Grassroots.org, Inc.

BUSINESS PLAN
Somebody Loves You Inc
January 31, 2016
 
Executive Summary
Vision Statement Our vision is to provide many boys a chance and opportunity for a fresh path in life and a chance to know a Power greater than themselves. We want to make sure no boys are left behind. We want to repair shattered dreams and give hope back to the lost.
Mission Statement "Somebody Loves You, at your home!"
Our Mission is to provide a stable, long-term, Christ-centered traditional home for boys in crisis and who are in need of a nurturing and loving environment. We seek to surround those children with adults, who will love, care for, and support them, so they may overcome their challenges and problems and grow into their purposes and destinies. Young men will be in preparation for education, driver’s license, credit, and success in all entities of their lives. We also promote contact with family members in healthy situations.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
The Company Somebody Loves You, Inc. was established in 2016 by Africa Carter for the purpose of providing a caring and stable long-term home for boys in crisis and in need of a loving and nurturing environment and to keep families close.
Our ministry is for boys in need. These are children who are individuals and come from all walks of life. The Children we serve initially will be boys between the ages of 11 1⁄2 to 21 yrs. old. This will be the admittance age but then once in the home, they will be able to stay till they are 21 years old. This is their home and when they leave for college or career direction, they can always come back to visit or if they need help in their lives.
We believe that children grow and prosper best within a home environment where they can learn about a Higher Power greater themselves, others, the family and life. Our goal is to surround them with adults, who will love, care and support them, so they will grow into his purpose and reach all potentials and help them overcome any challenges and problems.
The children in our care will be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation; and we will bring to account adults who hinder that purpose.
Somebody Loves You, INC is committed to helping in every aspect of these young men’s lives. We are a charitable 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and will be governed by a board of directors. We provide residential care without charge to children or families who have a need for placement without regard to race or creed. In making admission decisions, we will only serve those children for whom our services are appropriate or meet the criteria for admissions. We are supported entirely by voluntary donations and gifts.
 
Somebody Loves You, INC will be a residential care facility and will offer 24 hours, fully certified child care to eight children between the ages of11 ½ years old through 21 years of age. The house will have qualified house parents who will live full-time in the home to care for them. One of our goals is to find ways we can be self-supporting in the future.
Somebody Loves You, Inc. is for children between the ages of 11 1⁄2 to 21 years old that reside locally or in Washington. We will also be marketing to churches, other children's programs, adoption agencies, judges, and grandparents who need assistance in raising their grandchildren.
Somebody Loves You, Inc. will provide residential child care without charge to children who have a need for a home and will be supported by voluntary donations and gifts. We will advertise with the website, radio, and brochures. We will not advertise the local address in advertising or marketing to protect the privacy of the children and house parents.
The Competition We are all about the kids! There are many people and organizations attempting to help children in need, however, as of this time, there are no relatable models that are similar to Somebody Loves You, INC in Washington. The grandparent relations to continue with grandchildren. We would like to continue and foster these healthy relationships with families.
In Washington, we have many treatment centers/facilities and residential care centers for children with severe mental, emotional and physical needs. Somebody Loves You Home provides for children that do not suffer from the extreme forms of physical, mental, emotional disabilities.
The State-run programs are focused on the well-being of the parents and children and the reuniting of the two. Our focus for Somebody Loves You Home is towards the care of the children, versus the care and maintenance of relations with the parents. The exception to this objective would be if the grandparents have a healthy relationship with their grandchild; thus being a part of their lives.
 
About the home
Business Plan - The Little Children's Home, Inc.
Vision Statement
Vision Statement Our vision is to provide many boys a chance and opportunity for a fresh path in life and a chance to know a Power greater than themselves. We want to make sure no boys are left behind. We want to repair shattered dreams and give hope back to the lost.
Mission Statement
Mission Statement "Somebody Loves You, at your home!"
Our Mission is to provide a stable, long-term, Christ-centered traditional home for boys in crisis and who are in need of a nurturing and loving environment. We seek to surround those children with adults, who will love, care for, and support them, so they may overcome their challenges and problems and grow into their purposes and destinies. Young men will be in preparation for education, driver’s license, credit, and success in all entities of their lives. We also promote contact with family members in healthy situations.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
The Company
Company History Africa Carter has always wanted to open up a children’s home for those children who are without the love and security of a traditional family and for them to always have a place they can call their own. She believes that we as a society have a moral responsibility to protect children. Her hope is to establish children’s homes that will give children in crisis a safe haven, family environment and also keep sibling together.
Africa Carter purchased a home to donate the use as a refuge for these children in 2016 and are in the process of getting it ready for the future children and house parents who will live at Somebody Loves You, Inc Home in Bremerton, Washington.
Company Goals and Objectives During our first year we will work towards opening up this home to receive the children for whom our services are appropriate or who meet the admission guidelines. In order to do this, we will need to do the following:
1. Maintain a traditional family oriented home setting where children can develop emotionally, socially, environmentally and spiritually. 2. The children’s home will need to be set up for occupancy for the future children and house parents. 3. The Children we serve initially will be boys and girls between the ages of 111⁄2 to 21 yrs.
 
