With the new year in full swing, I’m reminded of all the
great strides made and challenges overcome in 2014 that have brought us to this
point. Over the past 12 months, Gillis has
experienced significant shifts and changes.
Yet as we have done for over 140 years – and with your help, our Gillis
family of supporters – we have again answered the call to innovate and adjust
so we can better serve the changing needs of the children and families in our
community.
In 2014, Gillis expanded our key services out in the
community. We renewed our outpatient
efforts, bringing therapy programs to our clients where they live, work and
play throughout the Greater KC area.
Gillis also increased focus on our Treatment Foster Care Program, where we
license and train specialized foster homes and better equip parents to provide
a home for a child who may typically require an institutional level of
care. This often results in less trauma
because we can limit repeated foster care placements, and I am proud to
announce that Gillis is currently serving 37 children on this program
In October, Gillis opened the doors to its new Intake and
Assessment Center (GIAC), which helps stabilize children and families in
short-term care. Our GIAC team of
therapists and clinicians then work to identify what the next best step for
long-term success might be and provide every child or family with a
comprehensive assessment and list of recommendations to support that success. Our hope is that we can shorten residential
stays and quickly help children and families find or create the long-term home
that is right for them. We’ve already
seen our efforts pay off for many children, including John*. John overcame significant trauma and
successfully transitioned back into a supportive foster home after both he and
his foster parents received support, education and the tools necessary to thrive together from the GIAC program.
We are positioned for a successful 2015. Through our many programs, and in partnership with our Cornerstones of Care Family of Agencies, we will continue to find new and innovative ways to improve the quality of community for our children and families.
We are positioned for a successful 2015. Through our many programs, and in partnership with our Cornerstones of Care Family of Agencies, we will continue to find new and innovative ways to improve the quality of community for our children and families.
I invite you to take a tour of our Agency to see the great
work you help support each day. I
welcome an opportunity to connect with you directly at 816-508-3501 or
Stephen.O’neill@gillis.org. I wish you
the best this 2015 and thank you for all you have done and will do for Gillis.
Profound Regards,
Stephen O’Neill
