News Archives - Page 5 of 17 - Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County

United Way and Community Foundation announce over $5 million in funding commitment from city and county for “Heading Home 2021” regional plan

United Way of Monroe County and the Community Foundation, along with officials from the City of Bloomington and the Monroe County Government, announced November 10 a formal partnership including more than $5 million in funding proposed to support the “Heading Home 2021: A Regional Plan for Making Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Repeating.”

The Heading Home Plan, developed by regional partners, including service providers, government officials, community members, funders, and people with lived experience, serves as a local guide to support long-term initiatives in reducing and eliminating regional housing insecurity and homelessness.

The funding announcement from the City of Bloomington and Monroe County Government will enable community partners to launch and sustain long-term solutions for the region. The City of Bloomington will provide $1.2 million in funding to support the Heading Home Plan as part of Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative, plus an additional $1.5 million in 2022. The Monroe County Government announced plans to contribute $1.2 million, plus an additional $1.2 million in endowment funding to sustain the work for the long-term.

Additionally, Bloomington Township has approved $15,000 for their next budget year.

The Heading Home 2021 Plan:

During the past year, a working group of stakeholders was convened by United Way and the Community Foundation, with support from the South Central Housing Network, City of Bloomington, Monroe County Government, and the townships of Perry and Bloomington. Building on the collaborative relief work during the pandemic, this group worked to update the community’s action plan, with committees diving deep into research and recommendations.

“One of the few silver linings of the pandemic was how it brought us together as a community. We came together to respond to the immediate and ongoing needs posed by COVID, working across sectors to assure that in our community, people’s basic needs of food, shelter, health and safety, child care, and more were being met despite unprecedented challenges,” Efrat Feferman, United Way of Monroe County Executive Director reflected. “And while we continue to address these emergency needs, the pandemic has also allowed us to direct federal and local funds towards assuring that fewer people live in that state of crisis, and move into or remain in stable, safe homes. This is a life-changing opportunity that can alter the long-term health of our community.”

Building upon the work of the 2014 Heading Home plan, the working group identified goals, strategies, and objectives to increase housing security by preventing homelessness in the first place, ensuring that if homelessness occurs it has a short tenure, and that it does not occur again.

The Heading Home 2021 plan addresses the many contributing factors to housing insecurity which range from financial and legal issues to emotional, physical, and mental health related matters. It also speaks to system-level issues related to access to a variety of housing types. Additionally, it looks at process issues that can be improved upon to eliminate barriers to housing or to expedite access.

Most importantly, the housing plan is grounded in the concept of Housing First, an approach to quickly and successfully connecting families and individuals to permanent housing without preconditions and barriers. It’s a significant advancement to previous approaches that required individuals to demonstrate readiness for housing first.

“The strategy that has been defined in the Heading Home plan is bold, different, and holistic. To ensure it is implemented with fidelity and becomes more than an admirable exercise in community collaboration, the community must invest resources into its implementation,” said Tina Peterson, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County President and CEO. “Today, we are excited to announce a shared commitment from the public sector, private sector, and nonprofit sector, to not only acknowledge the need for a fully ideated long-term plan to increase housing security, but also the willingness of these partners to commit the resources necessary to ensure that we can activate and sustain that plan.”

To read the Heading Home 2021 plan visit www.monroeunitedway.org/housing

Current Landscape and Funding Commitments:

Monroe County is not unlike many communities across the country facing a housing crunch. There is a national affordable housing crisis that has only been exacerbated by the pandemic over the last 20 months. In Bloomington, 60% of renters and 30% of homeowners spend more than 30% of their income on housing, according to the 2020 Housing Study commissioned by the City of Bloomington.

“That is the definition of being “cost-burdened” by housing costs. It means there’s that much less left for other needs, let alone wants, savings, or money circulating in the economy. In other words, the impact ripples beyond the individual across the whole community,” shared City of Bloomington Deputy Mayor Donald Griffin, Jr.

Griffin continued, “Through our Recover Forward plan, the City is today dedicating $1.2 million to this transformative work led by United Way and the Community Foundation. The Recover Forward initiative aims to rebuild from the pandemic with a view toward greater environmental, racial, and economic justice. Additional recent investments in housing include down payment assistance, investing in the BHA’s new Summit Hill Development, and designating a Landlord Risk Mitigation Fund. Together with all of the community forces gathered here, I believe we can work to make homelessness and housing insecurity rare, brief, and non-repeating.”

“We see people without homes throughout our community and they’re visible to us. But people struggle every day with shelter. They may occasionally reside in an overnight shelter, they may live in a vehicle, they may couch surf. This is an urban and rural issue. It involves individuals and families, it involves children and the elderly, and those facing physical and mental challenges. It is an issue that deserves a community response. And the solutions must be reflective of dignity and respect,” commented Julie Thomas, Monroe County Commissioner President.

Thomas continued, “Because this is not an isolated issue, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners and the Monroe County Council have pledged American Rescue Plan Act dollars totaling $1.2 million to support the initiation, planning, and implantation of the Heading Home 2021 plan. And we have committed $1.2 million in additional dollars to fund an endowment to start the seed growing to ensure the long-term sustainability of this fund.”

“This is a great example of City and County leaders joining together to put real solutions into place to solve difficult challenges within our community,” shared Eric Spoonmore, Monroe County Council President. “The Heading Home initiative proves once again how Monroe County residents step up to address real human concerns for the greater good and lift up our community. The reason this initiative has been so successful is the collaborative way in which United Way and the Community Foundation engaged with so many service providers and agencies and invited all voices to the table.”