old. This will be the admittance age but then once in the home, they will be able to stay till they are 21 years old or leave for college or career direction. They will be able to return to home if they want to visit or if they need help in moving forward in their lives. Our admission policy would still be the same for them to return to the home and it would also depend on whether space is available at the time. We will be setting aside a bedroom in the future for those that may need to return home. 5. The children in our care will be protected from all forms of abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation. 6. Children will attend public school unless specific needs warrant another schooling. 7. We will only admit children that meet our criteria and admission guidelines. 8. We will carefully establish plans that are Christ-centered, family oriented, and dedicated to the development and nurturing of the spiritual growth of the children. 9. Establish and utilize professional skills in striving to learn and to develop whatever talents they may possess. 10. We will give special regard to the uniqueness of each child’s race, culture, and religion while attempting to instill a sense of self-worth, individuality, and the responsibilities as well as the privileges of citizenship. 11. We will examine carefully our services for relevance and will diligently provide the community with child care services. 12. We will advertise, interview and then hire the house parents, etc. 13. Interview and evaluate applications requesting admission to our Child Care Program. 14. Our employees will be provided with opportunities to improve their professional skills and personal relationships with the children they serve. 15. Our services and intentions will be presented openly and honestly. 16. The Little Children’s Home is committed to privately-funded non-governmental child care which keeps siblings together. 17. Our goal is to attain our budget within the first 12 months and will set up the appropriate fundraising to accomplish the goal of $130,104.00 annually.
Annual goals: On an annual basis, the Little Children’s home staff and Board of Directors independently establish goals and objectives. These goals and objective are then evaluated throughout the year and serve as a basis for measuring the Little Children’s Home performance. These goals are generally categorized as a. Child related b. Staff related c. Home related e. Fundraising related.
Company Ownership Structure Somebody Loves You, Inc. is a charitable 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and will be governed by a board of directors. We provide residential child care without charge to children who have a need for placement without regard to race or creed. In making admission decisions, we will only serve those children for whom meet our criteria and admission guidelines. We are supported entirely by voluntary donations/gifts.
 
Company Management Structure Somebody Loves You, INC was established by Africa Carter and will be governed by a board of directors. Africa Carter is the President and CEO of the Somebody Loves You, INC Children’s Home and will also serve as the Executive Director. She will oversee or manage the operations, house parents and work with the Board of directors. The house parents will manage the care of the children, home and day to day budget.
Management and Ownership Background Africa Carter is the founder of Somebody Loves You, INC Children's Home. stuff about me.
Africa has been.
Organizational Timeline The timeline of Somebody Loves You, INC Children’s Home is predicated on the approval of the 501 (c)(3) status and the process takes 6-9 months.
Company Assets The Little Children's Home, Inc. has no assets at this time.
The Product
The Product Somebody Loves You, INC Children's home is a licensed residential care facility that will offer 24 hours, fully certified child care to up to eight children between the ages of 11 1/2 to 21 years old. The Children we serve initially will be boys and girls between the ages of 111⁄2 to 21 yrs. old. This will be the admittance age but then once in the home, they will be able to stay till they are 18 years old. The house parents will be certified in those areas required by the board of directors. The house parents will live full time in the home and care for the children.
 
Future Products Possible future fundraising opportunities can be through a variety of vehicles; ideas will be discussed with the board of directors.
Marketing Plan
The Target Market The target market for Somebody Loves You, INC Children's Home is for children between the ages of 11 1⁄2 to 21 years old, for admission, which resides locally or in Bremerton. We will also be marketing towards those children who would meet our criteria for admissions from churches, other children's programs, adoption agencies, judges, and grandparents who need assistance in raising their grandchildren.
Location Analysis T
Pricing Somebody Loves You, INC Children’s Home will provide residential child care without charge to children who have a need for a home. We will not require the child or children's family pay tuition in order to be considered for admission. We will be supported by voluntary donations and gifts.
Advertising We will advertise with the website, radio, and brochures. We will promote our Children's Home through the website, churches, Judges, foster care, adoption agencies, and grandparents network, by sharing who we are, what we do and what we represent. We will not advertise the local address in advertising or marketing to protect the privacy of the children and house parents.
Competitor Analysis
The Competitors We are all about the kids! There are many people and organizations attempting to help children in need, however, as of this time, there are no relatable models that are similar to the Little Children's Home in Montana. The Little Children's Home is a brand new concept to Montana and this side of the United States, as far as studies have shown. The differences between The Little Children's Home and other programs are of the following:
1. The Somebody Loves You, INC Home is unique in how it takes in children up to adulthood and allows each child an opportunity to return home. This prevents multiple moves that some children experience through Foster care and promotes healing attachments with house parents which are critical for children’s growth. Other programs are specific and not long term and are less than 2 years.
 
