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Development & Communications Coordinator

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Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley, a regional nonprofit with a 20-year history of serving children and families, seeks a dynamic team player to fulfill the role of Development and Communications Coordinator. 

This full-time professional position reports directly to the Executive Director, working closely to meet development goals and manage donor relations. Position responsible for fundraising, including major donor cultivation, special events, planned giving, and database management.  Communication responsibilities include preparation and editing of external/internal communications, management of website content, social media,  quarterly newsletter and annual report. Bachelor’s degree in related field  and 3-5 years of progressive fund development achievement required. 

This position includes travel in the three-county area. Occasional evening and weekend commitments. Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley is an equal opportunity employer. Competitive compensation package includes flexible schedule; 403(b) contribution; HRA; Flex Plan; Short-term Disability. 

Send cover letter and resume via email to executivedirector@frcscv.org . Include Development and Communications Position in the subject line. Applications accepted until position is filled. Preliminary application deadline is June 4.

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New directions for Home Visiting

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Prenatal enrollment will be an increased priority

Family Resource Center staff recently met with Western Wisconsin Health to discuss strategies for increasing patient referral to home visiting prenatally.

New this year, Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley has become a grantee of the Wisconsin Family Foundations Home Visiting Program. Through this program, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Family Foundations Home Visiting Program will reimburse Family Resource Center for a portion of its costs.

“Family Resource Center staff and board have spent years preparing for this opportunity,” said Executive Director Agnes Ring. “It was a very competitive process to be selected as one of 30 programs in Wisconsin.  We continually meet rigorous accreditation standards as an affiliate of the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model, and participate in statewide continuous improvement initiatives for home visiting. This support will allow us to expand, reaching more families in our service area.”

Family Foundations is a grantee of the federal Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. Aligning with state and federal objectives will result in some changes in the Family Resource Center’s Home Visiting program over time. The most significant change is a goal of enrolling 75 percent of participants in the program prenatally.

Research and best practice recommend making   home visiting services to pregnant women early in their pregnancies to maximize positive outcomes, such as:

  • Improved maternal and child health;
  • Reduction of child injuries, child abuse and neglect and child maltreatment, and emergency department visits for children and mothers;
  • Improvement in school readiness and achievement;
  • Reduction in domestic violence;
  • Improvement in family economic self-sufficiency; and
  • Improvements in the coordination and referral for other community resources and supports.

To accomplish the goal of reaching more families prenatally, the organization is looking to established partnerships for support – specifically, partner hospitals and clinics, physician groups, and county health and human service agencies.  “There has been a very warm reception to the concept among the Family Resource Center’s partners,” said Ring.

Western Wisconsin Health in Baldwin is among partners eager to work closely with the Family Resource Center in a pilot project. Director of Women’s Health Services Stephanie Johnson serves as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors, and is enthusiastic about the new direction for services. “We are excited to partner with Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley in building a process that creates seamless prenatal identification and referral of those families who will benefit from the programs and resources the Family Resource Center offers,” she said. “The key to establishing this early relationship is families and parent educators navigating through the pregnancy course together, ensuring all available needed resources are utilized.  The trust and bond of this early relationship will encourage more families to take part in the amazing parent education programs offered post birth encouraging family health and well-being.  In turn this will benefit our community by having empowered families parenting our future.”

To learn more about the Family Resource Center’s programs for families and eligibility for the Home Visiting program, please call 715-684-4440.

Patty Draxler Retires

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The Board of Directors and Staff want to congratulate Patty Draxler on her retirement from Family Resource Center St Croix Valley after 15 very successful years as Executive Director.  “It is with great excitement, and of course a little trepidation, that I announce my retirement as Executive Director effective May 19, 2017,” Patty said. “I want to thank the Board, our loyal donors, and my wonderful Staff for the part you have played in the success of Family Resource Center St Croix Valley.  Making a difference for families is near and dear to my heart and I am humbled to have had this opportunity.”

“Patty has led FRCSCV with such vision and class for the past 15 years.  We would not be the organization we are today – and would not have been able to positively impact the lives we have – without Patty’s visionary leadership through the years,” said Board Chair Aaron Mork.  On behalf of the entire Family Resource Center St Croix Valley organization we say – Thank You!!

 

Staff Spotlight: Marla Butler

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P.1_Staff Spotlight MarlaParent educator Marla Butler has seen a lot of changes in over 11 years working with Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley. While some might find change to be challenging, Butler has embraced it. “I enjoy the variety of my day-to-day,” she said. “I like meeting new people. It’s rewarding to see a parent share the joys of what their child is doing, and also to hear their questions.”

Over her tenure at the Family Resource Center, one of the biggest changes she has been a part of was a shift in the Home Visiting program in 2012, when parent educators began visiting families every two weeks instead of monthly. This has been really positive, said Butler, because “we get to know families better and provide more comprehensive services, as well as more developmental screenings.” Other notable changes over the years have been growth in the organization’s hospital partnerships and fine-tuning the format of Play & Learn groups.

Another exciting change is more recent; in the fall of 2016, Butler took on new responsibilities for data management and compliance requirements to maintain the Family Resource Center’s Parents As Teachers affiliate status. She is also helping to manage a two-year grant that supports training on abusive head trauma, working closely with office manager Keri Fitts to track statistics. “It’s exciting to me to work with the numbers,” she said. “I feel a definite sense of accomplishment around areas where we are doing well, and it’s good to see the growth areas too.”

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Family Resource Center recognized as ‘Family Friendly Workplace’

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Family Resource Center St. Croix Valley is honored to announce that they have earned Gold Level certification as a Family Friendly Workplace™ from the United Way St. Croix Valley’s Success by 6 initiative. This certification recognizes businesses that actively invest in programs and practices that support employees and their families.

“As an organization that provides education, resources and support to families, it’s only natural that we would pursue Family Friendly Workplace™ certification, and we’re thrilled to be recognized at the Gold Level,” said Executive Director Patty Draxler. “We’re committed to our employees through numerous policies and procedures such as generous vacation, holiday and sick leave, flexible scheduling to attend to family needs, and a flex benefit plan.”

Family Friendly Workplace™ is a program developed specifically for employers in Pierce, Polk and St. Croix Counties. Businesses can achieve certification by earning points for family friendly practices. There are three certification levels, bronze, silver and gold. Certification fees paid by the business support educational programs and service delivery for early childhood development.

Visit www.FamilyFriendlyWorkplace.org to learn more about this business certification.