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Non-profit Profile

Information provided by Gina Wautier, Director

Founded in 1998 and recognized with 501c3 status in 2005, the mission of the Family Centers of Door County is to Strengthen and Support Families and Communities.

What was the inspiration behind the founding of the organization?

The Family Centers began as a project of the Family Preservation and Support Coalition, advisory to the Door County Department of Social Services. What started as a means for service providers to create access to services in rural areas has grown to become an organization serving thousands of families of all socio-economic backgrounds.

What type of programming do you offer and who benefits from the work that you do? Who are the primary targets of your work and services?

We’re an organization that provides primary prevention services that build on strengths found in families and individuals in our community. We offer participants an easy and comfortable way to learn new skills, interact with others, discover community resources, and find new pleasure in parenting. Family Centers provide outreach and education while collaborating with numerous community stakeholders for service delivery.

Participants of all ages engage in fun, educational activities that support the growth and development of all family members – adults, youth and children. We provide workshops and support services that encourage positive parenting approaches, promote knowledge of child development, and heighten awareness of healthy interpersonal relationships. Activities that allow literary enrichment, cultural experiences, community building, and personal growth are also made available. We offer about 120 events and activities each year.

Because we recognize that each area of the county has its own personality and needs, the Family Centers model includes satellite centers in four peninsula locations and another on Washington Island. The Mosling Recreation Center on Washington Island, Northern Door Children’s Center in Sister Bay, and the Door County YMCA in Fish Creek and Sturgeon Bay are our host sites. Our main office is located in Brussels and programs in the Southern Door vicinity are conducted at Southern Door School, Door County Library and town hall buildings.

We partner with several other non-profits on various projects because they know that our countywide reach proves beneficial to joint efforts. This year we partnered with over 40 other organizations to provide activities that enabled us both to meet our organizational goals.

What areas do volunteers assist with your efforts and where might you need assistance from more volunteers?

An average of 150 people volunteer over 4,000 hours each year. Their activities include help with mailings and promotional materials, event hospitality, and childcare. Our volunteers are crucial.

Sara Paye [email protected] is our volunteer coordinator and we also post our needs on the Volunteer Center of Door County’s Web site.

How is your organization weathering the storm that has hit the non-profit community in the wake of the financial crisis?

Dedicated staff, active board members, and committed volunteers are essential to our success. Our partner host sites, community stakeholders and donors provide invaluable support.

Coordinators have been very creative in utilizing resources in an effort to cut program costs, such as in-kind and monetary donations from event sponsors in exchange for publicity. Electronic marketing efforts, including email newsletters and our Web site, proves cost effective and convenient.

Most important, we operate in a generous community that comes through for us when we need help.

What near-term goal(s) has your organization prioritized?

One goal is to find space to house our office in the Sturgeon Bay area that would include an office for the director and administrative assistant, a conference room for group meetings and a common area.

What long-term goals are within your organization’s sights?

We are striving to grow to hire full-time coordinators, which would enable us to provide more services, more often. We currently have six part-time coordinators working 10 hours per week or less. We accomplish quite a lot on a shoestring budget but dream about the impact more resources could have.

What is one thing about your organization that most people may not know?

Because we partner with other locations to create events, many people don’t realize the breadth of programming that we are responsible for and that they are participating in a Family Centers program.

Is there a shocking statistic related to your organization’s efforts that our readers might be interested to know?

Almost 900 households and 4,500 individuals (unduplicated numbers), attend one or more of our events or activities each year. Every zip code in the county and every age group is represented along with several out-of-county residences who attend as well.

For more information about Family Centers of Door County, Inc., located at 1487 County DK, Brussels, email [email protected], visit http://www.doorcountyfamilycenters.com or call 920.825.1430 or 800. 856.1651.