FROM WITHINSTRENGTH

2015from

You

ANNUAL REPORT

Photo courtesy of Demilio Photography

Help our clients achieve a glorious comeback.

Right now The Centers is transforming lives from the

inside out.

Find out how at

www.TheCenters.us

WellHELLOHELLO

Call them advocacy tools. Cut them out

and give them to family, friends, or co-

workers to spread the word about the

life-changing happenings at The Centers.

Board of Directors

Gary Norman, PRESIDENT

Ray Thompson, VICE PRESIDENT

Ryan Naugle, SECRETARY

Teresa Stephens, TREASURER

Dr. Stephen Dunn

Linda Foy

Rashad Jones

Steven Libby

Christopher Luetgert

Randy McVay

Commissioner David Moore

Norm Poe

Carolyn Weldon

Councilman Matthew Wardell

Mission Advancement Board

Jack Chappell

Christine Cotter

Thomas Cougill

Amanda Daugherty

Marge Felix

Mayor Kent Guinn

Amanda Johnson Keuntjes

Christopher Luetgert

Gary Norman

WHAT ARE THESE?

from WITHIN

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Bring a LifeBACK TO

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!

Kids at The Centers need- and receive- my support.

Learn how to join me at

THEY HURT

To our staff, board members, donors, and community partners; thank you for a year of progress made possible by your commitment to our mission.

Together, we witnessed lives transformed and families rebuilt. We helped dreams become reality for our kids.

We created opportunities for the gift of a normal life.

2015 was a year of transition and refinement. Time spent strengthening the organization from within will allow us to deliver on our mission and expand the reach of impact in our community over the coming year. We’ve laid the foundation for something greater. A holistic, person-centered movement. An exciting outlook on the landscape of opportunity. An energy and culture that will lead to extraordinary transformation.

It is your confidence that has inspired us, your contributions that have helped change the course of the lives we serve and your support that has allowed them to see hope for the future.

For that, The Centers is grateful.

Sincerely,

Tim Cowart, CEO

Strengthfrom

WITHIN

Strength

WITHINTim Cowart, CEO

I Help.

!

YOUR FIRST TASK AS A CHAMPION

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AT THEOfficeFold here

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Picture four siblings, ages 3, 5, 7, and 8, living in a motel with their parents who are addicted to drugs. Since they are all severely neglected, the oldest girl has assumed a mother role and is taking care of her younger brother and sisters. Eventually they are removed and placed in foster care, where they experience serious emotional abuse, including being locked in the garage at times. Once discovered they are moved to a different home, but all of these traumatic events have had a significant impact on their ability to live and think as children.

After two years in foster care their parent’s rights are terminated and the children are moved to Florida to live with their grandmother. She didn’t know what to expect and was not prepared to address the severity of issues they were facing.

When these siblings entered our care, they were 5, 7, 9, and 10. All were exhibiting severe aggression from years of witnessing domestic violence. They were struggling with attachment to their parents; frequently crying over missing them. Anger, sadness, nightmares, bed wetting, no control over emotions, and threatening other children at school were a part of their everyday lives.

For one year The Centers provided weekly individual counseling for each child, as well as guidance and support for their grandmother. Every week, we witnessed their behaviors improving, their lives transforming, and their family strengthening.

With the help of our therapists these children have been able to gain understanding of past experiences, build a bond with their grandmother, learn how to verbalize their feelings, learn calming and coping skills, and work through trauma. All four children now have a normal childhood and a healthy family.

TABLETABLEfivefiveFOR

Walk for Children’s Mental HealthApril 22nd at Citizen’s Circle

Create and grow your team at

In addition to case management services provided for children in foster/relative care, we will soon

provide adoption support to help children find their forever homes.

Learn more at

www.TheCenters.us

YOUbe

TO LAY THEIR HEADS

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!

Aplace

www.TheCenters.us

StrengthIN NUMBERS

Medicaid & Medicare

25%

State & Federal Contracts

63%

Prevention/Intervention/Outreach $658,113 12,427

Child Safety (foster/relative care) $8,603,193 N/A

Lighthouse/Drop-in Center/Supported Housing $591,825 13,676

Crisis Care/Emergency/Inpatient $9,810,157 35,150

Case Management $1,341,866 26,699

Residential Treatment $2,388,411 17,036

Outpatient Therapy $3,268,914 64,988

Medical Services $2,547,112 83,976

Total $29,209,591 253,952

Expenditures by Program Expenses Number of Services

Revenues by Source

Marion & Citrus County Match6%

Client Fees & Insurance3%

Grants, Charitable Gifts, & Other3%

State & Federal Contracts $17,716,599 63

Medicaid & Medicare $7,133,380 25

Marion & Citrus County Match $1,637,346 6

Client Fees & Insurance $853,690 3

Grants, Charitable Gifts, & Other $780,483 3

Total $28,121,498 100%

Revenue by source Revenue Revenue %

Expenditures by Program

5,342 Children

740 Age 0-5

2,381 Age 6-12

2,221 Age 13-18

8,164 Adults

4,802 Age 19-44

3,002 Age 45-65

360 Age 65+

45-6523%

19-4436%

13-1816%

6-1218%

0-55%

65+2%

CLIENTS BY

Age Group

Total Number of Clients Served 13,506

WALL STREET > THE CENTERS > UCLAOne fateful day in 2008 I received a phone call that would alter every aspect of my life. That day I learned that my younger brother was

murdered. No matter how strong, how disciplined or how well you have persevered in the past, you are never ready for news that devastating.

At that point in my life I was working on Wall Street in investment banking and had reached goals I had set out to accomplish by 30, by the age of 25.

The day I heard about my brother’s passing none of that mattered. An empty hole began to consume my existence and alcohol became the

focus of my life for many years, leading to very serious addiction. I would shake uncontrollably without it. Eventually, my feelings worsened and I wanted to die.

Thankfully there was a place that I knew I could come to when I was serious about getting better. Because of the residential program and the haven it provided, I was able to dig deep into my issues, learn to get honest with myself, and get introduced to the 12 steps; changing my life forever.

After three and a half months of treatment I re-entered the “real world” and eventually doors were opened that allowed me to join the Finance staff at The Centers. My self-confidence began to return which enabled me to continue to follow my dreams.

As I write this, I am now a full-time student at UCLA pursuing my MBA in finance. I have a new healthy life in Los Angeles. The opportunities I have now would never have been possible without the help of The Centers and the dozens of people who supported me along the way. Having the opportunity to dream again and to enjoy life is an experience that I can’t describe.

ARE THEYWhere

Now

RecoveryIS

POSSIBLE

Outpatient and residential addiction treatment for men and women.

New in 2016: A residential program for mothers with young children.

Learn more at

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Michelle, a mother of twin boys, had been struggling with bipolar disorder for many years before coming to The Centers. As a child she experienced horrific abuse, was removed from her mother’s custody and later adopted. As so often happens, she started using drugs as a way to numb the pain of her childhood trauma.

Hopelessness, helplessness and feelings of worthlessness overwhelmed her and she reached a crisis point. No longer able to function or provide a safe home for her sons, the boys were removed from her custody. It seemed the cycle of family disruption and trauma would go on uninterrupted for yet another generation.

Michelle was referred to The Centers where she embraced her treatment; always keeping her focus on being able to provide a stable home for her 10 year old sons. She persevered and experienced life changing growth through cognitive behavioral therapy received. As a result, she was able to obtain steady employment, an apartment, a vehicle of her own.

Michelle is now a mother to her two young boys providing a healthy, nurturing, and safe environment for them to grow. She recently sent a card to her therapist, Angie, sharing her deep appreciation and telling her that despite many treatment episodes in other agencies, no one had ever been able to get through to her through the cloud of mental illness and give her a sense of hope.

LIFELIFELong AWATIEDLong AWAITED

Specialized programming serves parents of young children, providing guidance and

therapeutic support to create healthier families for generations

Learn more at

BREAKING THE

CYCLE

Life saving mental health support for thousands of children and adults.

Learn more at

www.TheCenters.us

ofPEACE

MINDMIND “I have never before been relapse-free for so long and accomplished so much in my life.”

MICHELLE

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!

www.TheCenters.us

To each of you who have generously supported this most important cause, it is truly an honor to call you our friends and experience firsthand the joy and power of your giving.

This year in addition to supporting lifesaving treatment scholarships, our donors funded greatly needed clinical and environment enhancements throughout The Centers. Charitable donations received in 2015 are transforming the treatment experience for thousands of children and adults in our care. Staff have already seen a tremendous difference in their work with our clients and feel pride knowing their devotion to our mission and the people we serve is valued, matched, and supported by members of our community.

There were so many bright spots this year because of you. While it’s impossible to showcase them all, I’d like to share a few so you can join us in celebrating the purposeful giving that took place, addressing real needs.

Our goal is to make every donation meaningful and impactful for both our donors and our mission. I can’t possibly thank you enough for making that possible. It is incredible to witness!

As we enter a new year, we have greater opportunities for partnership than ever before. I invite you to join us in our 2016 quest to provide healing for EVERY CHILD and look forward to another year of strengthening lives together!

Sincerely,

Meghan ShayChief Mission Advancement Officer

IMPACTDonorIMPACT

Meghan Shay, CFREChief Mission Advancement Officer

We need your support to help our kids return to normalcy.

Check out the many ways you can give the gift of childhood:

www.TheCenters.us

Because there’s no such thing as a

TIMEMACHINE

Start your day off right. One hour tours of our mission

happen twice every month.

Join us! E-mail:

mshay@thecenters.us

GetCENTERED

• Ocala’s Sunset Rotary Club made it possible for us to purchase Hazeldon’s Living in Balance curriculum to be used in our addiction treatment programs for teens and adults.

• Wells Fargo and guests at our Evening on The Rise Event funded major upgrades to our Children’s Crisis Stabilization Unit, providing a more therapeutic and nurturing environment for our kids.

• Dr. Stephen Dunn generously supported improvements in our adult residential program for the 45 men and women living there for 3-6 months receiving treatment and provided 1 hour per week of FREE dental services for Centers clients.

• Frank and Deborah Jimenez ensured that every child and adult entering our crisis units would have new comfortable mattresses to sleep on during their critical time of need.

• State Representative Charlie Stone personally donated match funding needed to complete an extensive high ropes challenge course for therapy innovations with clients, and leadership/ team building programs.

• Carolyn Grantz and Emma Luetgert once again challenged their peers and coordinated efforts to ensure ALL Centers kids in need (150) received gifts on Christmas morning, as well as clothing and art therapy supplies throughout the year.

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Make 2016 An Even GREATER SUCCESSInvite Friends & Enlist New Supporters

2015 highlights

ROPES COURSE: Rising To The Challenge“It was the biggest breakthrough I’ve had since entering treatment.”-Client sharing her experience overcoming fears, trusting others, and building confidence thanks to our newest therapeutic tool; a high and low ropes course! Marion County Parks & Recreation, City of Ocala Utilities and State Representative Charlie Stone enhanced our treatment capabilities with the creation of a state of the art Ropes Course at our Airport Road campus. In addition to therapy use, the course is available for youth groups, private parties/family events, business leadership retreats, athletic team building, and programming for our peer nonprofit organizations.

INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE: Mind-Body ConnectionDuring a recent visit, one of our mental healthcare providers recognized their client was experiencing a possible medical issue. She immediately connected him to the physical healthcare provider who was on-site at our facility and provided a screening. He was referred to the hospital and their teamwork and quick intervention resulted in his life being saved. Adults suffering from mental illness have an average lifespan 10-25 years shorter than the general population. With the award of a $1.4 million integrated care grant The Centers will now be able to provide a holistic, team approach to potentially lifesaving care. This addition will ensure that our clients have their physical healthcare needs met and will significantly improve the overall health of the lives we serve.

CONNECT-TO-CARE: Partners In Health The grant funded establishment of our new Connect-to-Care team has been a great addition, providing health advocates for our clients who need guidance and support navigating care coordination. Our team assists clients in accessing needed mental and physical healthcare services in addition to addressing social issues that may negatively affect their health.

FAMILY INTERVENTION: Growing Parents, Protecting ChildrenA Family Intervention Team was established for high-risk families who are involved in the child welfare system due to behavioral health issues. Our team helps motivate parents to enter and remain in treatment services, carefully matching them with programs and support services that give them the best opportunity to succeed. Our highly engaged staff work collaboratively with families, treatment professionals, and the courts to develop case plans supporting parents in their efforts. Emphasis is placed on building coping and parenting skills, helping parents pay attention to triggers that may lead to substance use, and working together on safety plans to protect children.

WHAT’S New

PSYCHOLOGICAL & SOCIAL REHABILITATION Adults living with severe mental illness will receive special programming built to enable them to overcome challenges created by their disabilities. Clients will be highly engaged in developing strong social skills and participating in activities that teach necessary daily living skills. Our goal is to help our clients realize their recovery goals, become equipped to live independently, and feel empowered to live a life that is meaningful to them.

STUDENT INTERVENTION PARTNERSHIPAn estimated 1 in 5 students struggle with emotional/behavioral problems that impact their functioning, and less than half receive mental health services. We will place prevention counselors in four Marion County schools, providing evidence-based intervention for children exhibiting aggressive behavior and internalized problems (i.e. anxiety and depression). Our goal is to reduce the risk of school withdrawal, academic failure and disciplinary removal by providing on-site intervention for children in our schools.

CRISIS ASSESSMENT, REFERRAL, AND ENGAGEMENT (CARE) TEAMA segment of the population we serve often experiences a vicious cycle of ER and psychiatric hospitalizations, taking a significant toll on the individual, their families, and our community. We are pursuing funding to establish a team that will provide immediate support to individuals in need of safety and stability during and after a behavioral health crisis. Our goal is to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and ensure wrap around services are established for continued stability.

BELIEVING IN YOUTH: CAMPAIGN FOR NEW CHILDREN’S FACILITYLast year more than 3,000 children received mental health care at our original Ocala location built in the early 1970’s. In addition to a lack of adequate space for therapy offices (we currently have children on a waiting list), the buildings are in serious disrepair and the outdated design is unsuitable for therapeutic services. Our goal is to raise funds to build a new state of the art facility for children, ensuring every child in need receives hope, healing, and their childhood restored.

Looking AHEAD

Gather Your friends and fellow adventurers!

Schedule a fun filled day on our Challenge Course. Features

6 HIGH ropes elements and 4 LOW team challenges.

For details e-mail

Host a gathering of friends, family, and co-workers to raise awareness

and funds for our mission.

Call Meghan Shay to discuss ideas:

(352) 291-5462

CHALLENGE?for a

PURPOSE

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!

UPUP

give

to your party

mshay@thecenters.us

You

ThankYouThank

FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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