— by Lin McNulty —
An interview with OICF Director Hilary Canty
Dave just lost his job and needs food stamps for the first time in his life. Teresa needs childcare so she can go back to work. Auntie Jean is no longer able to cook for herself. Sarah has a special needs child and doesn’t know where to go for help. Annette needs help getting a restraining order.
A number of recent community conversations has revealed a limited level of awareness of services offered. Many needs are being met by more than 112 non-profit organizations on Orcas. The problem lies in knowing who provides what and where to go and who to contact to get the assistance required.
Enter Orcas Island Community Foundation (OICF), along with several other local organizations, who are exploring the possibility of a “Hub,” a one-stop shop for all services. On October 9, OICF issued a letter of interest to see if, perhaps, there is an existing organization(s) that wants to take it on. Sixteen responses were received by the November 1 deadline from organizations and individuals with some really creative ideas. Responses were much broader than originally thought, stressing the need for centralized services.
There has long been confusion about where to go for what service, and a belief that it could all be done better if service providers were more connected. “We started hearing about this need a couple of years ago,” said Hilary Canty, OICF Executive Director. At that time, OICF had assigned funding to set-up a web portal (online database), but it was determined that was not the best solution for our island community. After meetings with several social service agencies on the island, it was decided that a “human interface” was needed.
Among the many groups hoping to centralize services are Orcas CARES, presently a function of the Fire Department, Family Connections located at Kaleidoscope Daycare, Thrive Orcas Island, and Orcas Public Library.
Although it was suggested that the former Monkey Puzzle building would be an ideal physical location, Canty stresses the desire would be to not “add another level of rent and administration.
“A central Hub would help all organizations better serve the community. It would be a way to create a structure with which to triage needs. And the need is still growing. “We might not even know all the needs of our community at this point,” added Canty.” If centrally located, we suspect we will find out more than we are aware of.”
This type of system has recently been successfully tested in other communities. In Seattle the old Amazon building was leased to medical-related nonprofits for medical training, with the concept there is more action when under one roof. A “water cooler” environment is created where ideas and concerns can be shared with the community, Canty said.
“For us to attract donors to help our community we need it to be apparent who we can help. A HUB could track information about community needs and make a case for support. A connection, then, with off-island organizations—such as the Medina Foundation (with old family connections to Orcas) — could attract more assistance with better statistical data on the needs of our populace.
“If a HUB could be a volunteer-run service with meaningful opportunities that would be a win-win situation,” says Canty. That will be only one of the items for discussion—and active listening—as OICF invites respondents and other interested parties to meet in early December to determine the next steps to make this happen.
While there are threads of concern around the community, OICF is presently taking the lead to make something happen. “We hope, however,” added Canty, “that this can be accomplished without adding one more organization to the mix.”
I have been hearing of the “resource hub” for a while now, and while I support the concept of better and easier access to services, I am confused as to how we have come to the belief that our current organizations don’t meet the needs of our community and also that our local organizations do not properly network their resources.
Presently we have several very well run, independent organizations that serve the social service needs of our island. In talking with leaders of those various organizations each one feels that they have a good grasp on where to connect people with the services they require. Specifically, since OICF completed their needs assesment, Orcas Family Connections has stepped into the role of case management and services networking, providing the exact services that are described in the HUB discussion. OFC’s staff is well trained and well versed in the resources available from the island and beyond, and manages funding from numerous outside agencies to assure the clients are able to receive any and all necessary support. OFC has grown and changed through it’s own internal process and has become the Community Resource Center that was lacking several years ago. The OFC board, with Erin Odell acting as the lead has successfully grown the range of services and works closely with County, opportunity council, federal, state, OPALCO, food bank, housing assistance, senior center…(the list is endless). While OFC’s office is small and perhaps not a glitzy show-piece, it is free, located in town and to date adequate, which allows them to maintain a low overhead so that a maximum number of dollars can be put directly into services. Yes, it needs more parking, but without finding for the work, it is being improved on a volunteer basis so that no money gets diverted from critical services.
In talking with some of the social service leaders the one thing they did say, to a person, was that they would appreciate a client management database that could be accessed between organizations so that the service providers could avoid redundant and often time consuming work. This, would be a highly effective tool that would streamline services and truly help our local efforts.
While I applaud the call for volunteers, when dealing with the types of services and confidential support and referrals that OFC is making, it is important to remember that the work required to manage cases requires a skilled service provider. People want to walk into an office and know that the person they are seeing knows their story and can help. They do not want to have to relive what is often a difficult situation repeatedly with a new face as they link with the necessary services. Every one of our social service organizations would love to have volunteers, and they have a role. If linking volunteers with service providers is the goal, then lets get a volunteer database together so the service providers know who to contact when they need help.
