Winning grant for non-profit agency seeking technology upgrade

1. BRCIC
Narrative
1
This
project
will
increase
efficiency,
capacity
and
capability
by
funding
20
new
computers
to
replace
our
existing,
outdated
technology.
In
these
challenging
economic
times,
it
is
essential
that
non-­‐
organizations
become
able
to
do
more
with
less.
New
computers
will
streamline
call
center
operations,
reduce
maintenance-­‐related
expenses,
improve
training
processes,
and
bring
higher
quality
service
to
those
which
we
serve.
Also,
the
new
computers
will
allow
us
to
implement
new
programs
such
as
online
Crisis
Chat
and
video
conference
training.
In
most
areas
where
problems
with
technology
occur,
the
outcome
is
slow
operations,
lost
data,
and
maintenance
expenses.
Currently,
this
center
operates
with
18
computers
obtained
in
2005,
including
10
in
our
call
center
and
8
used
by
BRCIC
staff.
We
have
two
additional
call
center
stations
that
do
not
have
computers.
The
BRCIC
Call
Center,
from
which
THE
PHONE
24/7
crisis
help
hotline
and
2-­‐1-­‐1
Information
and
Referral
Service
are
administered,
will
benefit
most
from
the
new
technology.
For
each
call
the
Center
takes,
there
are
three
phases
in
which
the
outdated
computers
are
problematic:
caller-­‐need
researching,
documentation,
and
managerial
commenting.
The
computers
have
trouble
running
the
software
that
contains
and
searches
the
resource
database
used
to
assist
callers,
leading
to
longer
call
times
and
missed
calls.
Data
loss
is
also
a
problem
in
the
current
systems
as
new
documentation
is
sometimes
dropped
and
manager
comments
are
not
recorded
properly
by
the
machines
due
to
our
equipment’s
lack
of
capacity
to
handle
processor-­‐intensive
operations.
The
Call
Center
uses
its
computers
in
the
more
than
101,000
calls
it
takes
a
year.
The
rising
maintenance
cost
of
the
old
computers
is
another
motivating
factor
in
our
seeking
new
equipment.
Parts
of
the
machines
break
periodically
and
must
be
repaired
by
our
technology
director
after
the
part
has
been
ordered
and
received.
Because
our
computers
are
more
than
5
years
old,
parts
are
not
readily
available.
Only
eight
of
the
10
stations
in
our
call
center
have
computers,
and
during
daytime
hours
all
eight
stations
are
in
use
most
of
the
time.
Losing
one
station’s
computer
significantly
squeezes
the
other
seven
stations.
The
outdated
computers
are
also
prohibiting
us
from
upgrading
our
training
program
for
THE
PHONE
volunteers
and
2-­‐1-­‐1
Information
and
Referral
Specialists.
Various
forms
of
e-­‐learning,
such
as
videos,
are
necessary
to
train
volunteers
and
staff
of
how
to
handle
typical
calls
and
also
how
to
react
in
high-­‐
pressure
situations.
Having
such
media
on
our
network
would
create
an
e-­‐learning
environment
in
which
trainees
could
learn
at
a
private
work
station.
New
computers
will
be
necessary
for
BRCIC
to
launch
a
new
technology
initiative
that
we
are
developing
alongside
national
organizations.
The
Crisis
Chat
service
will
allow
users
to
reach
out
for
help
in
an
online-­‐chat
setting.
This
program
will
help
extend
our
services
to
populations
traditionally
hard
to
engage
in
mental
healthcare,
such
as
youths,
people
with
social
phobias,
and
people
who
view
reaching
out
for
help
with
stigma
and
shame.
We
have
allotted
two
work
stations
in
our
call
center
for
Crisis
Chat,
but
do
not
have
the
computers
necessary
to
administer
the
service.
In
addition
to
the
initiative’s
benefit
to
the
community,
Crisis
Chat
will
increase
the
grant
funds
available
to
BRCIC.
All
computers
replaced
by
this
project
will
be
donated
to
a
school
or
other
worthy
institution.
Capital
Area
United
Way
will
assist
us
in
finding
an
organization
that
will
use
the
old
computers.
D.
Name
and
Qualification
of
the
Person
Responsible
for
this
Program/Project:
Aaron
G.
Blackledge
has
over
12
years
experience
managing
technology
and
technology
consulting
operations
within
the
financial
services,
professional
services
and
healthcare
sectors.
He
has
supported

