Our Community
What is the mission of St. Gerard House? • To make life better for individuals and families affected by autism. • #1 education resource for behavioral management and community awareness for children on the spectrum in WNC. What is the community’s perception of St. Gerard House? • People who know about SGH see it as “gold standard” for families with autism. Parents move to WNC for SGH. Wonderful providers. • People who have connection to autistic families, are sometimes surprised to find that this resource is in Henderson County. • They have experienced meaningful growth as a non- profit –their growth curve is phenomenal. • Very good reputation Are there community partners or linkages that St. Gerard House should strengthen their connection or initiate association? • Schools –Measurable behavioral plans • Head Start • Children Family Resource Center • Blue Ridge Community College -Mainstreaming programs, occupational readiness • Behavioral health providers, medical providers What else should the board & staff know? • Infrastructure-building • Reduce wait list • Recruitment, development, training of qualified staff• • Clinical learning partnerships / training center • Expansion –a fully functioning “mothership” that is excellent in all elements • Collaborative efforts • Fundraising • Succession planning
For the planning process to be effective, we believed it was critical that it be conducted in the context of the community we serve. We proactively sought input from our community leaders to better understand their perception of St. Gerard House, and to build strong support for the plan’s future implementation. Individuals representing community stakeholders, including hospitals, non-profits, and public agencies, were invited to provide input by participating in a focus group discussion. Ten individuals attended. Some of the feedback the group provided is bulleted below.
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