Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2008 / United Way grant restructuring affects some Vista Maria programming
United Way grant restructuring affects some Vista Maria programming
Published July 11, 2008
Deaborn Heights — The United Way of Southeast Michigan may only provide a sliver of the $19 million-per-year ministry of Vista Maria in Dearborn Heights. But Vista Maria president and CEO Cameron Hosner says it's an important sliver, and that the organization would be affected by the changes to the United Way's funding, which were announced this month.
Vista Maria is Michigan's largest non-profit residential and community-based treatment agency for abused and neglected girls.
"They've been a small element of our overall budget, historically," Hosner said of the United Way, "but important in terms of funding initiatives that otherwise would not be provided."
Recently, Hosner said, the United Way had given the organization $125,000 to $130,000 per year. While $60,000 were designated gifts — donations earmarked by individual donors specifically for Vista Maria programming — the remainder were grants, which went to fund three areas:
- transitional living for those who have aged out of the organization's programming;
- mentorship programs; and
- health services, from general physical health to education on nutrition, abstinence and other healthy choices.
Changes to the mission of the United Way will drop the grant funding by about $15,000 to $20,000 per year, and will focus it entirely on transitional living. Designated gifts were not impacted by the United Way changes.
While other Catholic organizations, such as the Catholic Social Services of Wayne and Oakland counties, Catholic Services of Macomb and the Catholic Youth Organization, have been hard-hit by declines in funding, Hosner said Vista Maria won't face the major changes needed in those organizations, such as layoffs and changes in programming.
Regarding the transitional living program, Hosner said the United Way-funded program is pivotal.
"It's really helping them to make that tough, transitional move into adulthood," he said. "We're trying to make sure that the gains they made in treatment are sustained and they continue with their positive development."
Over the course of a year, 125 girls age out of care or are discharged from Vista Maria programs.
Vista Maria applied for $150,000 per year for the transitional living program; it was promised $50,000 each year for three years by the United Way.
As far as mentoring and health services go, Hosner said the organization has to "make some choices" as to how it applies its funds. He said the mentorship program "most likely" would continue, and that the core health services will stay intact – possibly without some special counseling and educational programs.
Vista Maria was founded in 1883 by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. It serves girls and young women, ages 11 to 17, who require treatment for mental health, susbsance abuse, trauma recovery and psychosocial issues.
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