSB Minute

We are so grateful to Tara Newcomer, Anne Arundel County's Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Supervisor, for allowing us to interview her about the crucial function CACs play in serving abused and neglected children. Please take a moment to read the interview so you can better understand the important work of your county's CAC.

We also hope you will enjoy reading about the fundraisers that have been successful for some of our local boards. You'll see that relationships with small businesses and other nonprofits were key to their success. Each of your counties has numerous non-profit organizations all vying for the same donations, so developing relationships with small businesses and major donors who support your cause can reap significant rewards.

With many boards taking a break in July, we've cancelled this month's community meeting. Enjoy your summer and we'll look forward to meeting in August where we will focus on the second quarter financial position.

All the best,
Chris

With the beginning of the DHS fiscal year on July 1st, we are delighted to welcome newly appointed board members to our team. We look forward to their energy, ideas and experience as we work together to help vulnerable Marylanders. Your handbook will be helpful in getting these new members up to speed. If additional training is needed, please reach out to the MASSBF team.

Tara Newcomer, LCSW-C, Child Advocacy Center Supervisor, Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services

Please tell us a little about yourself. Why did you choose a career in social services?

I started my family right after high school, so my career came later. I earned degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice, but I was always drawn to social work. I decided to apply for the Title IV-E program because students do field work in child welfare and also receive a stipend. I completed the program in 2016 and began working full-time at the DSS in Queen Anne's County. I was promoted to Child Advocacy Center (CAC) supervisor at Anne Arundel County DSS in April. I wouldn't be here without the Title IV-E program!

What is a Child Advocacy Center (CAC)? How do they benefit children?

A CAC is a special place. Abused and neglected children are served by a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of child welfare, law enforcement, legal, mental health, and medical professionals; and victim and family advocates. More….

Read the Full Interview

There are several ways to generate revenue for your board: grants, donations and fundraisers. This month's focus is on fundraising. As mentioned in the Chair's message, above, having good relationships with small businesses in your area can boost your fundraising ability significantly. Here are a few examples of great fundraisers and a little bit about the partnerships that enabled their success.

Allegany County has an annual Crab Feast. They partner with a local restaurant, who provides the venue for free. The local board purchases food from the venue at cost and covers the cost of the cook who prepares the food. They have a connection with an assisted living facility, whose kitchen prepares several types of salads and donates them. Board members and agency employees contribute their time to assist with tent rentals, set up and clean up. The board secures a local DJ or band who is also willing to donate their time. They are compensated with food and beverages. This type of fundraiser requires a bit of work and coordination but can pay off in terms of thousands of dollars.

Anne Arundel County conducts a Champions for Children & Families Walk, Run & Roll event. They use the services of Blue Cheetah Sports Timing, LLC to develop and oversee the event and provide vendors who sell T-shirts and other swag. The event is multi-tiered, and the cost varies with the level in which the entrant would like to participate. Donations are also accepted.

Calvert County has partnered with a fitness studio for a number of fundraisers, including a virtual walk for which participants pledged to walk or run 100 miles each, for a total of 10,000 miles. Participants paid less than $20 to participate, and the local board earned $2,000 from the proceeds and donations.

The key to success in these events is to advertise widely and remember to thank your partners – publicly, if possible. This is one of the reasons we recommend using social media. You can not only generate interest and participation from the community, but you can publicly reward and recognize your key partners as well.

August (TBD), 12pm — Community Meeting & 2nd Qtr Financial Review
What topics would you like to see on the agenda? Let us know! trustee@massbfoundation.org