1. But We Already Do This, Why Bright Futures?
Tracie Skaggs – Carl Junction, MO
Mindy Hicks – Berryville, AR
Leticia Sabado – Seneca, MO
Jennifer Beavers – Harrisonville, MO

2. Current Programs Weekend & Summer Food Programs School Supplies
Mentors
Christmas Elf
Angel Mommies
Vision Assistance
Dental Health
Clothing, Coats, Shoes
I see talking about some of the programs operating in schools all across the country to help students and families. These are some of the programs we had in our schools before BF.
Do you have any other ideas?
(Beavers) Summer Food Programs

3. Same & Different We are in the “kid-business”
Bright Futures is a BRIDGE to services & Social Services agencies in our community
Community Resources are leveraged
Everyone will help a child
What are some things that are the same as before we had BF and what are some of the things that are different now that we have BF?
Same: We are in the “kid-business”
Different: Bright Futures is a BRIDGE to services & Social Services agencies in our community. Networks are established with existing services and agencies already doing the work.
Different: Community resources are leveraged
Same: Everyone will help a child
Beavers:
Same: We have kids in our community who do not have their basic needs being met
Different: Bright Futures allows for 1 place for staff and community members to refer kids and families to have their needs be met.
Same: Civic groups, businesses, faith-based groups, families want to give to the families in need in their own community.
Different: Because Bright Futures is a fluid collaboration the needs of kids and families are known. Monies aren’t wasted on buying something, just to buy it or to fulfill a quarterly giving component. Monies go directly for the needs at that time. In addition efforts and resources are not duplicated
Same: Good people and good initiatives are happening within your community.
Different: Through collaboration the works of good people and good initiatives will grow exponentially.
Who has a great story that fits here?
Back to School Fair story in Harrisonville (Beavers)

4. This is an Awareness Test
Sometimes we get so caught up in doing task after task to help student after student that we don’t have time to see things in a different way or in a different light. Bright Futures can set up a framework of supports that helps us see what is possible.
Click the picture to show the video.
What do you think of this? It won’t hurt my feelings if you want to get rid of this.
The photo is just an optical illusion that keeps repeating itself. I thought that it represented how we can just keep going in circles without really going anywhere.
This is an Awareness Test

5. Community Connections
Businesses
Faith-based Organizations
Social Service Agencies
Parents
They all want to be a part and invest in our schools
These community connections are what has been right in front of us all this time. As educators we have had this mind-set that we need to handle this by ourselves – we can’t let the community in. We have allowed parents in to be room mothers, work with the PTA/PTO or help in the office but everyone else we have just asked for their money.
Beavers
Don’t be afraid of opening your doors to “outsiders”. Partners are asked to come in with the mindset that they drop their affiliations at the door. They are in our schools for our kids (not Pastor, not Insurance Agent, Banker etc.)
What stories do we have here?
Beavers- Harrisonville Alternative School partnership with United Methodist Church and Local Union of Operating Engineers

6. Bright Futures Brings Them Together
You are not alone
Strength, consistency, continuity, sustainability
Organization, record keeping
Everyone is invited to participate
Under the Bright Futures umbrella no one is working alone to help the kids in your schools. ( I will look for an umbrella graphic to add here.)
The Bright Futures Framework creates:
Strength
Consistency
Continuity
Sustainability
*****EVERYONE IS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE (HELP) TO MAKE A CHILD’S LIFE BRIGHTER******
Stories? This would also be a great place to add some great photos of big crowds of people helping make a school better.

7. Strength: Grow with Community Resources
Before Bright Futures
After Bright Futures
Weekend Food Packs 65 School Supplies 45 Mentors 5
Weekend Food Packs 180 School Supplies 300 Mentors 45
This is just a quick look at how things looked in a school before BF.
Do you have ideas to add or better stats to show?
Good time to point out that the need was greater before Bright Futures and maybe show the % difference
- Beavers will look to see if data can be found (if you want) on attendance data in 1 elementary school here whose site council helped them work on improving their overall attendance %
Stories? Photos?

8. Consistency
- agreement or harmony of parts or features to one another or a whole
Every school and every child has access to the same programs
Guidelines and procedures are standardized
Graphics and messages are the same
Anything else that you can add for reasons that BF adds consistency?
Beavers- when children within your area move and they transfer to another Bright Futures community/district you have the relationship with other coordinators to provide seamless services

9. Continuity
uninterrupted duration or continuation especially without essential change
The programs are the same from year to year
Change in personnel doesn’t interrupt or change services

10. Sustainability Management Resources Financial Resources
able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed
Management Resources
Financial Resources
Volunteer Resources
This is a big reason why my school district chose to affiliate with Bright Futures. Over the years we have had people who have a certain passion start a program to help our students. Over the years management, financial, or volunteer resources change or have difficulties. With BF there is a back-up structure in place to keep things moving.
Carl Junction’s story about our Weekend Food Pack Program and how Bright Futures stepped up to help when management lost their passion, financial resources were drained, and volunteer resources went away. (I will add a photo of a group of volunteers packing packs)
Beavers
Harrisonville is going through this right now with a program. Our summer food program is co-coordinated by 2 volunteers. One is having to step down due to health and family reasons. A replacement has been found because the resources and plans are already in place by the former volunteer (in fact she is training her right now).
People are generally good people. They want to give, but don’t always know where to give so their own community is helped. Bright Futures is a trusted organization. Therefore, financial resources continue to flow, often without even asking.
Any other stories?

11. “Take Aways” Involve everyone
Taylor Bright Futures to fit your community
Always stay kid focused
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK PEOPLE TO HELP KIDS!!!!
Please let me know what you hope our audience will learn from this session
Beavers-
Personal invitations to get involved- use all your networks (family, friends, work, church, neighbors, civic groups)
Reach out each year as you grow to folks-some may be hesitant to initially engage, but once they have a better understanding of the mission they need to feel welcome to participate
Give community members specific tasks / action items- and then let go and support them

12. Turning Gray Todays into Promising Tomorrows…
Student produced video about how they view Bright Futures and the difference it makes for them and their classmates.
I will post this video on my website so it can be linked. In the meantime. I will send it separately.
This is just a suggestion on how to end the session. Please let me know if you have any other ideas.
Beavers- Love ending with kids- that’s what it’s all about after all!

13. Questions
Thank you!
I’d like to take a photo of all of us together to post here.

14. Contact information
Jennifer Beavers Harrisonville, MO District Social Worker (816) ext

15. Contact information
Mindy Hicks Berryville, AR District Test Coordinator (870) ext

16. Contact information
Leticia Sabado, SBSW Seneca, MO School Social Worker (417)

17. Contact information
Tracie Skaggs Carl Junction, MO Public Relations Director (417)