Honored by the U.S. Senate in a ceremony on Capitol Hill, Community Partnership Family Resource Center has been recognized nationally for its 3-to-1 return on investment.

The recognition stems from a four-year study by the National Family Support Network based in Washington, D.C. 

“We already know that we are one of the highest performing family resources centers in the country,” said Jodi Mijares, executive director of the organization that serves families in Teller County.

The center relies on data-driven statistics to chart the return on investments due to helping clients before they turn to government-assisted programs.

The findings were published last year in a scientific journal.  The local CP was one of two national organizations to be invited into the study, the other is in Orange County, Calif.

“We do evidence-based programming so we have measurable outcomes; we can actually test our work,” Mijares said.  “We have great financial management so that we can say how much money is spent on a particular program.”

The level of detail provided by the organization was key to inclusion in the journal.  

“The study showed that for every one dollar invested in Community Partnership saved Teller County Department of Human Services almost three dollars,” Mijares said. “The federal government is cutting wasteful spending, reducing dependence on public benefits but when they saw this study, they thought it made sense and wanted to preserve it.”

The Omni Institute evaluated the findings and released the report last year.

“If families start connecting with us, they are not going to end up in child welfare programs,” Mijares said.  “That’s what they were trying to measure; it’s a better deal for people to support a family resource center financially than to pay the tax bill for families in the system.”

Data and evidence

Mijares and her team played a key role in the Teller County Food Initiative, a response generated by the temporary halting by the federal government of SNAP benefits to 3,000 county residents.

“When SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits got cut, the commissioners started a community-wide initiative where elected officials and first responders rallied the entire community to participate,” Mijares said.

For CP, the food initiative brought in more than $100,000 in donations in addition to $30,000 in unsolicited grants from El Pomar and Ute Pass Saddle Club foundations.

Mijares credits the first responders and Lt. Renee Bunting for collecting toys, clothes and gifts from customers at City Market and Walmart where kids took part in Shop with a Hero.

“Even though the community had just donated more than $100,000, they then turned around and donated $41,000 for toys, coats and gift cards for the holidays,” she said.

As a result, CP served 350 children in December.

“We couldn’t believe it – just this constant unloading of people’s carts,” she said. “I get choked up talking about it.”

The return on investment for CP clients saves money while enhancing lives.

“By providing food for someone, they might be able to pay their electric bill; a need is a need and with too many needs all at once, that’s when a family goes into crisis,” Mijares said. “No, we’re not a food pantry but it’s important that families have food; otherwise, our mission falls apart.”

Serving double the number of clients this year, the organization continues to make a difference.

“When families are struggling financially, that’s when children’s experiences decrease; their feelings of safety, security, happiness, enjoying the holidays, all of that is on the table,” she said.  “Our whole goal as a family resource center is to reduce parental stress so that children are safer and thriving in their home.”