The Kim Foundation’s 2016 Organizational Fair

On August 11^th, The Kim Foundation hosted our third annual Organizational Fair! This year we held the event at our office in the C&A Industries building and welcomed 48 local non-profit mental and behavioral health organizations.

The idea for the Organizational Fair was conceived after repeatedly hearing different agencies mention that they couldn’t keep up with the changes in staff and services happening within the community. We saw a desire for agencies to collaborate with one another in order to better serve the Omaha area and avoid reinventing the wheel. At that moment, we realized we needed to host an event that brought non-profit mental and behavioral health providers together. The Organizational Fair gives these agencies an opportunity to address the group on additions or reductions in services, changes in leadership, or any other news they feel their peer partners should know. In addition to each group presenting about their services, each of the 48 groups were able to have a booth with their materials and had time to network.

Last year was the first year we incorporated three peer nominated awards including: Spirit of Service, Outstanding Partner, and Innovative Program. The award winners this year included Jodi Teal, Executive Director of HETRA Equine Therapy, Spirit of Service Award. Jodi has worked tirelessly to make equine therapy available to any child or adult with a mental or physical disability, despite financial challenges. According to one of her client’s, “She believes that any child with a physical or emotional disability deserves to have FUN while they are at therapy!”

Region 6 Behavioral Health Care was nominated as Outstanding Partner. Region 6 is always ready and willing to offer support to and expertise on various community mental and behavioral health projects. They are constantly looking for ways to improve access to services, provide ongoing education and trainings, and partner with local agencies to provide innovative programs. We are incredibly grateful for their support in the 13minutes campaign specifically.

Nebraska Children’s Home Society’s program “Raising Your Grandchild” was this year’s Innovative Program winner. The six-week curriculum focuses on understanding child development, developing an attunement and attachment lens, and the importance of self-care.  A mental health practitioner from the Children and Family Center is involved in each group process, offering a therapeutic focus.  The stigma of seeking mental health services is reduced and a number of grandparents have chosen to engage in therapy services for themselves and their grandchildren.

Thank you so much to all of our community partners who took the time to participate in the event and support collaboration. We were so pleased with the turnout of the 2016 Organizational Fair that we cannot wait to begin planning next year’s event!

Jill Hamilton, Project Coordinator, The Kim Foundation

Jill Hamilton has been the Project Coordinator at The Kim Foundation since 2014. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and public relations from The University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2009. Since working at the foundation, she has become an active member of the Nebraska State Suicide Prevention Coalition, Nebraska LOSS Advisory Committee, The Omaha Metro Hoarding Taskforce, The Early Childhood Mental Health Coalition, The Metro Area Suicide Prevention Coalition, is Chair of the Nebraska LOSS Teams Conference Planning Committee, and serves as the Outreach Coordinator for the Metro Area LOSS Team.