Resource & Crisis Center
of Galveston County
Board Member Training
Revised January 2012
Objectives
 Explain the mission, history, and philosophy of the agency
 Describe the programs and services offered to clients
 Review the dynamics of family violence, sexual assault and
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child abuse
Conduct an abbreviated review of RCC employee handbook
Describe RCC funding sources
Overview the RCC By Laws and board member
responsibilities
Overview RCC committees
Look at the board’s relationship to staff
MISSION STATEMENT
“To promote the safety, well being and best
interests of victims of family violence, sexual
assault and child abuse, and to advocate for the
prevention of such crimes.”
History and Background
The Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc. originated in
1979 as a program of the YWCA, known as the Women’s Crisis Center of
Galveston County. The original mission of the organization was to provide services
to victims of family violence. A building was made available by the HoustonGalveston Diocese in 1981 and a Director was hired to run the agency. In 1985 the
agency received its 501(c) (3) exemption status and became a separate entity.
Services were expanded to include both shelter and non-residential services to
family violence victims. When the only program in Galveston County for sexual
assault ended in 1987, RCC began to provide direct services to victims of rape,
incest and other sexual assault crimes.
The staff and overall budget was increased on a year-by-year basis as new programs
were begun and older programs were expanded.
Judge Susan Baker, a Family District Judge, saw a need for the
establishment of a CASA program in 1994 to assist with resolving the cases of
abused and neglected children in the foster care system. She approached the RCC
Board of Directors with the idea and in 1995 the Voices for Children CASA
Program was formed, and volunteers were assigned their first cases before the year
was out.
Recognizing that grants and donations alone were not enough to operate
the multiple programs, the agency opened its first resale store in League City in
1987. With the success of this store and the abundance of donated clothing and
other items from a generous public, a second store was opened in Texas City in
1991. By April of 1995 the agency was able to open its third store in Galveston and
in 1997 expanded to sell donated furniture items. Allocated funds from the resale
stores are the largest single fundraiser of the agency.
An administrative office was purchased in the Spring of 2001 and the offices were
moved to the new location at 2202 Avenue L in Galveston. An additional structure was
purchased which, after renovation, became our shelter in 2002. We changed our name
officially in October 2006 to Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc.
In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and RCC suffered significant
damage in the shelter. Nearly a year after the hurricane in 2009, the shelter was
reopened and able to provide for women fleeing domestic violence. Unfortunately, the
damage to the administrative office was far worse than imagined and in 2010 RCC was
moved to a rental property at 1802 Broadway, Suite 122 in Galveston until decisions
about the property can be finalized.
RCC continues to offer quality services to those who come to us for help
without regard to age, sex, race, ethnic background, religion or sexual preference.
There has never been a charge for any services provided to clients by the agency. The
board and staff continually look for new ways to improve service delivery and to reach
out to those populations that may be underserved for a variety of reasons.
Philosophy
RCC prides itself on being good stewards of donations and other
funds that are received by the agency and to make sure that all
expenditures are prudent and in line with the mission statement. Any
person who joins with RCC in reaching out to battered and
neglected people, whether in the role of board, staff, donor or
volunteer, can be assured that RCC will continue to offer the caliber
of service that merits this support.
Understanding Victim Services
Program Basics & Statistics
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Staff
Bonnie Martin, Executive Director
Peggy Creed, Director of Victim Services
Angelica Hanley, Director of Fund
Development
Samantha Coats, Community
Education/Volunteer Coordinator
Tina Tucker, Accounting Assistant
CASA
 Shamika Alexander, CASA Program Director
 Megan Box, CASA Case Manager
 Terra Henderson, CASA Case Manager
Non Residential Client Services
 Rose Melton, Client Services Coordinator
 Bridgette Roberts, Crisis Intervention
Specialist
 Griselda Olveda, Victim Advocate
Legal Services
 Ian Kuecker, Managing Attorney
 Susie Marquez, Legal Advocate
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Residential Services
Mary Ramsell, Residential Services
Coordinator
Erica Bozarth, Victim Advocate
Beth Spenser, Victim Advocate
Deborah Allen, Victim Advocate
Laurie Culbreth, Victim Advocate
Marina Gutierrez, Victim Advocate
Laura Cardenas, Child Advocate
Diedra Davis, Housing Case Manager
Resale Shops
 Vicki Petty, Galveston Store Manager
 Kay Barbour, League City/Texas City Store
Manager
2008 Statistics
In Galveston County
2,703 reports of family violence
64 reports of sexual assault
*Texas Department of Public Safety 2008 Crime in Texas Report
2009 Statistics
In Galveston County
2,466 reports of family violence
151 reports of sexual assault
So how does RCC combat these shocking statistics?
