Message from the Executive Director – November 2006
A wise old Indian once said, “When I step my foot upon this earth I leave an impression. Sometimes it is shallow, and sometimes it is deep, depending on how solid the land and the load that I carry.” Tri-County Board Member Wanda Rankin passed away on May 29, 2006, but left a deep impression upon this earth. Wanda served for over 15 years as a committed and loyal board member for this agency, all the while carrying a heavy personal load for many of those years. We will miss her strength and wisdom, all the while knowing her contributions will continue to live on in this agency and with all who knew her.
Family Counseling Center, Inc. saw a change in the Behavioral Health Division Director and learned of the resignation of the Developmental Services Division Director this fiscal year. Such losses of knowledge, commitment and experience can be difficult, however the Board of Directors looked upon these challenges as an opportunity to build upon the agency’s strengths and to gain energy to move forward. The agency continued to serve our clients/consumers/stakeholders with continued quality programs and counseling services. A renewed emphasis was placed on reducing employee turnover.
For the first time in several years the employee health insurance rate increase was minimal, allowing the agency to select a plan that provided more coverage with less deductions. Since 1999, the individual employee health insurance cost has risen from $184.23 per month per employee to $320.69 per month per employee. This is a 74% increase over a 7-year period, amounting to a $136.43 additional monthly cost per employee and equaling $153,899.04 additional annual cost for the fiscal year in comparison to FY99 health care costs. This increase in cost contributes significantly to the annual budgeting process and affects the agency’s ability to commit additional funds in other areas.
Fiscal Year 2006 has been a year of continued growth for the agency. The Cache River House settled into a smooth operation, and the agency had the opportunity to purchase a new office building in Elizabethtown. Construction began on a new closed file record storage building on agency owned property in Vienna, with completion expected in early fiscal year 2007. Progress continued during fiscal year 2006 in the design, planning and funding for the Autumn Ridge Supportive Living Facility project.
As we venture into Fiscal Year 2007, we look forward with anticipation toward adding needed office space for the Johnson County Developmental Disabilities’ day training program, the youth counselor’s offices and the Psychosocial Rehabilitation program; the excitement of the CARF survey reaccreditation process, and beginning construction on the Autumn Ridge Supportive Living Facility.
Family Counseling Center, Inc. is going and growing, thanks to the commitment of our employees and the foresight of our much-appreciated Board of Directors.
Larry W. Mizell
Executive Director
