Letter from the Director
Dr. Lila Carl

Dear Friends:

The old saying that goes something like “the only constant is change” has certainly been the standard for Any Baby Child and Family Resource Center. Since our last newsletter, Any Baby Can has been involved in numerous collaborations, program additions, fundraising events, and …. a merger with Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Foundations, government agencies, corporations and other funding sources have been urging non-profits to come together and collaborate with each other to reduce administrative costs, build capacity and lessen duplication of efforts. ABC took this to heart. Just a few of the collaborations in which we have been involved follow.

· The Children’s Early Start Coalition was formed as an offshoot of ABC’s grant from the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services – Texas Families – Together and Safe. With staff support from the Austin Project, a network of 50 agencies meet quarterly and outline work to be done to promote and develop opportunities for early literacy for small children. This coalition was strong enough to receive a federal grant of almost $1 million to achieve its work.

· The Basic Needs Council was formed almost three years ago to develop a better
model of distribution of basic needs in the Austin area. This council, with 20 members, just received its first grant of $25,000 from AMD to begin a data base
to track where and how needy families are receiving basic needs. A pilot program to repair a fragmented system is being developed.

· The former Austin Respite Network has been revived with funding of $30,000 from the Texas Department of Health. The new Central Texas Respite Network partners include the Easter Seal Society of Central Texas as fiscal agent, the Arc of the Capital Area, Any Baby Can CFRS, MHMR and the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities. Efforts will be made to leverage this grant for additional respite funds.

· The merger of Any Baby Can and Candlelighters is the first merger in the non-profit Health and Human Services community since ABC merged with CEDEN in 2000. Candlelighters brings 15 years of expertise in support of children with cancer and blood related disorders. This merger will even further offer cutting edge programs for children with special needs or at risk for developmental delays as well as save $150,000 of administrative costs annually.

· Any Baby Can and Lifeworks are in the process of developing a coalition of agencies providing prenatal education services.

Although these are just a few examples of the excellent collaborations and mergers, it is exciting and heartening that non-profits can put aside their territorialism and unite for the benefit of children and families. Donors are also maximizing the community impact their dollars make.

Thanks to all of you who volunteer and support Any Baby Can/Candlelighters. We look forward to a great holiday season. Warmest regards, Lila Carl, Ph.D. Executive Director.