Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NEWS
Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE
Vol. 2, No. 17, August 12, 2004
The executive director news is published specifically for the employees of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues of this newsletter are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
My Place I
Plans for My Place I (a transitional living program for males, aged 16- 21) are continuing over the summer. Work being conducted this month includes installation of a comprehensive fire detection system, exit signs, emergency lighting, wiring for telephone and making general repairs. Also included in our efforts are patching, painting and interior trim carpentry. We will begin furnishing after all the repairs are completed.
We are proud to announce new support for the capital effort for facility repairs, furnishings and equipment acquisition of $70,000 from DYFS, $5,000 from the Segal Foundation and $300 from the ARC Foundation.
We received a physical plant evaluation from the DYFS Bureau of Licensing. The inspectors came out to the building to ensure it was adequate and met all licensing standards set forth by DYFS. I am happy to report they found no violations! We are well on our way.
We are hoping for a certificate of occupancy in September.
National Youth Summit
We welcome back our Pathways staff Jen Lometti and Tia Jackson and our Passages youth who attended the National Youth Summit in Cleveland Ohio. This project was supported by a special $2,200 grant from DYFS Chafee funding. Acquiring identification and navigating transportation systems, especially in light of heightened airport security, was an invaluable life skill in itself!
Employee Benefits
Do You Know? In your 30s and 40s, you are eight times more likely to become disabled before you retire than you are to die, yet America still hasn't woken up to the fact that disability insurance is a necessity.
I am pleased to announce, starting September 1, 2004, Somerset Home will offer Long-Term Disability Insurance (LTD) for full-time employees. This is inexpensive insurance with great benefits. It ensures your regular income will continue at its current level if you are unable to work due to disability. Many of you have asked about this benefit and we are pleased to offer it at this time.
Run for Runaways
Please mark your calendars for November 6, 2004 for our 6th Annual Run for Runaways. Please visit our Run for Runaways web site at http://www.runforrunaways.com.
For further information about the run, walk, kids sprints, volunteering, setting up personal fund raising web pages or sponsorship/ad journal see Tierney O'Donnell. With your help this event will once again be a great success.
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
Sincerely,
