UPDATE
Aug. 30, 2024
The Family Guidance Center (FGC) recently announced that Shelter Home of Caldwell County will be taking over Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault services for Catawba County starting this Friday as FGC services come to an end.
In response to this announcement, Catawba County United Way executive director Mark Bumgarner wanted to share the following.
“Catawba County United Way pays respects to the board of Family Guidance Center. They have been tasked with an incredibly difficult situation in the closing of Family Guidance Center. However, they have acted with the utmost of concern for their clients and in doing so have decided to transfer services to Shelter Home of Caldwell County.
"Catawba County United Way partnered with the Council on Women and was proud to help lead in this transfer of services.
"I recall the day a couple of weeks ago when Council on Women, Family Guidance Center, Shelter Home of Caldwell County, Safe Harbor, Family Care Center, Women’s Resource Center, Children’s Advocacy and Protection Center and CCUW all gathered in our board room to hash out the best way to support those in need of domestic violence and sexual assault services. I am proud of the plan we created and applaud the board of Family Guidance Center for adopting it.
"Many thanks also go to the Mary Furtado, County Manager and her staff for assisting in this plan. Without all these partners, it would not have been possible. It really does take a village!
"The fact that all these agencies convened and worked together speaks to the quality of the transition plan created. It is an honor to partner with all these agencies, and we wholeheartedly welcome Shelter Home of Caldwell County to our community. They will be simply amazing for our community.
"We at Catawba County United Way are excited to announce Shelter Home of Caldwell County will be a funded partner for the remainder of 2024 and for 2025!
"We continue to work with Family Guidance Center’s board and remain hopeful we can save the actual shelter home for use by Shelter Home of Caldwell County. United, we will accomplish the incredible!"
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If you are in need of domestic violence and sexual assault services, call the new crisis line (828) 758-7088.
July 26, 2024
From Mark Bumgarner - Catawba County United Way executive director
Hey everybody, Mark here. By now, you’ve likely seen the plea from Family Guidance Center regarding their precarious financial situation. I received a call recently from their director informing me they had less than a month’s supply of cash to maintain operating.
Like you, I’m gutted that one of our partners may have to shut its doors, leaving a gap in crucial and critical services. Please know that Catawba County United Way is working diligently to try to ensure a plan continuity for the vital domestic violence and sexual assault services that may be impacted by this possible closure.
I am meeting with community members, government and other agencies to try to ensure we have a path forward for these services. We have asked Family Guidance to work with us on transition plans, as this represents best practice.
With or without this, Catawba County United Way will be working to ensure there is as little disruption as possible, and that those in need will be served while a transition occurs.
I would like to take a moment to reinforce a message I have often carried. Nonprofits are critical to the health of a community. But we must conduct ourselves ethically and with transparency and diligence. You are a part of this. I encourage you to look at the 990 filings of an agency, which hopefully the agency makes easily available. If not, you can find them at web sites like Guidestar (guidestar.org).
Agencies should never mind being held accountable – in fact a well-functioning agency welcomes this as it builds trust in their community. Do not be guilted into contributing. If an agency’s justification for a request for funding is along the lines of “we deserve it,” be wary.
Most nonprofits are worthy of your investment, and we want to prove to you why. We want to show you how we make our community, and your life better by what we do. A well-functioning nonprofit organization wants to earn your respect before they earn your dollars.
This is a heavy-hearted message. I firmly believe that sometime kindness and compassion are best achieved by taking the uneasy path. Our actions may not feel good in the moment but in the end the difficult actions lead to making a situation better. I believe that this is the case for FGC’s situation.
Our community will not be left without vital services for those caught in domestic violence or sexual assault. There are too many of us fighting for the continuation of services. Soon, you may be asked to join us. I hope you will. I assure you we’ll be happy to show you we’ve earned your support.
United,
Mark