*Texas Department of Public Safety 2009 Crime in Texas Report
In the 2010 calendar year, the Resource and Crisis
Center provided services to approximately 2000
women, men and children impacted by family
violence in the Galveston County community.
Additional services included:
 183 women and children received emergency shelter
 266 victims applied for protective orders
 147 victims were accompanied to court
 265 were assisted in filing Crime Victims Compensation
 1998 were assisted with creating a personal safety plan.
24 Hour Safe Shelter
Eligibility
 Victim of family violence and is trying to
flee;
 Over 18 unless accompanied by a parent,
legal guardian, is legally emancipated or is
a minor mother;
 Minor mother who is the sole financial
support of the children (no longer than
15 days).
Services
 24-hour crisis hotline
 24-hour-a-day shelter
 Temporary shelter for abused men
 Peer counseling services
 Child and family advocacy
 Housing advocacy
 Case management
 Support groups
 Health education
 Clothing/Furniture
 Information and referral
 Spanish speaking services
24 Hour Toll Free Hotlines
1-888-919-7233 (SAFE)
Hotline operators are available to assist those in crisis situations by
providing emergency assistance, safety planning, needed resources,
and comfort .
Client Services
 Crisis Intervention - Crisis service to
assist the client emotionally and providing
the needed information to assist them out of
the initial crisis.
 Crime Victims Compensation
Assistance - Assisting the client with
Crime Victims Compensation and followup.
 Support Groups - Groups that are led by
RCC staff for the purposes of sharing,
support and information relevant to family
violence and sexual assault.
 Educational Groups/Classes – training
provided to the clients on topics that are
relevant to the RCC mission. Examples of
this would be budgeting, resume writing,
interviewing, etc.
 Medical Accompaniment – Advocacy
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provided at the hospital for survivors of
family violence or sexual assault.
Safety Planning - Discussion with the
client about safety practices and
individualized planning with the client to
meet their safety needs.
Resource Referrals – Giving the client
information about resources available in the
community.
Court Accompaniment - Attending court
hearings to support the survivor.
Shelter Aftercare Program – Assisting
clients in the transition from the shelter
environment to independent and abuse free
living.
Legal Advocacy
Assistance in …
 obtaining protective orders
 court preparation
 writing warning letters
 police accompaniment
 referrals for other legal matters
 and collaborations with the attorney’s and victim
services personnel at the District Attorney’s Office.
Age Demographics
Clients Served 2010
65+
0%
Unknown
8%
0-5 YOA
9%
6-12 YOA
3%
13-17 YOA
2%
45-64 YOA
17%
18-29 YOA
34%
30-44 YOA
27%
Race Demographics
Clients Served 2010
Other
8%
Cacausian
42%
Hispanic
30%
African American
20%
Gender Demographics 2010
Male
10%
Female
90%
Location Demographics
Clients Served 2010
54%
Dickinson
Friendswood
Galveston
Hitchcock
La Marque
League City
Santa Fe
Texas City
13%
12%
4%
1%
2%
4%
3%
1
3%
1%
In County, Not Listed
Out of County
Understanding CASA
Program Basics and Statistics
2009 Statistics
 2,926 Reports of alleged child abuse or neglect
 653 Confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect
 120 Children were removed from their homes
 2 Children died as a direct result of abuse or neglect
*Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Data Book 2009
Voices for Children – Galveston County
Volunteers are the HEART of the CASA program!
(Court Appointed Special Advocates)
 Volunteers provide support by:
 Being the “eyes and the ears” for the judge
of the children’s court
 Advocating for abused & neglected
children
 Being a CONSISTENT support in the
child’s life
Training for CASA
 A trained CASA volunteer
investigates the child's
circumstances, provides factbased information and makes
recommendations to the court
while becoming a source of
support for the child.
Ultimately, the role of the
CASA is to decrease the
amount of disruption in a
child's life and to help ensure
that the child has a safe and
permanent home.
CASA Volunteers are
Thoroughly Trained in:
 Child Abuse & Neglect
 Social Services
 Permanency Planning
 Family Preservation
 Cultural Diversity
 Interviewing Skills
 Courtroom Procedure &
Testimony
Because it matters!
 To Give a Child a CASA
is…
 … to give them a voice .
