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VISION 2026

Niagara Life Centre 5 Year Strategic Plan (2021-2026)

Vision 2026 – Strategic Growth Goals

1. GOD FIRST
 Actions:

  • Dedicate NLC to God daily through staff devotions and group prayer
  • End the ministry day with collective thanksgiving
  • Commit NLC governance to God through prayer and devotions at board meetings
  • Ensure Biblical values are maintained in all aspects of the ministry
  • Bring help, hope and healing to clients by using the teachings of Jesus Chris

2. INVEST IN PEOPLE
 Actions:

  • Staff soul care:
  1. Regular retreats and check-ins that help offer personal support for staff
  2. Share and Prayer – twice a month
  3. Provide space within the centre that staff can use for rest and refueling
  4. Develop a staff cultural awareness about importance of soul care
  • Staff development and retention:
  1. RRSPs
  2. Grow counsellor positions towards full time
  3. Counsellor & staff training as needed (e.g., marital, trauma, child, adolescent)
  4. Continued counsellor input regarding scheduling (e.g. groups) and forms (e.g. intake forms)
  5. Succession plan for ED
  • Board development:
  1. 8 – 9 board members
  2. Board position rotation
  • Volunteers (For connect and learn groups, events, and front desk/office):
  1. Recruit
  2. Train
  3. Support

3. CLIENT SERVICE DEVELOPMENT
 Actions:

  • Increase counselling hours and expand services.
  • Community Life Groups (care groups, Bible-based Studies):
  1. Premarital (e,g, Prepare and Enrich)
  2. Boot Camp – Parenting through the years: 4 groups: babies, toddlers, elementary, teens
  3. Fostering and creating positive environments at home
  4. Effect of technology on children
  5. Stress management for families
  6. Created to be Connected (Marriage Group)
  7. Conquering Codependency
  8. Support for parents with children dealing with mental health issues, including parental self-regulation to support their children
  9. Ministry with coffee and Bible study
  10. Grieving due to suicide / overdose death of family member or friend
  • Connect & Learn groups (include Bible study and/or support with an activity or teaching):
  1. Cooking / baking / eating (e.g. seniors, widowers)
  2. Bible based financial planning
  3. Physical Wellness
  •  Child and youth counselling and groups:
  1. Reinstate child counselling
  2. After school group sessions for school age children, to be done once have child counsellor (e.g., communication skills, anxiety and anger management, coping strategies, divorce care for kids)
  • Crisis calls day, so people in crisis can call in and triage over the phone
  • Will actively refer clients to local support groups, particularly:
  1. Divorce Care – healing from divorce – will refer clients to church groups
  2. Christians Against Poverty – A faith based non-profit that provides free help for people in debt, trouble with money management courses provided by local churches and faith organizations
  •  Family Mediation
  •  Software to track client fees, handle online booking and cancellation, etc.

4. SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT
 Actions:

  • Educational videos providing coping skills
  • Promote programs through media, keep website & others current
  • Add Legacy program information to website
  • Add languages to website (French, Spanish)
  • Upgrade website accessibility for visually impaired 
  • Platforms – Instagram, Facebook, will add Twitter
  • Upgrade website (e.g., support client payments online, easier program sign-up)
  • Email: Continue to build and develop e-newsletter list
  • Radio: Build marketing relationships with more Niagara radio stations
  • Direct Mail: newsletters as well as program-specific mailouts with more detail
  • Rack Cards: find and utilize community boards around the city
  • Develop podcasts to connect with younger generation
  • Explore the possibility of using Google advertisements

5. FUNDING: ATTRACT AND RETAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORT
 Actions:

  • Fee Structure: increase fees January 1, 2023 – but as always allow payment based on income and financial situation
  • Legacy Program
  1. Continue Legacy Tree Leaves (will bequests)
  2. Place legacy information on website
  • Explore idea of asking people to sponsor a parking spot
  • Possible New Fund Raising Events:
  1. Golf tournament
  2. Travelling Tapas
  • Donor encouragement / management – Bring back Dessert Nights

6. FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
 Actions:

  • Community Kitchen Renovations
  • Accessibility: Elevator installation
  • Parking Lot Development (Expand and Resurface)
  • Transitional Housing: explore partnership with others

JOIN WITH US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE