WRI Past Projects . . .

Organizational Development

Assistance to The Latino Fund of Tri-State, Inc. — In 1996, WRI developed and produced an informational brochure on The Latino Fund and an organizational development questionnaire aimed at agencies serving Latino citizens and residents. The Latino Fund of Tri-State, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation working to support and strengthen Latino individuals, families, organizations, and communities in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut regions.

Grantsmanship Training — With funding from the Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services (APPS) program, New York State Department of Social Services, WRI staff conducted three one-day sessions in 1994 and 1995 in New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse on grantsmanship for agencies and programs offering teen pregnancy prevention services. The sessions covered the search for funding sources, the proposal development process, and the writing of the proposal narrative.

Materials for Staff Working with the Developmentally Disabled Parent and Child — In this multi-year project, WRI assisted in developing materials targeted to support a training program for direct service staff who work with children and parents with developmental disabilities. The workshops assist local and voluntary agency caseworkers and supervisors. WRI worked as a subcontractor to Child Development Associates, a woman-owned firm that provides clinical psychological services to developmentally disabled children and parents.

Minority Community-Based Organization Development — In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s,WRI provided training and technical assistance over a six-year period to staff of minority community-based organizations in the skills needed to obtain public funds and to meet the complex reporting, fiscal, and record-keeping requirements of government agencies. The training also covered general organizational skills such as personnel recruitment and development, financial management, board development, planning, and public relations. This project to assist MCBO’s statewide to obtain purchase-of-service contracts was supported by the New York State Department of Social Services.

Suffolk County Infirmary: Privatization Options — In 1990, WRI conducted a study exploring options related to privatization of Suffolk County's public nursing home. Options included management by a nonprofit corporation, a lease-purchase system, and operation of specific components by private vendors, among others. WRI made recommendations and presented an implementation plan.

Technical Assistance to the Governor's Office for Voluntary Service — WRI has provided a variety of design and production assistance to support the work of the Governor's Office for Voluntary Service. Materials produced include an announcement and brochure for the office's first annual conference, "Voluntary Power: How To Get It, How to Use It," and posters designed to inform the public about the contributions made by volunteers in all aspects of community life and to encourage greater involvement. In 1990, WRI also edited and produced brochures for the Office's Foster Care Youth Independence Project, which supports youth being discharged from foster care to independent living.

Worker Security Project — In 1994, WRI examined current strategies for improving statewide worker security in New York State Department of Social Services work sites. Through a contract with the State University College at Buffalo, WRI reviewed current activities and curricula on workplace security; conducted a literature search for documentation of strategies used nationally; interviewed experts in the field; and participated in a site visit to a local county Department of Social Services office. The final report, entitled Preventing Violence: Safety in the Social Services Environment, presents background on the growing crisis and the changing nature of social work, an analysis of violence, and strategies for coping with violence, including violence prevention.