 And to give them a voice, is
to give them hope .
 And, to give them hope, is
to give them the world !
Voices for Children – Galveston County
SPEAKING UP FOR A CHILD
A CASA volunteer must be 21 years of age. The
primary qualifications are:
 Ability to make a responsible one year commitment
 Desire to make a difference in a child’s life
 Completion of a criminal history, children's protective
services background check, and pre-training interview
 30 hours of detailed training in the evenings over a 2 week
period
Volunteer Outreach
Volunteer Outreach
Volunteers are utilized to be of assistance to both staff and clients. Direct
service volunteers must complete an application and pass a criminal
background check. Training is dependant on the volunteer position
selected. Opportunities include:
 Thrift Stores
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Court Accompaniment/ Medical Accompaniment
Special Events
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
Crisis Hotline
Maintenance
Administration
Legal Assistance
Other Easy Ways People Can Help…
 Donate old cell phones
 Donate old printer cartridges
 Donate any new basic need items
 Check our web-site on a regular basis for needs
Current Needs:
~ Toilet Paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Tooth Paste/Brushes, Mouth
Wash, Body Wash, Razors, Shaving Cream, Deodorant
Understanding the dynamics
of violence
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse
know no boundaries.
Domestic Violence
Violence within the family
 Violence happens in all races,
ages, neighborhoods and
socio-economic levels.
Violence within the family
effects the lives of all the
members of the family but
also, has reaching effects in the
community.
Yes! There is domestic violence in
your neighborhood!
 In the United States, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds.
 63% of those convicted of murder between the ages of
11years and 20 years of age, are serving time for killing their
mother’s abuser.
 Women between the ages of 15 years and 44 years of age are
at high risk of death due to domestic violence.
Did you know?
 Men are often the victim of domestic violence but seldom report
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or seek treatment.
33% of all male batterers who receive counseling are respected
professionals and community leaders
50% of all homeless women and children are due to domestic
violence
Pregnant women are more likely to die as a result of domestic
violence than any other cause
20% of ALL homicides are committed within families or within
intimate relationships
1 of 3 female homicide victims is killed by an intimate partner
28% of violent crimes against females are committed by husbands
or boyfriends
Who does the battering?
90% of serious spouse abuse is perpetrated by men
against women
HOWEVER
Nearly 850,000 men are victims of abuse each year
Men as victims
 Many men are reluctant to disclose abuse from a
wife, girlfriend, or family member because of the
stigmas that could be directed toward them. Slowly
those stigmas are changing as the number of victims
grow.
Characteristics of those being battered
 Low self-esteem
 Believing the myths of domestic violence
 Traditional views of family unity
 Accepts blame for the abuse
 Suffers from heavy guilt and fear
 Suffers from severe reactions to stress
 Uses sex to establish intimacy
 Believes that no one will help them
The Cycle of Violence
Realize that if the victims stays in a violent
relationship and do not seek help, the abuse
will escalate.
These things don’t happen just once and they will
progressively get worse.
Stage One – Tension Building
 Abuse gets angry
 Breakdown in communication
 Victims tries to comfort abuser
 Tension grows
 Victim tries to avoid conflict
 Tension becomes too severe
 Minor battering incident
Stage Two – Acute Battering Incident
 Any type of abuse that occurs (physical, emotional,
sexual) which may last minutes to hours. This is the
shortest phase however, it is the most intense and
destructive.
Stage Three – Honeymoon Phase
 Abuser may apologize
 Abuser may promise never to abuse again
 Abuser may blame victim for abuse
 Abuser may deny what happened
 Abuser may minimize the events
 Gifts may be given at this time
Stage Four – Calm
 Abuser acts like everything is fine and nothing has ever
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happened
No abuse taking place
Promises made during the honeymoon phase may be kept
Victim hopes the abuse is over
This phase grows shorter and shorter with each occurrence,
then back to phase one.
Why do victims stay?
 Fearful of what might happen if
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they leave
Lack of outside support
Single parenting
Financial Hardship
Attachment to the “good times”
Why do batterers stay?
 Its good to be King/Queen!
 The violence is working
 The victim should leave if they are unhappy
 No one knows about the abuse
 Community doesn’t condemn violence
Why do people batter?
Gender objectification
2. Need to feel empowered
3. Externalization of personal issues
1.
WARNING SIGNS!!
 Extreme Jealousy
 Possessiveness
 Bad Temper
 Unpredictability
 Verbally Abusive
 Cruel to elders, children, or animals
What causes someone to become a
batterer?