Next Steps:

The immediate next steps supported by this funding include:

Hire a small team of professionals dedicated to executing the long-term regional strategies in the Heading Home Plan.
Build an active cross-sector coalition to develop and coordinate strategies.
Create a coordinated, live data set for monitoring progress on homelessness and housing insecurity, including a dashboard accessible to the public.
Partner with local agencies to expand rapid rehousing beyond Monroe County, forging new relationships in surrounding counties.
Work with landlords and service providers throughout south-central Indiana to house people, providing the needed support. Additionally provide incentives to house the most vulnerable community members through a risk mitigation fund.
Encourage the development of a range of housing options.

Get Involved:

Making homelessness and housing insecurity rare, brief, and non-repeating requires the whole community coming together. For those interested in connecting with this work, an interest form is available at monroeunitedway.org/housing. Whether someone is interested in volunteering for a committee, being an advocate for housing, or working with local nonprofits to lease vacant rentals to fellow community members trying to get back on their feet, those interested are encouraged to fill out the interest form.

To read the Heading Home 2021 plan visit www.monroeunitedway.org/housing

About Monroe County of United Way: United Way of Monroe County’s is a nonprofit organization that improves the lives and futures of all people in the community. We bring together expertise, funding and volunteer support to positively impact the resilience of our community, and those who live within it. In partnership with others, we work to eliminate inequities experienced by low-income and diverse populations so that all people have a safe, healthy home environment, achieve their educational potential, and increase their financial stability. We commit to building bridges across cultural, racial, religious, and economic boundaries. More info www.monroeunitedway.org.

About the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted more than $27 million since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $44 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources. Learn more at www.cfbmc.org.

Connecting The Pieces for Housing Security in Monroe County

By Mary Anne Sterling, Special Contributor and Community Foundation Stewardship Committee Member

Monroe County is no stranger to housing challenges, especially in Bloomington, where the average rent is among the highest in the state. Even before COVID-19, many families struggled to pay rent and were vulnerable to eviction. Behind the scenes, the Community Justice & Mediation Center has leveraged the talents and dedication of its volunteer mediators to help both tenants and landlords resolve conflicts. We recently checked in with Executive Director Liz Grenat to learn how a Community Foundation grant enabled CJAM to expand its reach to serve more in need.

Since 1995, CJAM has served as a bridge between individuals and the court system. In 2005, the Center expanded its grassroots efforts to offer community mediation to resolve conflicts and disputes between individuals. Liz explained that mediation services are provided by a network of trained, impartial community volunteers.

“They work tirelessly to help parties negotiate agreements, including tenancy, payment plans, and other issues.”

In 2020, the Community Foundation awarded CJAM a $21,000 grant to fund a project coordinator and web-based database to support its collaboration in Monroe Countyís Housing and Eviction Prevention Project (HEPP). This program reduces eviction, preserves housing, provides comprehensive access to social services, facilitates tenant and landlord education, and improves overall housing security for renters in Monroe County.

“Itís important for donors to know just how valuable the Community Foundation’s assistance has been in supporting our efforts,” Liz said. “Beyond the financial support, they have been flexible mentors and proactive partners during this most challenging time. Their support enabled us to build a digital case-tracking system, implement a new virtual court process, and leverage additional funding to enhance our services.”

“Our goal is to emphasize mediation, working with both parties to resolve and prevent elaborate legal proceedings. About 70% of the landlords have legal representation, but only about 5% of the tenants ever have legal representation, so our services can benefit both parties to a dispute,” she added.

“Some individuals are struggling and worry that they may be evicted,” Liz explained. “Legal eviction results in a court record, which can prevent individuals and families from relocating to decent housing in a safe neighborhood because many landlords screen for previous evictions.” Oftentimes eviction is the last resort. Mediating with CJAM enables these parties to resolve their disputes without a court hearing.

This program is just one aspect of the Community Foundationís strategy to address housing security in Monroe County. Because of your generous support and trust in the Foundation, innovative and impactful efforts are possible. Thank you for caring so deeply about our community and all those who call it home!

Want to get more involved? CJAM is in need of both volunteer mediators and pro bono attorneys. If you are interested in helping advance this organization’s important mission, contact the Center by email at [email protected] or phone at (812) 336-8677.

Ten high school seniors selected as finalists for Monroe County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships

Join us in congratulating these phenomenal Monroe County students.

Ten high school seniors have been selected as finalists for the 2022 Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. We hope you will join us in congratulating these phenomenal students:

Lucy Clarke, Bloomington High School North
Ella Francis, Bloomington High School North
Jetta Norris, Edgewood High School
Sophia Ramlo, Bloomington High School South
Mathilde Robinson, Bloomington High School South
Faith Stimson, Bloomington High School North
Eva Stuart, Bloomington High School South
Jacob Waugh, Edgewood High School
Katie Wilson, Edgewood High School
Kaitlyn Wong, Bloomington High School North

Among their many accomplishments, this year’s Monroe County Lilly Scholarship finalists have been involved in 40 school organizations, displayed their talents in art, dance, music, theater, writing, speech, and debate, and excelled as athletes in baseball, figure skating, lacrosse, soccer, track, tennis, and volleyball.

Within this exceptional group are motivated young people who have studied abroad, launched their own businesses, established community organizations, and pursued internships in their future career paths. These student leaders have also demonstrated compassion and integrity as camp counselors, mentors, tutors, lifeguards, referees, childcare providers, and friends.

As engaged members of the community, they have also volunteered for 25 local organizations, including Area 10 Agency on Aging, Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington, City of Bloomington, Community Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Pantry 279, Women Writing for (a) Change, Wheeler Mission, WonderLab, and many others.

“We are proud to recognize this extraordinary group of young people doing amazing and innovative things in our community,” said Tina Peterson, Community Foundation’s president and CEO. “In a year that has been challenging for schools and teens, these students have forged new paths to continue growing, learning, and achieving. They represent the next generation of innovators, and we can’t wait to see what they will accomplish in the future.”

“While we always regret that only two of these amazing finalists will ultimately receive the Lilly Scholarship, each one inspires great confidence in this generation of young people,” added Peterson. “It would be our hope that many of our finalists will stay in Indiana for their postsecondary experiences and begin their careers in the Indiana Uplands region.”

Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are awarded four-year, full-tuition scholarships to pursue baccalaureate degrees at colleges or universities in Indiana. The scholarship also includes up to $900 annually for required textbooks and equipment. In Monroe County, two students are awarded Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships each year.

Monroe County’s Lilly Scholarship Application Process

Monroe County’s finalists were selected from among 22 semifinalists and 93 applications submitted by students from five of the ten high schools that serve Monroe County. Eligible schools include The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Covenant Christian School, Bloomington Graduation School, Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, Harmony School, Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics & Humanities, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Seven Oaks Classical School.

Applications for the 2022 scholarship were blindly reviewed and independently scored by representatives from each high school to identify semifinalists. The number of semifinalists identified is reflective of each school’s senior class size. See complete list of semifinalists.

Each semifinalist was invited to submit a more comprehensive application, which included additional application questions and recommendations. The Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee then evaluated the completed semifinalist applications. This committee, made up of community members and a former Monroe County Lilly Scholar, blindly reviewed and scored applications from the semifinalists to select ten finalists. In selecting recipients for the Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, consideration is given to student activities and achievements, community and civic service, academic performance, and leadership potential.

The finalists will interview with the selection committee during the week of October 18, and their interview scores will be combined with scoring from the written application. The finalists’ rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations for scholarship nominees, will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for final selection of scholarship recipients for Monroe County. The two 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for Monroe County will be named in December 2021.

Since the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program’s inception in 1998, over $424 million in scholarship tuition has been provided to students across the state. Administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. with local support from Indiana community foundations, 4,912 Indiana high school students have been awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

The primary purposes of the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program are 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state.

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program or other scholarships administered by CFBMC, visit https://www.cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/ or contact Marcus Whited, Program Director at 812-333-9016 or [email protected].

About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:

Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted more than $27 million since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $44 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.

Twenty-two high school seniors selected as semifinalists for Monroe County’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships

The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has announced that 22 high school seniors have been selected as semifinalists for the 2022 Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program. Congratulations to these exceptional students:

Paolo Ansaldo, Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship
Roudra Chatterjea, Bloomington High School North
Lucy Clarke, Bloomington High School North
Ella Francis, Bloomington High School North
Elijah Gill, Edgewood High School
Alexandra Gryszowka, Bloomington High School South
Layaan Hajiyev, Bloomington High School South
Ian Hamstra, Lighthouse Christian Academy
Alexandra King, Bloomington High School North
Chantelle Miller, Bloomington High School South
Jetta Norris, Edgewood High School
Sophia Ramlo, Bloomington High School South
Mathilde Robinson, Bloomington High School South
Isabel Schneider, Bloomington High School North
Faith Stimson, Bloomington High School North
Eva Stuart, Bloomington High School South
Anh Tran, Bloomington High School North
Isabella Vesperini, Bloomington High School South
Jacob Waugh, Edgewood High School
Zander West, Bloomington High School South
Katie Wilson, Edgewood High School
Kaitlyn Wong, Bloomington High School North

Monroe County’s semifinalists were selected from among 93 applications submitted by students from five of the ten high schools that serve Monroe County. Eligible schools include The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Covenant Christian School, Bloomington Graduation School, Bloomington High School North, Bloomington High School South, Edgewood High School, Harmony School, Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics & Humanities, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Seven Oaks Classical School.

Each semifinalist has been invited to submit an updated application, which includes additional application questions and recommendations. Applications for the finalist round are due September 23. The Community Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee will then evaluate the completed semifinalist applications. This committee, made up of community members and former Monroe County Lilly Scholars, blindly reviews and scores applications from the semifinalists to select ten finalists. In selecting recipients for the Monroe County Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, consideration is given to student activities and achievements, community and civic service, academic performance, and leadership potential.

Finalists will be identified and interviewed in October, and finalist interview scores will be combined with scoring from the written application. The finalists’ rankings, along with the committee’s recommendations for scholarship nominees, will be submitted to Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. for final selection of scholarship recipients for Monroe County. The two 2022 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars for Monroe County will be named in December 2021.

“This year’s semifinalists are an exceptional group of students and young leaders with a diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and aspirations,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “We look forward to getting to know them better and cannot understate what it means to our community, our region, and our state that these talented young people are interested in pursuing their post-secondary education at one of Indiana’s world-class colleges and universities.”

Since the Lilly Endowment Scholarship Program’s inception in 1998, over $424 million in scholarship tuition has been provided. Administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana, Inc. with local support from Indiana community foundations, 4,912 Indiana high school students have been awarded the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship.

For more information on the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program or other scholarships administered by CFBMC, visit https://cfbmc.org/lasting-impact/apply-for-a-scholarship/ or contact Marcus Whited, Program Director at 812-333-9016 or [email protected].

About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:

Community Foundation opens “Creating Community” grant funding opportunity

Fostering Our Community’s Vibrancy, Quality of Place, & Livability

Grant applications due Oct 25, 2021!

CFBMC, with the support of funding generously provided by the Smithville Charitable Foundation, is pleased to announce the “Creating Community” grant initiative and invites local organizations to submit proposals. These grants are intended to foster our community’s vibrancy, quality of place, and livability through supporting and enhancing the amenities that make Monroe County an attractive place to call home. Examples of eligible proposal areas include but are not limited to: the arts, public recreation, community spaces, beautification, animal welfare, environmental preservation and enhancement, and opportunities that seek to create a more welcoming, inclusive Monroe County. Learn more »

“Heading Home 2021” Plan Released by United Way of Monroe County, Community Foundation, and South Central Housing Network

United Way of Monroe County, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, and the South Central Housing Network (SCHN) are pleased to announce the release of “Heading Home 2021: A Regional Plan for Making Homelessness Rare, Brief, and Non-Repeating.” This plan will serve as a community guide to support long-term initiatives in reducing and eliminating regional housing insecurity and homelessness in Monroe County.

In early 2021, United Way and the Community Foundation began meeting with a small group of community organizations to understand the underlying challenges that have prevented Monroe County from fully achieving goals outlined in the 2014 Heading Home Plan. An analysis of that plan indicated that while many organizations and entities have been deliberately and tirelessly working to advance housing security, there had not been a county-wide mechanism to coordinate and make the best use of the many assets throughout our region to ultimately achieve the full complement of results intended in the 2014 plan.

In response, a Housing Insecurity Working Group was convened in February to revisit the 2014 plan, assess the community’s current issues surrounding housing insecurity, and create an updated plan for 2021 and beyond. Comprised of more than 60 members, representing nearly 30 local and regional organizations, the Working Group looked at systemic root causes while ensuring that the voices of those with lived experience are lifted, heard, and valued.

“Housing insecurity and homelessness impact all too many of our community members. We have many wonderful service providers, each filled with caring people who do this work day in and day out. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring them together, alongside elected officials, philanthropic partners, and other key stakeholders, to work jointly on the systemic level,” said United Way Executive Director Efrat Feferman.

Regional partners, including service providers, government officials, community members, and funders, were instrumental to this process. Financial support from Bloomington Township, City of Bloomington, Monroe County Government, and Perry Township has supported the planning and coordination of the effort to date.

In the past few months, three Working Group sub-committees researched service delivery gaps and promising solutions. The Data and Dashboard committee reviewed existing information to identify what data providers currently track and what is most significant to measuring progress. The Map and Gap committee reviewed services associated with proximal causes of housing insecurity and identified gaps in these services. Finally, the Promising Practices committee identified holistic best practices for housing security in place in other communities.

Initial recommendations included improving data collection and sharing, filling gaps in services, and implementing best practices were incorporated into the plan. In addition, the sub-committees recommended that the updated plan focus on implementing regional solutions to reducing homelessness, increasing affordable housing, increasing access to skilled case managers, and providing effective and expeditious strategies for addressing acute housing issues.

All of the recommendations were distilled into a new Heading Home plan that centers around a collective impact response following the Housing First model. Housing First, at its core, is the broad philosophy to house people impacted by homelessness as quickly as possible. Having stable housing creates a foundation that better equips households to address the underlying issues that resulted in housing insecurity and/or homelessness.

As Emily Pike, Executive Director of New Hope for Families and chair of the South Central Housing Network explains, “There just aren’t any causes of homelessness that are naturally or easily resolved during a period of homelessness. The Housing First model tells us to put first things first and get individuals and families into stable housing, so they can work on the next thing. It’s a philosophy many of our highly-skilled local service providers have been working to integrate for several years, and we are excited to welcome more community members into this vital work.”

The Heading Home 2021 Plan also recommends the creation of an entity to guide implementation strategies and ensure a coordinated countywide response. This entity will provide leadership, accountability, and ensure that broad stakeholder engagement is sustained through a Housing Insecurity Coalition.

United Way of Monroe County, the Community Foundation, SCHN, and the Working Group will continue to move forward to create a sustainable infrastructure to support this work. This process includes seeking support for the long-term implementation of this plan and strategy.

“The completion of the Heading Home 2021 plan is an important step for Monroe County and our region,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “Through a cross-sector approach, we have co-designed a uniquely relevant plan that offers a roadmap for moving forward in creating greater housing security for individuals and families. It’s a goal shared by many, one that must become reality for this community to thrive.”

To read the plan, click here.

To learn more about the Housing Insecurity Working Group, click here.

About United Way of Monroe County: United Way of Monroe County is a nonprofit organization that improves people’s lives by addressing critical needs today and working to reduce those needs tomorrow. Through its Community Action Fund and grant initiatives, United Way works with 24 member agencies and community partners to ensure families have opportunities and everyone can meet basic living needs. Learn more: https://www.monroeunitedway.org

About the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $27 million to local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $41.1 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources.