2. Our focus is to keep sibling groups together within the home; this is not always possible in other programs.
3. Typically, foster care and adoption agencies do not allow grandparent relations to continue with grandchildren. We would like to continue and foster these healthy relationships with families.
4. In Bremerton, we have many treatment centers/facilities and residential care centers for children with severe mental, emotional and physical needs. The Little Children’s Home provides for children that do not suffer from the extreme forms of physical, mental, emotional disabilities. Besides the Montana foster care/adoption agencies, there are few options for care provided for children, not within these groups.
5. Government-led programs are not centered on any religious context or foundation; whereas, The Little Children’s Home is based upon traditional Christian-based principal’s within the home.
6. We are unique in that we hope to have these children long term and have house parents with a ratio of 2:8 (2 parents to 8 children).
7. State-run programs are focused on the well-being of the parents and children and the reuniting of the two. The focus for The Little Children’s Home is towards the care of the children, versus the care and maintenance of relations with the parents. The exception to this objective would be if the grandparents have a healthy relationship with their grandchild; thus being a part of their lives.
SWOT Analysis (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats)
Strengths Somebody Loves You, INC is unique because it offers a non-denominational Christian- based, traditional long-term child care, for children in crisis, and in need of a safe and nurturing environment. We seek to surround them with adults, who will love, care, and support them. We want the children to grow into their God-given potential while having a place to call their own. Our focus is to keep siblings together within the home and to maintain, if possible, grandparent relations. We are also committed to providing excellent care to these children by providing our employees with the opportunities to improve their professional skills and personal relationships with the children they serve. We are all about the kids!
Weaknesses The success of Somebody Loves You, INC Home depends on providing caring and supportive services. It will be very important to be able to retain house parents and any other quality staff. We will develop and maintain human resources policies designed to find and retain good staff.
 
Opportunities The unfortunate erosion of the traditional parent family unit has dramatically increased the need for these types of services. We believe society have a moral responsibility to protect children.
• “Every year, almost 200,000 children from birth to 3 years old come into contact with the child welfare system; and more than 76,862 are removed from their parents care. They constitute more than one-quarter of all children who are abused or neglected. Of the estimated 1,740 children who died from abuse and neglect in 2008, more than three quarters (79.8%) were 3 years old or younger, representing the largest age group entering care”.
“Two major problems for infants and toddlers in foster care are the lack of ongoing parent- child contact and the multiple moves that some children experience. Maintain or healing attachments with parents is critical for young children.”(A Call to Action on Behalf of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers (Quote/Article Sponsored by American Humane Association, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Child Welfare League of America, Children’s Defense Fund and Zero to Three)

GROUP HOMES FOR TROUBLED TEENS IN WASHINGTON
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• Group Homes Are Available to help Washington Troubled Teens
Group homes for troubled teens create a special environment that promotes positive change for the youth who attend. Troubled teens create a negative environment at home which makes it very difficult to successfully intervene in regards to their choices or behavior. By looking into out of home treatment options like group homes for troubled teens, parents will discover the benefits of out of home treatment. It is not an easy decision to send your troubled teen to receive therapeutic care from a group home, but it is often the best available choice. Troubled teens that attend a group home will be surrounded by trained professionals whose expertise is in providing care to struggling youth. If you are struggling with an out of control troubled teen that is in need of therapeutic intervention, group homes for troubled teens may be the solution.
Washington families with troubled teens should consider professional help options like Liahona Academy. If you are struggling with a troubled teen, then the time to act is now. Please call for more information at 1-800-675-8101.
Cities in Washington with Families Who Sought Help through Group Homes for Troubled Teens
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Operations
Daily Operations Somebody Loves Home will provide a well-maintained family style home and environment for up to 8 children. It will be organized and will also teach the appropriate roles in the family. House parents will provide love, support, and structure. They attend public schools unless another schooling is warranted. They will develop a strong work ethic from daily chores, volunteer work, and participate in extracurricular activities and organizations in the community. They will take trips; attend concerts, plays, and athletic events. They will go to museums and cultural festivals.
 
