People gather for a recent visioning session designed to help Foundation for Youth improve its services for young people in the community.
Photo provided
About 100 people offered ideas, suggestions and views as Foundation for Youth of Bartholomew County invited community members to take part in what the organization described as “moonshot innovation thinking” to guide its next strategic plan.
Families, neighbors, community partners, staff and alums gathered for visioning sessions Thursday and Saturday at FFY, 405 Hope Ave. FFY said participants offered creative solutions to challenges faced by youth and families, including mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion and communication.
Executive Director Chuck Kime said Tuesday that the participation of community members will help the organization as it has an annual meeting on April 23 and a retreat later next month to work on the strategic plan.
“We’ll really dig in and complete the plan or at least advance it so we have some solid action items,” Kime said.
Recalling prevailing themes from the visioning sessions, he said several people “talked about the fact that kids, families, have challenges getting kids to the facility and getting kids home.” That has prompted consideration of offering services at satellite facilities or developing new transportation options.
There also is an emphasis on dealing with young people who are experiencing emotional childhood trauma, so FFY is looking into the potential of having access to counselors and trauma-informed training for staff members, Kime said.
Participants in the visioning sessions last week were able to take a tour of the facility, learn about youth development in Bartholomew County and the pressing needs at Columbus Youth Camp, FFY said.
“The open dialog concept is important to me,” Kime said, adding he’s interested in hearing from youth, families and the public how Foundation for Youth and its partner organizations can better serve children.
“FFY has always worked to be attuned to the changing needs of our youth and community,” Kime said “We are excited to incorporate the feedback we have received into our plans for the future. This confirms the vital role we play in supporting families in raising kids to be good citizens. Today’s challenges look different to those a few years ago, however, we continue to adapt to the needs of our families to ensure kids get the resources they need to thrive by providing the very best out-of-school youth programming.”
Foundation For Youth’s youth and community programs include the Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Columbus Youth Camp, substance prevention, athletics, aquatics, and life skills classes in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. system.