It seems to me that rather than create a whole new entity or office, or concept the Community Foundation should be putting its efforts into raising money for supporting the already existing organizations that do their jobs very well. These folks don’t need another hub, they need funding to sustain and expand their services as THEY see best fit within our community. Orcas people are good at looking out for each other and we have some of the best organizations currently in place. Lets support them in their missions, not compete with them from above.
Why am I not surprised to read about starting yet another under-funded organization to provide a service already being provided by an already established under-funded organization? Isn’t that the way we do it?
Charlie and Justin- The Hub is not necessarily a new nonprofit. The goal is to strengthen the connectivity and collaboration among the many organizations that serve our community, a need that has repeatedly been cited by both service providers and the community they serve. The Hub role could be taken on by any number of existing organizations. The Community Foundation is providing a process to have that conversation with the understanding that, working together, we can come up with stronger system to meet growing needs. Where that lives and how to fund it are all part of that conversation. I hope you will participate.
I don’t believe the suggestion was that our non-profits aren’t doing their jobs…it was that here is no one number to call or one place to go to find out which organization can help when someone needs to find help – sometimes fast. I, personally, think that is worth pursuing – which OICF is very thoughtfully doing.
I suggested earlier that the Senior Center/County offices building be targeted for such a HUB. No need for a different structure, just a little re-structuring of the space(s).
And since there is a County presence in some of these social service groups, it makes sense.
Good parking, too.
Madie,
There is a number, it’s x-3184.
I agree that a concept like this is necessary and valuable. I also would argue that it already exists in multiple locations, especially at the doors of Orcas Family Connections. The other locations are at the doors and through the phones of our existing service providers who are adept and knowledgeable of the boots-on-the-ground work that is being done. If moving their office to the Senior Center is helpful, then THEY will make that move based on their operation and budget, not on the whim of outside influence.
Our neighbors in need of vital social services do not enter the process because of an office, a kiosk, a database or any other modern invention. They enter through relationships and conversation with those whom they are most comfortable and familiar. Those they trust.
The staff and board of OFC has worked tirelessly to forge those relationships and continues to work to expand their reach by working with the exceptional group of community partners that exists here on Orcas. They do so without being a fundraising entity, but instead identifying funding sources and programs to meet the needs of their clients.
I support collaboration and connectivity, but I also believe that social service organizations know how best to serve their clients and given the opportunity will do a fine job of collaborating, connecting and most importantly meeting community need.
Here’s hoping we all can agree that Orcas is fortunate to have the many organizations we have that do an excellent job of meeting the needs of our community.
As a community member with no ties to any non-profit organization, I can say that when I first moved to the island (under the duress of a domestic violence scenario), I met with a local non-profit organization and was connected with the necessary additional branches of help from there on.
If an individual is eager enough and in great enough need, there are plenty of opportunities and organizations to reach out to in this Orcas Island community. All of which are available if you put some research time in. Even if you first connect with the “wrong” resource, that resource will most likely be aware of where to connect that individual from there on.
It would seem to me that while centralizing the non-profits on the island would improve the basic understanding of where to reach out…the overall success may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of those in need.
Envisioning a centralized “hub,” – all I can metaphorically imagine is a single checkstand being open at a grocery store the day before Thanksgiving…crowded, long waits, standardized service, and an overworked checker.
Each individual non-profit has its own merits and connections to others that can serve in other ways. The uniqueness of each non-profit is just as varying as the individuals and families that seek help. Standardizing, or centralizing, these non-profits seems depreciating and like it would negate from the value of each non-profit.
My suggestion would be to compile a database of the non-profits on the island – create a summary of each – services provided, people to contact, ways to contribute, who to refer, etc. Create a resource to compile these non-profits in: online database, island-distributed publication, etc.
Thank you Justin Paulsen for bringing up many of the questions we at Orcas Family Connections and other local service organizations have been asking ourselves regarding the OICF Resource HUB.
I have worked for the Orcas Family Connections Resource Center for six years. In this time, we have grown from a very small program that was staffed by one person for 7-10 hours per week serving only families with young children to a much larger organization with 1.5 FTE staff, open to all members of the community seeking support through sixteen local and state programs.
People call or come to our office every day asking questions like the ones listed in the introduction of Ms. McNulty’s interview. I would help “Dave” submit an application for food stamps (we are a DSHS community partner) or if the timing was good, refer him to the Mobile CSO van. I would help “Teresa” with the same process in an application for subsidized childcare as well as answer any questions she had in choosing an individual or licensed center to care for her child. I would refer “Auntie Jean’s niece or nephew” to the Senior Center’s Hearts and Hands Program or to the COPES Caregiver program if appropriate. Depending on the age of “Sara’s” child with special needs, I would refer her to the County’s 0-3 program or to the school district for an older child. I would also refer her to the local parent support group for families with children who have special needs and talk about other unmet family needs like the possibility of receiving ferry vouchers for off island medical appointments. I would refer Annette directly to the DVSAS office for help with a restraining order, offer to make the initial call for her and even go with her if that would help.
This is the work we do every day. Our staff is trained to work with vulnerable community members in a confidential and respectful manner. Undoubtedly, there are gaps to be filled both within our organization and in the delivery of services island wide. We rely on support from volunteers, board members and donations. Like most non-profits, we always need more help in these ways than we currently have.
I am not sure where all of this fits in the vision of the OICF HUB. I felt not only the need, but the responsibility to respond because OFC provides the services Ms. McNulty describes as needs people have with no where to go. Also, as Justin Paulsen mentioned, it would be great to have a client management database as well as a volunteer database that could be shared amongst organizations.
As a point of clarification, Orcas Family Connections is not directly involved with the newly formed Orcas CARES group. The Senior Center is a founding member of this organization, not OFC. We recently worked in collaborative efforts with the Senior Center in an attempt to help one family through the new CARE program. Also, I would like to clarify that we are ORCAS Family Connections. And not organizationally connected with Kaleidoscope preschool and childcare center (where they care for children, not days), though we do occupy the same building.
If you have questions abut Orcas Family Connections and the work we do as the Community Resource Center on Orcas, please see our website http://www.orcasconnections.org (thank you to OICF for funding our web development) or give us a call at 376-3184. If you would like make an end of the year contribution to Orcas Family Connections, our PO Box is 931 Eastsound WA 98245
Brianna –
There is a database of nonprofits on Orcas, along with their contact info and a short summary of their activities. It exists in print form and on-line at oicf.us. It is updated regularly.
I really appreciate our community groups and OICF for their efforts in trying to make sure people find access to services. It seems clear that Orcas Family Connections is already our “HUB.” They are already providing the necessary service, and doing it very well. Let’s put our energy toward supporting OFC and getting the word out. If there is a “limited level of awareness of services offered” in our community, we can efficiently address that by making sure everybody knows about Orcas Family Connections. When people in our community need help, the people at OFC are there, and can ably assist them and direct them to any services they need.
From the Senior Center perspective, I sincerely appreciated Erin O’Dell and Justin Paulsen’s comments about the present access to assistance on Orcas. Erin at Family Connections handles requests for help for those under 60 and is very good at directing those over 60 to us at the Senior Center.
The Senior Center, for 30 years, has published a monthly newsletter with a list of available services and contact phone numbers. This is mailed to over 900 households on Orcas and invariably, until someone needs a service personally, we still hear “I wish I’d know you did that” after the fact. We’re open 9-4 Monday through Friday, serve congregate meals twice a week and deliver Meals on Wheels to home-bound elders. We answer those questions daily about how to get help at home, how to stay at home, how to bring somebody home, or how to place in a nursing home if that is the choice, etc.
Large service HUBS don’t work in populated areas with many more services than we have and many more requests for help. We get a flurry from time to time when something tragic happens but you will never meet everyone’s needs the first time they ask. Each situation is a little different and each answer is going to be a little different.
Are there things we could do better? Are there ways the Community Foundation could help? Most certainly. Good, current, accurate, resource listings would be fantastic and it is a huge job to keep those viable as systems and programs change. A resource directory would be a great help but I have a hard time getting behind change for the sake of change or fixing what isn’t broken.
Give folks credit for doing a really good job at what they do and provide some support. Nobody has time to tear down and rebuild just for the exercise.
I see some divergence in this discussion between the idea of providing information about what’s available and the provision of direct services. There are certainly organizations already providing effective direct services, and which need and deserve greater staffing and funding. What I have heard at the Library as another community need has to do with awareness of the range of existing services and opportunities, including social services, but also extending to educational and career information and training.
The Library is committed to strengthening the effectiveness of community networking. For example, online we host at http://www.orcaslibrary.org the Community Calendar, a Community Information page, and the Whole Islands Network. And in our building we share information from and about our many community organizations. We see ourselves as an information hub.
We intend also to use our existing and future resources in order to offer physical space and staff support for consultation, training, and learning for all ages. This is one of our motivations for pursuing a building expansion.
Through a variety of partnerships, we can all strengthen our community’s ability to provide essential social, educational, financial, and other services; and just as important, to raise awareness of those services.