Accomplishments and Aspirations 

   I've spent the last few days analyzing, designing graphs, and computing expenses vs. income in an effort to have a clear picture our accomplishments in 2011. MHA Aiken County, also known as "The Little Agency that Could" has persevered. More importantly, we've grown both programmatically and in regards to our viability as a community support. We've effectively managed  our United Way allocation and streamlined our programs  to match the community need without duplication of services. Continue reading as I summarize our successes.

• For the first time in agency history, we have a website.
• We were chosen as Mental Health America - SC's Affiliate of the Year.
• Our annual fundraiser, Aiken's Cookin' with Celebrity Chefs had it's most successful year to date thanks to our sponsors, chefs,  and our committed Board of Directors led by Liz Neal.
• We decreased our operating expenses by close to $5,000
• Our individual donors, people like you who gave financially as a support to our mission had an increase of over $6,000.
• Civic organizations, churches, foundations and community groups gave in response to the life-changing supports we provide with  total giving of around $15,000.

Our programs supported more people in 2011 than in the previous three years.

• We distributed 341 gifts through Operation Santa.
• We provided critical information regarding suicide, depression and stress to 88 teachers and 22 students.
• We provided training to Community Service Network members enabling them to use our on-line depression screening tool with their clients.
• Aiken County had a significant drop in deaths by suicide in 2011. We hope that our resources contributed to this important change.
• We initiated a monthly group for people who have lost someone to suicide in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
• We added four new Welcome Baby volunteers and visited 468 new mothers providing critical parenting resources and basic infant needs.
• A total of 12 single mothers and 15 children were provided a temporary home through Nurture Home, our supportive program for homeless women. Of these 12 women, 8 exited the program within six months with a job, housing, and their own transportation. 3 women got a SC Driver's License for the first time and all learned basic skills related to saving money, providing structure for their children, and preparing nutritious meals. Each of them, through our individualized approach, were able to identify the negative choices, partners, or circumstances that led to their homelessness. Through daily one on one counseling, we were able to facilitate change.

Our aspirations for 2012 include organizing an "Out of Darkness" Walk, an annual event to support survivors of suicide and to increase awareness of the incidence of suicide.  We are strengthening our partnership with Aiken Barnwell Mental Health through the Shelter Plus Care housing program. We plan to make changes to our Welcome Baby "gift bag" to streamline our resources into a concise pamphlet. We have taken an active role in the Midlands Area Consortium for the Homeless with a recent appointment of myself to the Board of Directors. We anticipate  that being actively involved in this group established to reduce the homeless trend in the Midlands will result in increased federal funding for Nurture Home.

Thank you for supporting us in 2011 and for allowing me to share our accomplishments and aspirations. I hope you'll continue to support our mission and our growth.

Gratefully,

Lisa Tindal

Executive Director