The children may have contact with their biological family; unless family/child contact's have been terminated by the court order or deemed unhealthy for the child. If healthy the child has the right of access to his/her family, as scheduled by the house parents.
Operational Facilities Somebody Loves You, INC Home will lease a home that is 4,000 square feet with a capacity for 8 children plus the house parents. This is a traditional home with a kitchen, dining, living, library, four bedrooms with three and a half baths, laundry room, basement, two and a half car garage and a large activities area on 1 acre. It also has a large grassed play area.
Staffing We will employ a caring staff of two full-time house parents to start with volunteer back up house parent for days off. All other staffing needs, including Africa Carter, will be volunteers.

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Thanks to Grassroots.org I can reach the life of my dreams and be a valuable, productive member of the community.

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When I agreed to revamp the website situation for my spiritual community, I needed something they could use and afford. Being a non-profit organization basically meeting month to month basic money needs with occasional fundraisers for special projects, they actually needed something for FREE. I came across grassroots.org during my search and found they had a wonderful tool for developing websites called Doodlekit. Once we had provided the proof they needed that we are actually a non-profit organization, it became a breeze to begin to use Doodlekit. I was able to transfer the information from our antiquated website to the new one and it looked completely different. Even though the wording was the same, it even looked like the language was updated. I added pictures to the pages, developed a calendar, made a page for listing our officers. I added donation options for our membership including a link to Paypal and amazon.com. What else can I say. We had a wonderful website makeover thanks to the Doodlekit tool in grassroots.org. Viva grassroots.org!

We had a doctor to volunteer service and a whole lot of underserved patients on the east side of Austin, Texas. None of us had started a nonprofit. We kept trying to chip away at our friends or folks we knew. Thank God for Google. We desperately needed hosting and an easy way for our nontechnical volunteers to update the website. Enter Grassroots. So we got a great website, friendly and competent tech support, but we also got a WHOLE LOT MORE. Grassroots is helping out nonprofit to get the word out through social media; we are getting fundraising mentoring; and there's a whole lot more that we just haven't gotten to yet! Thanks Grassroots. We can make banners, brochures, and cards now that we have a website. Oh, and grants are a little more punchy with a website as well.

As a Board Member of our small-town Friends of the Library organization, I'm used to encountering resistance to change. Without the free web hosting services offered by grassroots.org, I would never have been able to convince our organization that, in today's world, non-profit organizations can work smarter by using the Internet. Now, I've been able to demonstrate the benefits without arguing with other Board Members about costs. Signing-up with grassroots.org was simple and easy! Their continual update on tools available to us are invaluable.

When searching for a web host for our museum's first website, we were discouraged at the lack of free or reasonably priced services available. If one was available, the site had to carry banners, often with questionable content. When we found grassroots.org we were so impressed at what they had to offer for free! We even recieved web design services at no charge which would have been cost prohibitive otherwise. We have recieved many compliments about our site and the service continues to be incredible. We encourage all of our nonprofit colleagues to try this organization. We know they will be just as satisfied as we are!

Grassroots.org has been an amazing partner for us. When we first started out as a non-profit, we had no idea how we were going to get a website stood up and looking professional. Grassroots.org had the right mix of services to get us started, and they were so helpful in answering questions along the way. We were able to create our own website, one that was professional and user friendly, with great ease. it has now become the hub for our volunteers and clients to get information about our organization.

We are so pleased with the services we've received from Grassroots.org. The toolbox is user-friendly and each service offered is valuable and easy to understand. Thank you Grassroots.org.

grassroots.org helped us create our website with free domain hosting, wonderful templates, and many other great tools. You can ask for help with a website, graphics, and volunteers will apply to assist you with your project.

Grassroots was a life preserver to our sinking website. Our organization had been hosting the web site on a members account but when the member switched to highspeed the website account was deleted. As a non-profit with our average board member age at 70+ we were just about ready to give up on a website. Then a member from the United States suggested I try Grassroots and they were so professional and so helpfull. Now our website is back online and I can manange it myself easily and they have offered other great services which our organization is starting to make use of.

This is a wonderful composite of essential services for nonprofits that has helped us a great deal with services that we might not otherwise be able to afford.

Grassroots has been one of the most effective, helpful organizations I have worked with in my 35 years of non-profit management. Can recommend them highly enough.

I haven't used Grassroots because, after I joined, I couldn't get anybody to call me back about your service. I've sent emails and was told someone would contact me. Well, that's been 6 months or more. I have nothing good to say.