Canine Companions for Independence
Southwest Region
2009 Goals
April 30, 2009
Linda Valliant, Executive Director
The Southwest Team is approaching 2009 with a resolve to work together to
fulfill CCI’s mission. We are determined to maximize quality assistance
dog placements and follow-up services to Graduates. We are also focused
on building strong relationships with our major donors to support our
program goals.
Resolution Training
Jim Pruett – Southwest Representative
 The Resolution Training (RT) model is integral to CCI’s organizational culture.
- Work with Paul O’Brien (Resolution Trainer) to be sure that all new
staff are provided with Resolution Training class and materials
A video refresher course is being considered to provide better access to all
- Transition new Southwest Representatives into role – Stuart Wahrenbrock
and Amber Sliffe are working with Jim and Paul
- Provide regular examples of good use of RT skills with particular
emphasis on Positive Recognition – acknowledged in Staff Meetings
- Practice Resolution in all CCI forums and make it rewarding and fun
SW used the RT roadmap in a staff meeting to plan CCI Salutes
Independence – mission accomplished!
PROGRAM
Simi Balter, Program Manager
Todd Young, Training Manager
IIM is successfully improving the flexibility and efficiency of the Program Dept.
 Advance Instructors Integration Model (IIM) to allow Instructors to have offstring assignments via departmental rotations (Applicant, Graduate, Puppy).
● Implementation of the IIM in the Training Department is leading to developing
best practice protocols that can be used by other CCI regions as they adopt the IIM.
The SW serves as a learning lab for others to observe.
● Led by Todd, strong mentorship of apprentices is constantly provided to move
them forward toward success in achieving their Instructorships.
● Collaborate with National Program leadership and Regional colleagues to develop
further program initiatives; i.e. Veterans. Host another “CCI Salutes
Independence” (scheduled for Saturday, July 11, 2009)
Targeted outreach for veteran applicants has improved through strong associations
with Wounded Warriors Battalion West, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Disabled
Sports of the Eastern Sierra and the Navy Medical Center San Diego
● Provide regular trainings for kennel staff - handling experience with dogs and
running clinics.
Training staff organized Dog Handling 101 – an in-service tutorial for all staff
 Placement: The Southwest Region (SW) will place 40 quality teams in 2009.
There are nine (9) placements to April 30th - seven (7) more will be added at the end of
May TT making a total of 18, well within success range for the goal of 40.
● Apprentice Classes: SW Training Manager Todd Young oversees apprentice
training. An Apprentice Course just concluded at SW, one of the two students (Katie
Kneist) will be remaining at SW. This addition will still leaves us understaffed by two
positions in the Training Department.
 Disability Awareness: SW will hold a minimum of three (3) disability awareness
presentations for staff and volunteers.
An exceptional in-service on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was presented by
a team from the University of Denver Institute for Human Animal Connection.
We are working on coordinating a program on dog temperament with Paul Mundell.
Stuart Wahrenbrock, Puppy Program Manager
Goals have been increased as noted
● Puppy Placements: SW will place 170 puppies in quality puppy raiser homes in
2009. SW has 39 families on the pre-approved wait list. Repeat puppy raisers are
expected to outnumber first timers at the ratio of 2:1.
● Prison Program – continue programs at Navy Brig Miramar with 4 puppies and
Kit Carson Colorado Correctional Facility with 10 puppies. There is a goal to add
one new prison program (with 6 puppies placed) in 2009 – the Carswell Correctional
Facility in Texas has been identified; puppies will be placed in August.
● Maintain strong communication links between CCI staff and puppy raisers
-Conduct more pre-turn-in evaluations of puppies in program by more timely
review and monitoring of monthly reports and follow-up
-Continue PUP-E-Connection newsletter authored by CCI Instructor Becky Hein
-Formalize apprentice trainers orientation program within Puppy Program to
increase knowledge and assist with communication with puppy raisers
-Schedule regular meetings between Puppy Program staff and Training Staff to
provide consistent communication between departments and with puppy raisers (at
least quarterly)
-Develop a formalized program to screen and approve puppy sitters and foster
sitters involving phone screening and/or site visits prior to approval
- Work to bring Release Dog adoptions back in line with CCI policies and
discourage Puppy Raisers from working outside the policies
●Procedure Book
- Utilize new procedure book to assure consistency in the Puppy Program Office
●Puppy Raiser Workshops
-Hold at least three workshops in SW to provide general knowledge of CCI
programs, specific training information and networking opportunities for puppy
raisers. Workshops to involve Puppy Program staff and instructors. Specific
locations to be targeted are –
Southern California (San Diego, Orange County, L.A. County and invitations to Las
Vegas)
Utah – April 18 - Complete
Colorado – September 19
Graduate Program
All goals are on track
 Participant Program: The ultimate goal of follow-up services is to assure that
100% of SW Graduates are healthy, safe teams with up to date ADI certification.
- In 2009 SW will perform 200 follow-up visits consisting of ADI tests, Center
visits, home visits and workshops
- Continue combining Development and Program staff joint trips to key
markets – joint trips to Las Vegas and Palos Verdes have been completed
- Schedule ADI tests quarterly
- Serve 165 SW Graduates
- SW will host a Graduate Workshop at the Oceanside campus in July, 2009.
Applicant Program
In response to the PTSD in-service, application materials are being reviewed to make
them more open-ended. In training meetings, specific topics of command introduction,
power point presentations, communications with students and interview preparation
have been addressed. Role play sessions are valuable for interview techniques.
Applicant Department will make a concerted effort to increase the list of
qualified candidates via targeted outreach to Veterans and Seniors, as well as
Skilled Companion applicants.
- Focus on specific disability sub-sets such as spinal cord injury and
amputees that result in finding high versatile candidates – successful with
veteran applicants
- Manage successor list in collaboration with other regions facing
challenges in serving qualified successors in a timely manner
- Explore potential for more home certified placements to maximize
production
FUND DEVELOPMENT
Chuck Contreras, Development Director
Annie Scott, Development Associate
All development and regional goals reported in this April 30th update are in green – we
are thinking positive about an upturn in the economy and increased income!
Southwest Region Annual Income Goal: $2,092,800 7.9% at March 31
Achieve realistically set budget goals by:
 Strengthening existing major donors working with list of 280 top prospects
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Making better use of personnel resources to manage existing donor
relationships and develop new ones
Top donors have each been assigned a case manager and we have developed
individual strategies.
Solicited Individuals: Income Goal $484,000 9.2% at March 31
Focus on individual donor relationships and moving them to a higher level of giving:
1.) Maximize results of 2008 AGDM events by returning to the same markets for
a level two (in home event) with an ask. There is a goal of four – two have
been completed in Palos Verdes (no ask) and Austin, Texas.
2.) Continue to present AGDM Point of Entry (POE) events in new markets not
covered in 2008. There is a goal of six – two have been completed in Las Vegas
and Phoenix.
3.) Charge SW Board of Directors with implementing a Making Miracles
Happen event
4.) Tracking of donor activity through contact module in PM is a vital tool
5.) Clean-up database for SW donors and work to prevent future complaints by
ensuring correct communications – immediate response is provided
Corporations: Income Goal 120,000 12.7% at March 31
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Maintain, steward and expand corporate partnerships with Disneyland
Resort and Wescom Credit Union – both are active donors in 2009.
Create at least three new partnerships with local and regional corporations
through cause marketing and other opportunities. Potential partners
include: Canon Business Systems – prospective recycling program; Qualcomm
– letter of intent; Asymtec – proposal being submitted; Nicholas Applegate –
golf prospect; Sycaun – golf prospect..
Identify SW based corporations for National partnership opportunities – i.e.
PetSmart.
Work with BroadThink to maximize exposure from line of Trixie products
Foundations: Income Goal $900,000 4.0% at March 31st
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Increase qualified grant output through effective stewardship of existing
foundations and research of new foundations - ongoing
Create strong proposal templates to increase efficiency and impact of
proposals sent to well-known, established funders – three are complete
Establish and fill a volunteer job description for a Development Volunteer to
help with the routine work of foundation re-applications
Research and follow-up with foundations that received but did not respond
to Letters of Intent (LOI) mailed in 2007-2008 – follow-up list completed
Identifying and approach community foundations while cultivating
relationships initiated in 2008 (Desert Community Foundation, Oceanside
Charitable Foundation, Carlsbad Charitable Foundation, Nevada
Community Foundation, Austin Community Foundation) - ongoing
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Maintain and expand other new foundation relationships developed
throughout 2008 (Gary and Mary West Foundation, The Lincy Foundation,
Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund, Craig H. Nelson Foundation, Howard
Charitable Foundation, Sulentic Family Foundation) – successfully on track.
Continue to streamline and improve accuracy of proposal tracking in
PledgeMaker – successfully on track
Implement a new bio/sponsorship tracking system to optimize turnaround
time for fulfillment of Team Sponsorship biographies – white board in use
Local Direct Mail: Income Goal $100,000 6.5% at March 31
Based on the National direct mail calendar, SW will produce and distribute two
solicitations and three SW Companion newsletters. SW Companions will include
focus on program initiatives (Veterans), donor biographies and upcoming
cultivation events.
Events: Income Goal $138,300 10.2% to March 31
1.) Woofstock, A Festival for Dogs and People- April 11, 2009. $16,000
Woofstock 2009 had a record attendance (1500) and a record of 65 vendors
2.) Dogs Days of Summer Golf Tournament- September 25. 2009. Est. $55,000
3.) Enchanted Canine Companions Golf Classic- July 24, 2009. Est. $25,000
4.) Canine Companions for Invitational – October 16, 2009. Est. $40.000
Investigating auction options – waiting on Kintera software decision
Board Development:
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Increase Board Membership by adding 3 new members: Lance Weir, Dr. Ron
Ignelzi and John Brunton have joined the SW Board
Encourage direct participation by Board in fundraising including AGDM,
special events, foundation and corporate solicitation and referral.
Create development subcommittee of Board for strategic planning for
individual solicitation and on-going donor appreciation activities.
Endowment/Planned Giving:
Increase awareness of planned giving and endowment options with our present
donor database through:
 Southwest Companion
 Southwest website
 Cultivation events (ADGM)
 Graduation program
 Workshops with planned giving professionals
CCI-wide 2009 income is holding close to goal due to extraordinary bequest income.
SW donors have been responsible for $1,050,000 of this bequest income.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Katie Malatino, Public Relations Coordinator
 Oversee design and production of two direct mail pieces and three SW
Companion newsletters – one solicitation and one Companion are complete.
 Continue to develop relationships with local media and pursue new media
contacts – prepare and distribute a minimum of 60 Press Releases and increase
story placement in local media to 90 – 12 Press Releases to date with 16 stories
published or broadcast.
● Pursue opportunities around Disability Awareness Month, Veterans Day, and
other holidays/times that pertain to compelling Graduate or Puppy Raiser stories. .
● Update the SW website and intranet site following brand guidelines - ongoing
● Obtain volunteer help to organize office, files, photos and video - ongoing
o Make digital scans of old printed pictures as time permits.
o Digitize and archive videos, raw and edited.
● Work to promote events as far in advance as possible. Find new ways top market
CCI events to the public – working on a three-month advance schedule
● Continue to work on taking CCI’s videos “to another level.”
o Prepare video interview clips of Graduate interviews to use in
proposals and outreach materials – prepared 10 short videos on senior
Graduates in concert with Senior Initiative grant – also designed a web
page segment on seniors – same effort to be directed to Veterans next
● Work with Program Department on outreach strategies for new applicants,
particularly Veterans and Seniors in fulfillment of existing grants - ongoing
● Learn Business Objects to track media contacts – not at top of the list yet
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
Amber Sliffe - Volunteer Coordinator
● Log 1700 volunteer hours on the Koontz Campus – 366.25 to date
● Attend training sessions to increase skills sets (DOVIA and NMS)
Interviewing and Hiring and Successful Interview Strategies attended to date
● Transition CCI SW to a an HR Model of Volunteer Management
- More efficient database management – update and streamlined database to
include volunteer’s interest tracking
- Work with staff to create job descriptions for long-term volunteer positions
- Revise application and orientation procedures – new check lists, sign-in sheets
and revised presentation materials have been adopted
- Interview volunteers for specific positions
o Involve staff in interview process
o Arrange for training dates w/ volunteers and supervisors
- Equip staff to supervise volunteers
● Outreach:
- Actively seek new venues for presentations in an effort to recruit volunteers,
puppy raisers and/or program applicants – Disabled Sports of the Eastern Sierra
and Amputees in Motion are two important new contacts where presentations have
been made and relationships are building
- Complete 150 presentations throughout region – 68 presentations to date
● Chapter Development:
- Provide support for all chapters’ fundraising efforts.
- Support Utah Chapter in hosting AGDM
● Events:
- Plan Volunteer Recognition event for SW – SuperHero themed event was a
success on February 21, 2009
- Coordinate four (4) volunteer orientations at RTC during 2008, and 11 public
tours – two (2) orientations and 3 public tours to date
ADMINISTRATION
Jim Pruett, Office Manager
● Upgrade Gift Shop area and inventory system to increase sales and income;
diversify merchandise including Trixie Koontz product line – in process
● Complete addition of outdoor RTF storage area and covered patio – still in
planning stage
● Complete the replacement of rubber floor in large (Admin Blgd) training room.
Prepare plan for replacement of remaining floors throughout campus - scheduled
installation for May 18, 2009
 Maintain improved exterior landscape planting. Investigate artificial turf
options as a means to beautify campus and reduce water expenditure – in process
● Repaint exterior dorm room doors; reframe and re-hang four (4) interior dorm
room doors and install RFID chips for disabled access – exterior doors painted
● Stabilize staffing of the front office to improve efficiency and maintain smooth
interface with National – complete and working smoothly