2. BRCIC
Narrative
2
many
public
and
private
companies
including
Cardinal
Health,
Symantec
Corporation,
Mercury-­‐HP,
Salesforce.com,
Borland,
Zyman
Group,
Agilysys,
Clearcube,
BEA
and
Paisley.
Aaron
continues
to
work
with
organizations
around
strategic
technology
planning
and
the
transition
to
managed
platforms
as
a
service.
He
is
also
employed
as
the
technology
director
of
BRCIC.
He
holds
a
bachelor’s
degree
in
Economics
and
Information
Systems
from
Louisiana
State
University.
E.
Number
of
People
Served
by
This
Request:
101,097
(number
of
people
helped
in
a
year)
F.
Other
Entities
Being
Asked
for
Funding:
None
G.
Budget
and
Timeline
Attached
H.
Describe
Plans
to
Evaluate
the
Program
Project:
The
center
records
three
characteristics
of
calls
for
regular
reporting:
average
call
length,
call
answer
rate
percentage
(calls
answered
over
calls
received),
and
documentation
time
(how
long
it
takes
to
record
the
details
of
a
call).
We
expect
these
numbers
average
call
length
to
decrease,
percentage
of
calls
answered
to
increase,
and
documentation
time
to
decrease.
These
results
can
be
easily
indicated
in
future
reports.
III.
Organizational
History
and
Structure
A.
Mission
of
the
Organization:
To
offer
prevention,
intervention
and
postvention
services
that
provide
support
in
times
of
crisis
and
reduce
the
impact
of
suicide
in
the
community.
B.
Brief
History
of
the
Organization
and
Its
Achievements:
The
Baton
Rouge
Crisis
Intervention
Center
(BRCIC)
began
in
1970
as
a
crisis
telephone
line
on
the
campus
of
Louisiana
State
University
following
the
suicide
deaths
of
six
LSU
students,
including
the
student
body
president.
By
1974,
Baton
Rouge
Crisis
Intervention
Center,
Inc.,
was
incorporated
as
a
non-­‐profit
agency.
Over
the
past
forty
years,
that
simple
student
outreach
has
evolved
into
a
community
wide
full
service
crisis
center
providing
prevention,
intervention,
postvention
and
support
services
throughout
the
ten
parishes
serviced
by
the
Capital
Area
United
Way.
BRCIC
is
certified
by
the
American
Association
of
Suicidology
and
successfully
completed
the
5-­‐year
re-­‐
certification
in
November,
2009.
In
2007,
BRCIC
received
the
Crisis
Center
Excellence
Award
in
part
because
of
the
integral
role
we
played
in
recovery
efforts
following
Hurricane
Katrina.
BRCIC
has
been
a
United
Way
agency
since
1980
and
is
currently
engaged
in
the
certification
process
for
the
Alliance
of
Information
and
Referral
System’s
(AIRS).
C.
Description
of
Existing
Services:
The
current
programs/services
of
BRCIC
are
in
four
basic
areas:
(1)
24/7
Call
Center,
(2)
Survivor
Services,
(3)
Children’s
Bereavement
Services,
and
(4)
Education,
Training
and
Consultation.
(1)
24/7
Call
Center:
staffed
by
both
paraprofessional
staff
and
volunteer
crisis
counselors
and
211
call
specialists.
The
Call
Center
provides
both
clinical
and
211
supervisors
to
insure
and
maintain
quality
of
service
and
provide
guidance
and
support
to
staff
and
volunteers.
In
addition
to
answering
the
local
crisis
line—the
PHONE,
a
confidential
24-­‐hour
telephone
crisis
intervention
service,
the
call
center
answers
regional
calls
to
the
National
Suicide
Prevention
Lifeline
and
calls
to
LA
211
for
regional
11-­‐
parishes
in
the
Capital
Area.
LA
211
is
an
information,
resource
and
referral
service
with
statewide
connectivity
for
times
of
emergency/disaster
assistance.

3. BRCIC
Narrative
3
(2)
Survivor
Services
is
comprised
of
two
programs:
(1)
Survivors
of
Suicide
(SOS)
Program,
which
provides,
at
no
charge,
both
individual
face-­‐to-­‐face
grief
counseling
and
a
weekly
support
group
for
those
who
have
experienced
the
death
of
a
loved
one
to
suicide.
This
is
a
peer/professional
led
program.
(2)
The
Local
Outreach
to
Survivors
of
Suicide
(LOSS)
Program,
the
first
response
team
of
suicide
survivor
volunteers
and
BRCIC
staff
that
works
with
the
EBRP
Coroner’s
and
Sheriff’s
Offices
as
well
as
BR
City
Police
to
provide
24-­‐hour
support
and
resources
to
East
Baton
Rouge
Parish
residents
immediately
following
the
death
of
a
loved
one
to
suicide.
This
program
is
the
first
of
its
kind
in
the
country.
(3)
Children’s
Bereavement
Services:
offers
services,
at
no
charge,
to
children
ages
3-­‐12
and
their
families
who
have
experienced
the
death
of
a
loved
one
particularly
those
experiencing
traumatic
losses
and
complicated
grief.
(4)
Education,
Training
and
Consultation
in
the
areas
of
suicide
assessment,
intervention
and
prevention,
coping
skills,
stress
management,
bereavement
issues,
and
similar
topics.
D.
Objective
(Next
3-­‐5
Years):
The
objective
of
BRCIC
is
to
remain
a
premier
crisis
center
of
the
highest
quality
as
we
advance
in
our
goal
of
caring
for
the
Greater
Baton
Rouge
Area
in
times
of
crisis
and
loss.
E.
Geographic
Area
and
Population
Served:
We
serve
a
10-­‐parish
region,
including:
Ascension,
East
Baton
Rouge,
East
Feliciana,
Iberville,
Pointe
Coupee,
Livingston,
St.
Helena,
St.
James,
West
Baton
Rouge
and
West
Feliciana
parishes.
F.
Organizations
Offering
Same
or
Similar
Services:
While
mental
health
organizations
in
Baton
Rouge
offer
counseling
and
grief
recovery
services,
BRCIC
is
the
only
organization
that
charitably
provides
ongoing,
clinician-­‐facilitated
Adults
Bereaved
by
Suicide
support
groups,
children’s
and
teenager’s
bereavement
services,
and
a
24/7
crisis
support
hotline.
G.
List
Major
Grant
and
Gift
Sources:
Albemarle
Foundation,
Amedysis’
Christen
Foundation,
Huey
and
Angelina
Wilson
Foundation,
Irene
W.
and
C.B.
Pennington
Foundation,
ExxonMobil
Foundation
H.
Current
Number
of
Staff
and
Volunteers:
147
I.
Organization
Officers:
President:
Jo
Ellen
Kearny
Treasurer:
David
Lee
Others: