About Us

SBRCCF TAKES OFF

As they considered where to begin their work in Baton Rouge, they decided to look at work that the church began several years ago. The South Baton Rouge Church of Christ had supplied Buchanan Elementary students with school supplies for several years. The decision to extend the church’s work and focus on the Old South Baton Rouge community seemed a logical direction in which to proceed. Based on a program started by the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ, the Foundation conducted a school supply program for Buchanan elementary school and expanded later to include Polk elementary. This project has since proven valuable in providing a connection between SBRCCF and the community.

Carolyn and Melissa brainstormed to locate individuals interested in working within the area known as Old South Baotn Rouge (OSBR). The newly recruited board members initiated the Foundation’s efforts in 2003 with a needs assessment of OSBR community residents and of the local social services. The results indicated that the area residents wanted services envisioned by the Foundation, namely child care services, parenting classes and relationship counseling. The survey also determined that other agencies were not providing similar services in the area. Although a Montessori program is offered at one local elementary school, there are no early childhood development programs providing the Montessori system of preschool education.

Development continued in January of 2004, as the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) accepted the SBRCCF into the Rural Capacity Academy (RCA).  Through the RCA, SBRCCF was granted over $12,000 for organizational capacity building. The Foundation’s goals were again recognized in June, as the Foundation was honored by a $50,000 grant from the Institute for Youth Development of the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Because of this grant, the Foundation has been able to develop and start family life and parenting programs in the community not provided by other agencies.

Despite not having a location, SBRCCF has continued to provide services.  In February through April of 2005, SBRCCF held two class series in the OSBR area: one, a three week series of classes on “Communication” held at Buchanan Elementary was attended by 25 participants; the second, a seven-week series of classes on “Marriage and Relationships” at the YWCA Family Resource Center for 12 females in their GED Program.  In 2004, SBRCCF provided Polk Elementary with volunteers to speak at the Grandparents Day Program and for the Donuts for Dads program. 

In August of 2004 SBRCCF organized efforts to distribute school supplies donated by the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ to over 100 children at Buchanan Elementary. A Community Advisory Team was recruited and organized to get the community involved in the school supply giveaway in 2005 and to keep SBRCCF aware of changing community needs.

In 2005 SBRCCF increased community involvement not only with the family programs but also with the development of a community advisory committee. Since the Foundation sees itself as part of the community and seeks to be responsive to community needs, the advisory committee continues to be a vital partner in developing SBRCCF programs. Other significant actions for 2005 included setting up a functioning website and acceptance by LANO into their Standards for Excellence program. By joining the Standards for Excellence program, the Foundation emphasized its commitment to organization integrity.

Finally, 2005 opened with the opportunity to achieve a fundamental goal of the Foundation, the establishment of a preschool program.  SBRCCF negotiated to lease the Old Carver Library on Highland Road, and that became its first community home. The Carver Library is a uniquely strategic landmark rental property in the OSBR area that was formerly the home of the East Baton Rouge Parish Carver Library. As an historic building strategically located near Channel 2 and with interstate access, this building has a long association with the community and offers SBRCCF an alternative facility in which to offer its services to the community. SBRCCF leased the Carver Building in August of 2005 through July 2007 and established tow of its Family Resource Center programs.

To continue expanding services SBRCCF would need to renovate the Carver Building and make changes that could cost up to $70,000. The landlord is not agreeable to helping with any renovation cost and will not subtract any improvement from the rent. The SBRCCF board decided that the $30,000 a year expense for renting the building combined with the $70,000renovation cost was not a good use of the foundation’s funding. The other risk involved the landlord’s right to sell the property; SBRCCF inquired about purchasing the building, but the landlord remains unprepared to sell.

SBRCCF has investigated opportunities to purchase a building in the area or to lease another building. An opportunity to partner with the YWCA Center for Family Empowerment and take over their Early Childhood development Center was offered in June, 2007and SBRCCF will relocate to 3180 Convention Street in September, 2007. Services will include both, the Old South Baton Rouge area and the “Mid City area”. SBRCCF will partner with Buchanan to host the “Girls Club” on Tuesday afternoons to third through fifth grade girls and pursue a partnership with one of the local churches to host the opportunity to older girls. The meetings for “Marriages that Matter” will be held at the new location.

In summary, starting with a vision in 2003 of educating children and enriching families, the Foundation defined its mission based on critically needed preschool and family services for the Old South Baton Rouge Community. Next, the Foundation was aided in its development for its organizational structure and services by being honored with two grants. These grants in turn have made further organizational and program development possible. Now, a new door has opened for the early childhood program through collaboration with the YWCA Center for Family Empowerment in Mid-City Baton Rouge.