Community Foundation receives $100,000 Stronger Together grant to develop new supports for local child care providers

The Community Foundation of Bloomington of Monroe County has been awarded $100,000 from Early Learning Indiana to create a regional shared service hub that will help regional child care providers balance operational demands with providing affordable, quality care.

“We are honored to receive a Stronger Together grant from Early Learning Indiana and Lilly Endowment to continue improving child care services in Monroe County with a goal of expanding hub membership to early childhood programs in the Indiana Uplands region,” said Jennifer Myers, Monroe Smart Start Director.

“Ultimately, our hope is that this model, once tested and refined in Monroe County, will be expanded across the Indiana Uplands,” added Myers. “Every community in our region would benefit from the tools and resources to streamline operations, reduce operating costs, support the professional development of staff, and offer services that are often beyond the capacity of independent early care programs. Through the creation of this regional pool of shared services, child care providers will be able to streamline their operations, save money, and focus more of their time on providing quality early care and education to children.”

The Community Foundation of Bloomington of Monroe County is one of seven grant recipients from across Indiana. With the grant funds, the Community Foundation, through its Monroe Smart Start leadership program, will create shared services to develop business leadership that helps to ensure full enrollment and assists with tuition collection, reporting, marketing, accounting support, and a substitute pool. The shared services hub will pilot in Monroe County and eventually extend support to child care programs in the Indiana Uplands region.

“Early care and education providers operate with razor-thin margins as they juggle the actual cost of providing care and the ability of families to afford it,” said Maureen Weber, president and CEO of Early Learning Indiana. “The organizations we’ve awarded Stronger Together grants will directly impact the sustainability of local providers, influence the affordability of care for families and enable providers to focus their scarce time and resources on the business of learning.”

In addition to awarding grant funding, Early Learning Indiana has partnered with Opportunities Exchange (OppEx) to offer technical assistance to all grantees. OppEX is a national nonprofit consulting group working to transform the business of early care and education to improve child outcomes and ensure practitioners are well-compensated and work in supportive environments.

Learn more about the Stronger Together grant at https://earlylearningin.org/stronger-together/.

About the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $27 million to local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $41.1 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources. Learn more at www.cfbmc.org.

About Monroe Smart Start: A leadership initiative of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Monroe Smart Start works on behalf of our community’s youngest learners, helping to ensure children are ready for school and ready for life. Since 2009, the Community Foundation has invested $2 million to support high-quality early learning in Monroe County through advocacy, training, education, parental engagement, and child-centered Monroe Smart Start initiatives. Learn more at www.monroesmartstart.org.

About Early Learning Indiana: Early Learning Indiana is Indiana’s oldest and largest early childhood education nonprofit, providing leadership, advocacy, and early childhood education services to continually improve the early learning landscape in Indiana. Today, Early Learning Indiana operates eight high-quality Day Early Learning centers, a network of premier community-based lab schools used to advance the science of early learning, train the next generation of teachers and leaders, and instill essential skills in the children we serve. Through regional and statewide programs, the organization enables early learning providers to build capacity, transform operations and improve learning outcomes. Learn more at EarlyLearningIndiana.org.

CenterPoint Energy Foundation and Hoosiers Read award $250,000 grant to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to Monroe County

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income.

All local children ages birth to five are eligible for this FREE book gifting program that mails high-quality, age-appropriate books every month directly to their homes.

In partnership with CenterPoint Energy Foundation and Hoosiers Read, the Community Foundation of Bloomington of Monroe County, along with its Monroe Smart Start program, is excited to announce that Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is coming to Monroe County.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, regardless of family income. Monroe County families with children younger than five years old can enroll in the book program by visiting https://imaginationlibrary.com/usa/affiliate/INMONROE/. Multiple children can be enrolled in the same household. Each child will receive a free, new book each month up to their fifth birthday.

This effort is being funded through a $1 million grant by the CenterPoint Energy Foundation to expand Hoosiers Read into Madison, Monroe, Vigo, and Vanderburgh Counties. Hoosiers Read was born out of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation (MDLF). Each year, Mitch Daniels Leadership Fellows pitch influential state leaders on ideas to improve Indiana, and 2019-2020 Fellow Ben Battaglia’s proposal to enhance literacy by mailing free books to young children struck a chord, and Hoosiers Read was formed.

Representatives from the Community Foundation, CenterPoint Energy Foundation, and Hoosiers Read gathered on June 17 for the special announcement at WonderLab Museum’s Science Sprouts Place and Sprouts Lab, a popular exhibit area designed to support learning and exploration for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers.

Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson, Amanda Schmitt, CenterPoint Energy Foundation President, and Ben Battaglia, Founder of Hoosiers Read.

“It is a perfect community match that this exciting announcement event took place in Science Sprouts Place, which was also supported in part by a generous grant from the Community Foundation, said Karen Jepson-Innes, WonderLab’s Executive Director.

“WonderLab believes in the importance of enriched learning experiences from birth, and this includes language development at its very core,” added Jepson-Innes. “In fact, at the very center of Science Sprouts Place is the Reading Nook, with its books and materials that strengthen a young child’s cognitive development and child-caregiver interactions. We were honored to be the site for the kick-off for this exciting new resource for our community!”

Inspired by her father’s inability to read or write, entertainment icon Dolly Parton founded the Imagination Library in 1995. The program started as a local effort in Dolly’s home, Sevier County, Tennessee, with the hopes of inspiring a love of reading and learning from a young age. A total of 1,760 books were delivered in the Library’s first order. The program became such a success that in 2000 a national replication effort began. What began as a local program grew into an international movement. By 2020, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library had distributed 150 million books in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland.

“We couldn’t be more excited about what the grant from the CenterPoint Energy Foundation means for children and families,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “What an amazing opportunity for our community’s youngest learners to develop a love for books and reading at an early age.”

“Early learning, literacy, and school readiness have been priorities of the Community Foundation for the past 15 years through our Monroe Smart Start initiative, added Peterson. “We know early learning is critical for school readiness and later success in school and life. We are grateful to CenterPoint Energy Foundation and Hoosiers Read for helping to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Monroe County families, and we look forward to working with them to enroll as many families as possible.”

“CenterPoint Energy is proud to support the expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library into Monroe County,” said Amanda Schmitt, Foundation President. “We believe all children should have access to high-quality, developmentally appropriate literature in their homes. What a wonderful thing this will be for all families in Monroe County.”

About Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation. It reaches more children than any other early childhood book gifting program by mailing free, high-quality, age-appropriate books to children from birth until age five, no matter their family’s income. Learn more at: https://imaginationlibrary.com.

About the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County: Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has granted $27 million to local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $41.1 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources. Learn more at www.cfbmc.org.

About Monroe Smart Start: A leadership initiative of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Monroe Smart Start works on behalf of our community’s youngest learners, helping to ensure children are ready for school and ready for life. Since 2009, the Community Foundation has invested more than $1.8 million to support high-quality early learning in Monroe County through advocacy, training, education, parental engagement, and child-centered Monroe Smart Start initiatives. Learn more at www.monroesmartstart.org.

About Hoosiers Read: Hoosiers Read is a nonprofit focused on improving child literacy in Indiana. Began as a project born out of the Mitch Daniels Leadership Foundation in 2019, Hoosier Reads partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to directly bring books to kids in five Indiana counties, as well as support & grow the program statewide. Learn more at www.hoosiersread.org.

About CenterPoint Energy: As the only investor owned electric and gas utility based in Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) is an energy delivery company with electric transmission and distribution, power generation, and natural gas distribution operations that serve more than 7 million metered customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Texas. As of March 31, 2021, the company owned approximately $36 billion in assets and also owned 53.7 percent of the common units representing limited partner interests in Enable Midstream Partners, LP, a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns, operates, and develops strategically located natural gas and crude oil infrastructure assets. With approximately 9,500 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. The CenterPoint Energy Foundation is a charitable giving vehicle focused on strengthening the quality of life in the communities served by CenterPoint Energy. For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

About WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology: WonderLab is an award-winning science museum with exhibits and programs for ages birth through adult. WonderLab is located at 308 W. Fourth St. on the B-Line Trail in Bloomington, Indiana. General admission is $10, and children younger than one year are free. Due to Covid-19, the museum is open to the public during limited times. For the most up-to-date information, go to wonderlab.org.

A good news update: expanding mental health resiliency and nonprofit capacity in Monroe County

By Mary Anne Sterling
Special Contributor and Community Foundation Stewardship Committee Member

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all, fostering emotions of loneliness and anxiety fueled by an uncertain future. According to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation, about 4 in 10 adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, up from one in 10 in 2019. Children, young adults, and individuals with disabilities, especially, have suffered disproportionately.

After long months of being isolated from family, friends, and classmates, we all long for good news. We are proud to share stories from three Community Foundation grant recipients. Catholic Charities of Bloomington, the Bloomington Housing Authority, and LIFEDesigns were each awarded Resilient Community Mental Health Grants in November to enhance or expand mental, emotional, and behavioral health programs. Since late 2020, these three organizations have already made an incredible difference in the lives and well-being of people in Monroe County.

During this spring season of renewal and hope, we hope you’ll enjoy these inspiring stories and also make time to enjoy nature’s magnificence in your part of our wonderful community.

Mental health therapist helps Catholic Charities Bloomington to meet increased demand

Throughout the pandemic, Catholic Charities Bloomington (CCB) has witnessed a significant increase in demand for therapy, particularly among teens and individuals on the Autism spectrum. Since August 2020, the number of people seeking help has tripled. “These individuals have struggled due to lack of in-person contact and socialization that are so vital to their growth and mental well-being,” says Michael Stribling, Associate Clinical Director for the agency.

“The grant we received from the Community Foundation enabled us to partially fund a full-time mental health therapist to help ease our overwhelmed caseloads, provide relief to distressed clients and better manage a growing waitlist,” he explained.

With the help of this additional therapist, CCB has averaged a record 850 therapy sessions per month in the first quarter of 2021.

“We were fortunate to be able to hire an exceptional intern who stayed on following the completion of her internship as a volunteer. She was already familiar with our protocols and practices and was able to transition effortlessly to her full-time role as a youth and Autism specialist,” he added.

Getting help in a pandemic

Michael elaborated on the way the organization has had to adapt. “When COVID hit, we started with phone-based counseling but quickly adopted a tele-behavioral health option. Prior to COVID-19, we were a strictly face-to-face operation. But we found that the technology-enabled approach drastically enhanced our reach beyond our office. The limitation of a physical structure meant that people had to find a way to get to our office. They had to get a ride, or, if they had a car, figure out how to pay for gas or take time off of work to come to an appointment. We soon realized how powerful it was to meet people in their own homes. I primarily work with children, and it’s so beneficial for a young person to be able to be in their own space with their favorite toys or pets, a place where they’re comfortable and where they feel safe. The telehealth approach has taken the feeling of safety in the therapeutic process to a new level.”

The mental health and nature connection

When asked to describe the mental health-nature connection, Michael referenced a Japanese term, Shinrin-yoku, which literally translates as forest bathing. “Essentially, if you can be outdoors, bathing in the energy, positivity, and the beauty of nature, that can help your entire mindset. It’s an extension of the grounding techniques we use in our therapy. It’s a way to get somebody who’s feeling anxiety or stress to reconnect with their logical brain and their surroundings. The emotional brain can easily turn into frustration, negative behaviors, or panic, so grounding techniques—such as taking a deep breath or running your hands under cold water—can help reduce emotional symptoms. And they can help distract you from what you’re experiencing and refocus on what’s happening in the present moment.”

Michael points out that there is a connection to anything larger and outside of yourself that can “get you out of your own head.” He encourages his clients “to step outside for a minute; put their feet flat on the ground and take deep breaths. And the best place to take a deep breath is outside, where more oxygen helps your brain and your body’s ability to emotionally regulate.” So just spending time outside in the fresh air, on a walk, in a forest or a garden can promote positive mental health.

A valuable community resource

“Our mission is to provide high-quality mental health care to all people, regardless of circumstances,” Michael said. He explained that CCB works with people of all ages in need of quality mental health services—the majority of which are children under the age of 17. “We are committed to removing barriers that reduce the quality of life for the poor and for persons marginalized by society in any way,” he added. CCB consults with teachers and parents and evaluates students who are experiencing behavioral, emotional, social, or learning barriers to their education. CCB provides social skills groups and individual supportive counseling on a weekly basis to overcome barriers and move students toward success at school and at home. “We value all of our community partnerships that allow us to find the gaps in mental health services in our community and build bridges and make connections to fill those gaps for all people,” Michael added.

When asked what he hoped people would learn about CCB, Michael didn’t hesitate. “We serve everyone in the community and are exceptionally well-trained.” You can learn more about Catholic Charities Bloomington, including ways to volunteer and urgently needed donation items, by visiting the Catholic Charities Bloomington website.

Bloomington Housing Authority creates new mental health electronic lending library

It might surprise readers to learn that the Mental Health Lending Library was the brainchild of the Bloomington Housing Authority’s hands-on staff. When asked about the connection between mental health and public housing, Administrative Director Leon Gordon conceded that “too few people understand all that we do to help Bloomington residents.” After housing is secured, he explained, there is a range of programs designed to assist residents with educational, employment, or personal goals. “We coordinate community services and resources to best serve families in need,” he said.

Where opportunity begins but doesn’t end with housing

The BHA works with various welfare agencies, schools, businesses, and other local partners to help participants access services such as childcare, transportation, senior support, education and training, and homeownership counseling. “We also offer residents weekly food and non-food pantries, as well as daily access to a free computer lab. And our Family Self-Sufficiency Program helps eligible individuals acquire the skills and experience they need to obtain work that pays a living wage,” he pointed out. The agency’s Resident Service Coordinator plays a pivotal role in ensuring that residents are aware of the programs.

Check it out: A mental health lending library

The new lending library capitalizes on technology to increase access to mental health services for some of Bloomington’s most vulnerable households. “Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County,” Leon said, “residents can check out one of 10 Wi-Fi-enabled tablets with video conferencing capability to meet their telehealth/mental health-related needs.” Leon made clear that the staff wanted to provide a solution that enabled residents to meet their needs for themselves. “We thought it would be an opportunity to expand access to the Internet in a way that didn’t exist before. While we have the computer lab, the setting doesn’t allow for private exchanges between a resident and a health provider.” They were very intentional about the type of devices they wanted. “We wanted to ensure high-speed quality internet service, outfit the devices with protective cases, and offer a pay-as-you-go feature to manage internet access costs.”

Since the program was launched in February 2021, the Resident Service Coordinator has been getting the word out by scheduling appointments with residents to explain how the lending library works. Going forward, the agency will embark on an awareness campaign with local health/mental health providers. The project enables mental health providers to refer clients to the Resident Service Coordinator to gain access to the technology and BHA to establish referrals to mental health providers. “It’s a win-win proposition all the way around—for our residents, for mental health providers, and for BHA,” he added.

The BHA was established in 1961, and the first development of affordable housing units was completed in 1968. It employs a staff of 30 and provides housing assistance to over 2,500 Monroe County households each year. The BHA operates three affordable housing communities and provides more than 1,300 Housing Choice Vouchers that enable income-eligible families to rent in the private market. Learn more and ways you can help by visiting the Bloomington Housing Authority website.

Board-certified behavioral analyst enhances services offered by LIFEDesigns

Many don’t realize that LIFEDesigns has been serving our region for four decades, says Kristen King, Director of Community Relations for the organization. That lack of awareness, she says, is rooted in the fact that the nonprofit has changed its name four times over the past 40 years. What hasn’t changed since 1981, she asserts, is the LIFEDesigns mission: to partner with and promote independence for people with disabilities. Kristen says that the original organization was founded by several families who desired to meet the residential and long-term care needs of their children. “They felt that smaller more personal homes would provide a significantly better quality of life for their children than institutions or nursing homes.” Today, the multi-faceted organization, which serves more than 300 individuals each year, envisions communities that support all people, where each person is valued, and where everyone belongs.

Promoting happy, healthy lives

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted people living with disabilities. LIFEDesigns has had to cope with many challenges since the onset of the pandemic, especially a significant increase in aggressive client conduct and property damage as a consequence of problematic behaviors. These issues, Kristen confided, “have impacted our ability to retain staff, keep clients safe, and ultimately achieve our mission.”

LIFEDesigns offers a wide range of services—from residential and day services to employment and education services, but behavioral health services weren’t offered previously. Instead, Kristen explained, they relied on other organizations to help their clients with disabilities cope. She pointed out that the arrival of COVID accelerated the need for behavioral health professionals. The grant from the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County “enabled us to hire a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) to help meet the growing need for positive behavior modification,” she said. “We have many clients, for example, that won’t tolerate wearing a mask; some will scream, cry, or run away when asked by staff to put a mask on. Many have difficulty engaging in preventative social distancing measures. Complicating matters, none of our current clients have private insurance, and few have behavioral services coverage. Having a Certified Behavior Analyst on staff is a game-changer that has allowed us to address this significant need immediately. The analyst already has started training staff, family members, and co-workers to help LIFEDesigns clients manage anxiety and anger in healthier ways,” she added.

Nurturing gardens and mental health

Before the pandemic, Kristen explained, their community-based day program included a gardening class at the Willie Streeter Community Gardens In Winslow Woods Park on South Highland Avenue. In 2021, BHA is offering its residents a new community garden space in the Reverend Butler Park area. The BHA staff is working with the BHA Resident Council to establish a system for resident use.

“Our clients love to garden,” she proclaimed. “It’s one of many life skills we teach to promote independence. From planting the seeds in the spring to watching them grow throughout the summer, the garden is a peaceful and beautiful outdoor experience for our clients, a true source of joy. Our group home has a garden plot there that they can walk to and take care of, and enjoy taking the herbs and vegetables back home to cook with. Before the pandemic, we added a garden plot at Switchyard Park that we hope to do again when we can. But our dream is to construct gardens in all the neighborhoods where we offer low-income housing. Many people don’t realize that we’ve developed ADA accessible homes, apartments, duplexes, housing designed for supported living, a group home, and permanent supportive housing. Gardening is connected to mental well-being because when people are living their best life, and they’re doing the things that make them happy, it’s always going to be helpful.”

For more information, including volunteer and donation opportunities, visit the LIFEDesigns website.

A tribute to Jack Mulholland

On December 23, 2020, the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County lost a dear friend. John D. “Jack ” Mulholland, age 93, was the first Executive Director of the Foundation and served on the board for many years after his tenure at the Foundation ended.

Thirty years ago, when the idea of starting the Community Foundation was first being considered, some skeptics thought Bloomington might not be ready, or large enough, to support such an organization and to see it thrive. There were also concerns that the Community Foundation might compete with other charitable organizations for philanthropic dollars.

Many founding members, such as Tomilea Allison, Charlotte Zietlow, Bill C. Brown, and John Fernandez, were undeterred. They knew that the Community Foundation could serve a broader purpose, to help address pressing needs, to support compelling opportunities, and to benefit many nonprofits and the community long into the future.

Tomilea Allison, who served as the Mayor of Bloomington from 1983 to 1995, reached out to then Indiana University Chancellor Herman B Wells for advice. Wells strongly supported the idea and actively recruited Jack Mulholland from Indiana University to serve as the Community Foundation’s first executive director. Jack eagerly jumped into the role, volunteering countless hours to steward the foundling organization. It wasn’t long before Jack was known around town as the Foundation’s “a-dollar-a-year man” because his salary as director was only $1.

Jack recognized the important role that the Foundation could play in supporting nonprofits and our community in perpetuity. He passionately advocated for others to support this new organization. Under his leadership and aided by a passionate volunteer board member named Ilknur Ralston, the Community Foundation began to thrive.

“The passing of Jack Mulholland is a sharp reminder of his signal role in the nurturance of our now magnificent community foundation,” said Allison. “And after those crucial early years, Jack and his wife, Pat, continued to support the foundation with generous gifts to support local nonprofits in perpetuity.”

Because of Jack’s dedication and leadership, the Foundation has continued to bring together people and resources to make a difference in Monroe County. In fact, it was Jack who advocated for broadening the scope and name of the Community Foundation to include Monroe County, not just the city of Bloomington. Since Jack’s time as executive director, the Community Foundation has grown its endowment to $33.5 million and granted $27 million to more than 400 nonprofit organizations.

We are indebted to Jack for positioning the Foundation for long-term success, and we are confident that Monroe County’s future is brighter thanks to him. On behalf of a grateful community, our thoughts are with all those that loved and cherished Jack, including his wife of 66 years, Pat, his three daughters Gail, Joyce, and Wendy, and their families, including seven grandchildren.

If you are interested in making a memorial contribution, the family has designated the John D. and Patricia W. Mulholland Fund at the Community Foundation to honor Jack Mulholland. Donate Now.