We are just a month away from celebrating NAFI/NFI’s 35th anniversary as a human services organization. Over the past three and a half decades, we have accomplished a great deal and have much to be joyful about. But in contemplating the past, it is also important to look forward – to think about the principles that kept us vibrant and strong and will now help us meet the challenges that lay ahead.

The first principle is to maintain our mission. It is critical that we never lose sight of the importance of our mission to empower individuals and families to learn and grow to better their lives and the world around them. The harsh economic demands and conditions in the United States and across the world are affecting services for the vulnerable. But with our strong focus on mission, we have and will continue to find opportunities to develop new and innovative programs in the midst of the financial crises that all states are experiencing. These innovations include services that are community and home-based that help our consumers help themselves, and reduce reliance on institutionalization. Even recently, we have created innovative programs that address these goals, such as our unique Youth and Police Initiative in the Northeast, our MST developments in Maryland and our cutting edge wraparound programs in New York.

A second principle that has kept us strong and continues to guide us is keeping our consumers engaged and central to all things that we do. At NAFI/NFI, we celebrate milestones with talent shows, celebration dinners, and graduations among myriad ways that we recognize growth and accomplishment. This year, at our 35th anniversary conference, we will offer thirty workshops, exchanging ideas and knowledge. But the highlight -- as always -- will be the consumer talent show in which groups and individuals will perform in front of NAFI/NFI’s leaders and guests.

A third guiding principle is utilizing the Normative Approach to build community within our programs and, in a parallel way, with our staff. NAFI/NFI employees have always been engaged in decisions that shape the well-being of our organization. A good example of this occurred last year when we faced many cuts in state budgets that led to a growing agency deficit. Region by region, we addressed the issue with staff, listened to their ideas and found a solution through voluntary salary reductions and donations that minimized our losses.

I am looking forward to this year’s 35th anniversary celebration. By continuing to engage our mission, our consumers and our staff, I am confident that NAFI/NFI will remain a nationally recognized leader in human services for many years to come.

Best regards,

Dr. Yitzhak Bakal, President

NFI VT has always had a focus on and expertise in mental health trauma treatment. Over the past year, there has been a groundswell of excitement among staff with regard to innovative ideas and practices.

In April of 2008, we invited internationally acclaimed psychiatrist and neuroscientist, Dr. Bruce Perry, for a two day training (and yes, he’s the one you saw on Oprah). Dr. Perry’s knowledge of the impact of early trauma on the developing brain, coupled with his highly effective teaching style, captivated us. We quickly saw direct applications of his work to our interventions. As a result, we continued training with him by joining an international group of clinicians doing weekly case reviews, led by Dr. Perry via Live Meeting. We also began the process of becoming accredited by his agency, The ChildTrauma Academy, located in Houston, Texas.

While NFI VT staff continue to learn from and be excited by Dr. Perry, they also have sought training from other national experts in the field of child trauma. Some have been involved in a year-long training with Dr. Margaret Blaustein of The Trauma Center at Justice Resource Institute (JRI) in Boston. Dr. Blaustein is the creator of the ARC (Attachment, Self-Regulation, Competency) model of trauma treatment, and has also been sponsored by the Vermont Department of Mental Health to provide monthly case reviews with staff from NFI and other clinicians around the state. In addition, NFI VT hosted Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University Medical School and Clinical Director of The Trauma Center at JRI in Boston, for a two day training in September, 2009.

We have learned from these national experts that one of the ways we can help to heal the brains of traumatized youth is by building patterned rhythmic and repetitive sensory activities into their daily lives. Across NFI VT programs, staff are incorporating these ideas in creative ways. Educators have added metronomes and rocking chairs, keeping rhythm like a heartbeat, in elementary classrooms. Young people are learning to read and control their bodies through movement, from dance to Tai Chi to running. In addition, animal assisted therapies are used in programs to help young people engage safely in therapeutic touch, understand regulation, and practice attunement. Youth on NFI VT’s school campuses can be seen walking donkeys and grooming horses, as well as spending time with certified therapy dogs. Working with the animals, youth focus on paying attention to how their bodies feel in different states of alert, learning how to be in tune with another being---especially one with a will of its own---and practicing how to change their state of arousal through rhythmic and calming techniques.

While budget constraints have slowed our progress towards certification with The ChildTrauma Academy, we are confident that through fundraising over the next year, we will be able to resume our pace. In the meantime, staff at NFI VT continue to learn and create innovative ways to help youth heal from the long-term effects of early trauma.

This year NFI North held its sixth consecutive Empowerment Fund Luncheon and recognized the growth and personal accomplishments of four past and present consumers. On August 7, 2009, NFI North honored these unique individuals who have worked tirelessly to achieve their personal goals, while helping others also achieve success.

As a group, they come from all walks of life and have had a wide array of life experiences. For example, Ashley never did well in school until she enrolled in the Contoocook School. She is currently an honor roll member and the student council president. Similarly, Natasha overcame many obstacles in her life in order to graduate from NFI’s programs and enroll in college where she is working towards a degree in Human Services. Justin has courageously faced and overcome many hurdles while always working to reach his goals. He recently graduated from high school, and in the future, he plans to go to college. This year’s fourth honoree is Tiffany, a soft spoken yet assertive member of the community who stood up for her beliefs and was successful in meeting her goals. Tiffany graduated from high school with high honors, became a Licensed Nursing Assistant, and continues working towards her goal to become a Registered Nurse.  

To date, the Empowerment Fund has awarded more than $36,000 in scholarships and grants and has recognized the accomplishments of 24 members of the North community. Staff, volunteers and a dedicated group of donors raise in excess of ten thousand dollars each year to help support the Fund.

Every year companies spend millions of dollars on insurance premiums to protect against accident and injury. NAFI/NFI’s annual insurance premiums amount to over $2.2 million. Until recently, the money spent on general and professional liability coverage, umbrella coverage, and package policies was sent directly to our insurer and the carrier retained all of the profits.

Last winter, NAFI/NFI’s Risk Management Department changed the paradigm. Through efforts led by Robert Vermes, Chief Risk Officer, the amount of money paid in claims was reduced, lowering insurance premiums. After developing a new agreement with an insurance carrier, NAFI/NFI formed a “captive cell” that allowed us to access and control the cash flow and investment of our $2.2 million in premiums. The Captive Advantage (TCA), a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), was created on January 1, 2009, allowing us to underwrite our own risks. Every dollar we save on claims or can invest for market returns will help us support services for clients. The hope is that this new company, along with other initiatives, will alleviate state budget shortfalls and allow us to weather the current economic crisis.

Although other nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals and colleges, have been using captives for years, The Captive Advantage is unique to the human services industry. Its creation will allow NAFI/NFI and other human services agencies who become members of TCA to realize considerable savings for years to come.

NFI Massachusetts, following a stellar presentation by Lydia Todd, its Deputy Director, has been receiving state and national recognition for its strategies for the development and implementation of positive behavior support models and best practices that prevent the need for physical restraint of clients during periods of crisis. This spring, NFI was one of only three provider agencies in Massachusetts that were invited to make a presentation at an interagency leadership forum through the Executive Office of Health & Human Services on restraint reduction. Four Commissioners from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Service agencies, as well as over two hundred senior managers from state and provider agencies, were in the audience when Lydia outlined NFI’s “cultural” and “technical” strategies to introduce a restraint reduction initiative and best practices. NFI Massachusetts’ presentation received star ratings.