 It is not genetic
 Behavior reinforced over time
 Observed in family and society
 Repeated because it works
 Feeling that actions are justified
Relationship to Drugs and Alcohol
THERE IS NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
USING AND VIOLENCE!!
Drugs and alcohol do generally happen before the abuse nearly
half of all incidents
BUT
People who do drugs and alcohol generally have less impulse
control without being under the influence
Many people are able to drink or use drugs and not abuse
others. Should the abuser use violence under the influence,
the abuser already has a predisposition to violence.
Common Myths
 FamilyViolence is rare
FALSE
Millions are effected by
domestic violence every year
Common Myths
 Family violence is confined to
lower economic areas
FALSE
It happens everywhere,
regardless of money, race, or
culture.
Common Myths
 Religious beliefs or practices will
prevent battering
FALSE
It happens in every religious
tradition
Common Myths
 It will get better
FALSE
It gets worse unless treatment is
sought to stop the violence
Common Myths
 If a person really wants to leave, they can
FALSE
There are risks to leaving, 65% of
domestic violence victims are killed
when or after they leave their
abuser.
Sexual Assault
What is Sexual Assault?
 Sexual assault is a violent crime in which the
assailant uses sex to inflict violence and
humiliation on the victim, or to exert power
and control over the victim. It can include
rape, incest, sexual harassment, child
molestation, marital rape, exposure or
pornography.
(National Center for Victims of Crime).
What is Sexual Harassment?
 Sexual Harassment includes any request for sexual favors,
advances and other verbal/non-verbal conduct of a sexual
nature.
 There are two types:
 Quid pro Quo ( “this for that”) person in power makes
decision effecting another.
 Hostile Environment
So what about consent…
 Law “assumes that a person does not consent to sexual
conduct if he or she is forced, threatened, or is unconscious,
drugged, a minor, developmentally disabled, chronically
mentally ill, or believe they are undergoing a medical
procedure” (National Center for Victims of Crime).
Statistics in Texas
 1.9 million adult Texans have been sexually assaulted
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(Busch, Bell, DiNitto & Neff 2003).
25,941 Texan adults are sexually assaulted annually
(Tjaden & Thoennes 2006).
18% of sexual assaults in Texas involved a weapon/threat
(Busch, Bell, DiNitto & Neff 2003).
60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police
15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail
80% are under age 30
So what do statistics tell us?
 Statistics inform us of good information to educate others
and shed light on the reality about sexual assault.
 However, statistics also point out alarming concerns such as
the amount of assaults that go unreported.
 In 2005 less than 39% of sexual assaults were reported to law
enforcement (Shannan M. Catalano 2005).
Sexual Assault Myths
 Rape is non-violent
 Only young women are raped
 Stay away from dangerous places and you will not be raped
 Rapes are not planned
 Most offenders are strangers
Myth of the “promiscuous girl” – Girls who dress provocative
are more likely to be victimized. The statistics show that
women who walk with their head down, more self-conscious
are far more likely to be victimized.
What to do if you or someone you know
is assaulted
 Seek medical treatment immediately
 Do not shower or bathe
 Do not throw away any clothes that were worn at the time of the assault
 Do not brush or comb their hair
 Try to minimize use of the restroom
 Do not brush their teeth or gargle
 Do not put on makeup
 Do not clean or straighten up the crime scene
 Try to avoid eating or drink anything
Effects of Sexual Assault
 Common physical effects
 Common emotional
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are:
Pain
Injuries
Headaches
Nausea
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effects are:
Denial
Depression
Withdrawal
Guilt
Loss of appetite
Substance abuse
**Please note that just because someone does not behave in a way that we feel is “typical”, it does
not mean that the assault did not occur. The variation in responses to trauma are similar to the
variation in responses to grief. No two people are going to respond in the same way.
How to help a survivor
 Be a good listener and don’t judge
 Stress that it was not their fault
 Encourage them to seek resources and services in the
community
 Remind them that they are not alone
 Do research and be understanding
Child Abuse
Painting a Real Picture
 Almost 5 children die everyday as a result of child abuse. 75% are
under the age of 4.
 A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds.
 Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and
cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
There’s no abuse in my family, so this
doesn’t affect me, right?
 About 30% of abused and neglected children will later
abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle
of violence.
 The estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and
neglect in the United States for 2007 is
$104 billion
Emotional Abuse
 Withholding of love, affection or validation of
self worth.
 Steady and consistent barrage of criticism and
or creation of a negative emotional atmosphere
for a child.
 Abusive expectations, constant chaos,
humiliation, denying the child’s experience,
dominating or verbal assaults
Emotional abuse is very hard to prove and accompanies
all forms of abuse or neglect.
Physical Abuse
 Non-accidental infliction of physical harm to a child.
The most common abuser in physical abuse cases is the
mother.
This does include spanking and discipline when the child is left with
visible injuries such as bruises, welts, belt marks, loop marks, etc.
Effects of Physical Child Abuse
 Unexplained burns, cuts, bruises, or
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welts.
Bite marks.
Does not trust
Fearful of physical contact
Startles easily, cowers, cringes
Aggressiveness or withdrawn
Exaggerated politeness
Profound sadness
Difficulties in school
Difficulty concentrating
Psychosomatic illnesses
Sexual Abuse
 Any sexually oriented act
with a child. This includes
fondling, voyeurism, intercourse, oral sex, penetration
with and object, obscene
photography, exposure to
sexual acts or pornography.
STATISTICS
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1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages
17 and under.
An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist
in America today
Approximately 90% of the time there is no physical evidence.
Sexual abuse rarely has a witness and is rarely a one time incident.
Average age of onset of a sexually abusive relationship is 6-8 years
old.
Neglect
 Failing to provide a child with necessary food, clothing or
shelter.
 Knowingly allowing a child to remain in a dangerous
situation. This includes domestic violence situations, abuse of
drugs and alcohol and inappropriate supervision.
 Failing to make reasonable efforts to adequately supervise
children.
Signs of Neglect
Unsuitable clothing for weather
Appearance is dirty or unbathed
Extreme hunger, hoarding
Apparent lack of supervision
Advanced knowledge of drugs/alcohol
Filthy living conditions
Many neglected children feel unworthy to interact
with peers, may isolate themselves and may
encounter peer rejection
 Lying and avoiding admitting their situation
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More children die from neglect than from
any other type of abuse
Employee Handbook Information
Recent Revisions
 Since the end of 2009, the RCC employee handbook has
been modified several times to reflect a Board and Executive
Director collaboration.
 The last revision was made in May 2011 after
recommendations by HHSC to follow suggested practices.
*For more information about specific handbook policies, please
refer to the employee handbook.
Types of Staff and Benefits
If you are a:
You are eligible for the benefits marked by an X:
Paid
Other Holidays
403B
Paid
(including
Savings Paid
Paid Sick Personal Floating
Plan
Vacation Leave Leave Holiday)
Full-Time Exempt Employee
X
X
X
X
X
Full-Time Non-Exempt Employee
X
X
X
X
X
Part-Time Exempt Employee
X
X
X
Part-Time Non-Exempt Employee
X
X
X
Part-Time Relief Worker
Seasonal/Pool/Relief Worker
Medical Dental
Vision
Insurance Insurance Insurance
X
X
X
X
X
X
Note:
-- Vacation and Sick Leave accruals vary for full-time and part-time employees. See the actual policies for details.
Holidays
 RCC provides nine (9) paid holidays and two (2) paid floating
holidays for full-time employees. A schedule of the nine paid
holidays will be published to employees at the beginning of
each year. An employee must have been employed for at
least six (6) months before taking a paid floating holiday.
Worker’s Compensation
 RCC is a subscriber to the Worker’s Compensation Program.
Both full-time and part-time employees are covered under
Worker’s Compensation.
 Should an on-the-job injury occur, it should be reported to
the Program Director immediately. In turn, the Program
Director will inform RCC for claims processing.
 On-the-job injuries may require a drug screen from an
accredited medical service, to be determined by the Program
Director and/or the Executive Director. (See Policy 8.10
“Policy on Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace” for details.)
Personnel Records
 RCC maintains personnel records for applicants, employees
and past employees in order to document employmentrelated decisions, and comply with government recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
 The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing recordkeeping for all personnel information and will specify what
information should be collected and how it should be stored
and secured.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Responsibilities per the employee handbook
 The RCC Board has an obligation to ensure that its actions, and
those of its agents and management employees, are free from
harassing conduct, including sexual harassment, and to take
immediate and appropriate corrective actions in the instances in
which the agency has knowledge of such harassment.
 The RCC Board is also obligated to take timely and appropriate
corrective action in those instances where the agency, its agents or
management employees, know or should have known of
harassment of any employee or applicant for employment by any
non-supervisory employee or by any non-employee either under
the agency’s control or with respect to whom the agency is legally
responsible.
Confidentiality
Policy Statement
 Ethical behavior and communication are expected of all
employees. Staffers will ensure confidentiality and privacy in
regard to history, records and discussions about the people
we serve. The very fact that an individual is served by RCC
must be kept private and confidential. Disclosure can be
made only under special conditions for reasons relating to
law enforcement and fulfillment of our responsibilities. This
means staff shall not disclose any information about a person,
including the fact he or she is or is not served by our
organization, to anyone outside of this organization unless
authorized by the Executive Director.
Ethical Conduct Guidelines
Policy Statement
 No employee shall use or authorize the use of the authority
or influence of his/her office to secure anything of value for
himself/herself, which is of such character as to manifest a
substantial and improper influence upon him/her with
respect to his/her duties. Failure to follow these policies can
result in written warnings, probation and/or termination.
RCC FUNDING SOURCES
FUNDING
RCCGC is funded from three major sources;
 grants from public and private sources,
 donations/fundraising,
 and three resale stores.
RCCGC writes and presents grants to agencies and private
individuals and foundations to fund operations as well as
specific aspects or programs of the organization.
Funding Analysis
 RCCGC continually analyzes the needs of the community it
serves and reviews the programs and services it delivers to
ensure it is meeting the needs of the community as best as it
can. Counseling, legal assistance, housing, and training are
just a few of the areas that are reviewed. Both the needs as
well as the location, geographically, of the individuals being
served are reviewed as well as the delivery of the services.
The Board of Directors works with the Director to review
future potential strategic direction for the organization and
the ability of the organization to fund the needs.
Current Major Grant Funders
 Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
 Office of the Attorney General (OAG)
 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA)
 United Way – Galveston
 United Way – Mainland
 Moody Methodist Foundation
 Yaga’s Children’s Fund
 Mediation Board – Galveston County
Resale Shops
Largest Non-grant Form of Revenue
Galveston Resale Shop Information
(409) 762-1520
1424 23rd Street, Galveston, TX 77550
League City Resale Shop Information
(281) 554-6983
150 North Gulf Freeway, League City, TX 77573
Texas City Resale Shop Information
(409) 942-4380
3565 Palmer Highway (in the Kroger shopping
center next to GNC)
RCC Resale is also hosting estate sales.
100% commission benefits the
Resource & Crisis Center of Galveston
County.
Board Commitment
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Become knowledgeable about issues surrounding the mission
Complete annual board training
Attend regular and special board meetings
Serve on at least one committee
Actively participate in fundraising and awareness activities
Exercise appropriate fiduciary responsibilities
Participate in hiring and evaluation of Executive Director
Participate in the formulation of agency policies
Become an advocate for the agency
Share your expertise with the agency
Managing Vs. Governing
How those roles can get confused.
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2.
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5.
Boards sometimes are legally required to act on managerial issues such as
acceptance of gifts, signature authorizations, and approving and signing lease and
contracts.
Some board responsibilities like fund raising, public policy, recruiting and evaluating
the Executive Director seem vaguely managerial.
Newer or thinly staffed organizations often depend on trustees to be hands-on.
In times of stress or change, especially during a change in executive directors, staff
and volunteers look to the board for leadership.
Management activities seem more tangible and give immediate sense of
accomplishment and gratification.
How to know if a situation requires a board
policy or a managerial decision?
Ask yourselves….
 Will this decision help determine procedures, activities, programs or
services that affect the non-profit as a whole?
 Do law or regulatory agencies require this decision?
 Is this an issue that the administrator has asked for our help on?
 Does the issue affect an individual staff member?
 Does it relate to the efficiency and quality of services provided by a
specific department or program?
 Does it relate for an administrative area that is operational in nature or
affect specific parts of, rather than the entire nonprofit?
A “yes” answer to the first three questions indicate a policy-making decision and
involves you a board member. A “yes” answer to the last three questions indicates a
managerial decision that should be left to the Executive Director.
Board and Staff Relationship
 Staff and Board Members work cooperatively through
committees in which many of the Program Directors will
participate.
 Through the use of the Program Services Committee,
programs are given the opportunity to express program
needs to the board in order to help the Board understand the
needs of the specific programs.
 The Executive Director supervises the activities of the
programs and all staff follow the organizational hierarchy.
Thank you for the generous donation of your time and efforts, and for
your ongoing support of our work.