Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student Intern, Sydni Owens, Raises the Bar for Future Interns
We are thrilled to highlight the incredible contributions of Sydni, our Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) intern, who has truly gone above and beyond in supporting the women and children we serve. Sydni has demonstrated a deep commitment to both the clinical and administrative aspects of her role, providing a wide array of services that help foster an environment of care and opportunity for the shelter’s residents.
Sydni's Key Contributions:
Referral Management/Data Entry: Sydni is responsible for logging referrals and entering essential client data, ensuring accurate tracking of client progress and facilitating seamless case management.
Project Impact Participation: Actively engaging in Project Impact, Sydni plays a crucial role in analyzing outcomes for current and past residents. By doing this, CRITI can make adjustments to programming and policies to create a more successful program.
Community Outreach & Resource Management: Sydni consistently contacts local resources and updates our existing partnerships, ensuring the shelter is well-connected with the services critical to our clients’ well-being. Her dedication to finding and maintaining these valuable resources is essential to the shelter’s operations.
Housing Advocacy: In her search for low-income housing options, Sydni has been instrumental in identifying potential housing opportunities for families seeking stability and a safe place to call home.
Child Enrichment Support: Every Monday night, Sydni lends her expertise and energy to assist with Child Enrichment, creating a supportive, engaging environment where children can grow, learn, and thrive.
Going Above and Beyond: Sydni embraces the spirit of teamwork and flexibility, always willing to take on new tasks, whether big or small. Her initiative, dedication, and positive attitude have made a meaningful difference in the lives of the women and children at the shelter, as well as among staff members.
We are incredibly grateful for Sydni's passion and hard work. Her contributions to the shelter are invaluable, and we look forward to seeing all she will continue to achieve as she moves into the rest of her education and career!
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CRITI's Resident Safety Trainer Obtains OSHA Certification
Michiba Smith, Resident Safety Trainer, who facilitates CPR, First Aid, and AED training for all staff and residents, among other responsibilities, has successfully completed an OSHA-authorized certification program and passed the final exam to receive her card and certificate of completion!
This certification equips Michiba with the knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate workplace hazards, leading to a safer facility for all. We're grateful for the skills and expertise Michiba brings to her role, and how well she educates staff and residents on what we need to know in order to make our facility the safest it can be for everyone.
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World Social Work Day is celebrated every year on March 18th! Social workers all over the world are celebrating and promoting the contributions of the profession to individuals, families, communities and wider society.
Intern and Occupational Therapy Doctorate Student, Syndi Owens says, "There are many issues including stigma, discrimination, financial, social, and mental that people need help with, and Social Workers remove barriers that most people don't even consider as an issue because they haven't lived it."
Jessica Brackett, Child Advocate, says, "I enjoy watching people grow and seeing them understand that what they once thought was impossible is actually possible with the right resources and mindset. It's inspiring and encouraging to see a drastic improvement in people's confidence through encouragement and support of selfless Social Workers."
"CRITI has created a foundation for supporting women and children, and I have a strengthened passion for my career because of it", says Intern and Child & Families Studies Student, Haley Stovall.
Gina Moss, Case Manager, says, "Helping others helps me because there's a sense of self-reflection and empathy required for this type of work. I benefit from extending compassion to others."
Our Lead Case Manager, Kaitlyn Bureau, had this to say, "Social Workers forge a path for those who can't see what's ahead. Being in this field lets me give back everything that's been given to me through social workers who supported my own journey. I find joy in doing the same for others. Social Workers are the super heroes of the community."
Please join us in celebrating these lovely ladies for the work they do, and the work two of them are aspiring to do after their internships. They deserve so much recognition for the contributions to our small nonprofit and for the success of so many residents, past and present.
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We're rounding the homestretch! Get your ChattaDerby Tickets now!
Still accepting silent auction donations until April 25th!
If you or your business, group, or club would like to donate to the silent auction, please reach out to our Director of Development, Adrienne Koon, at akoon@chattanoogaroomintheinn.com or 423.713.7059.
| | Thank You to Our Current ChattaDerby Sponsors | |
Chattanooga Room in the Inn Joins Project Impact
Executive Director, Taylor Hixson, Director of Operations, Sara Collier, and Intern, Sydni Owens, attended a Project Impact session on March 5th, an 8 month project in which they are developing a program evaluation tool focused on measuring and increasing the impact of our programs.
The aim of Project Impact is to develop in nonprofits the ability to do credible self-studies of their impact. It takes teams of leaders from nonprofits through a process of discovery about the power of evaluation. The idea is to develop the ability to see and communicate the effects of the programs on the people they are designed to serve. The project begins with a focus on the work of identifying and clarifying the intended impact of each of the participating programs.
We are excited to see the results of our hard work and gain this, and future, valuable feedback!
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Tax-Smart Giving
According to Fidelity Charitable, there's financial incentive for Americans to give generously to charity: when you donate to Chattanooga Room in the Inn as an IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charity, you are able to take an income tax charitable deduction. The purpose of charitable tax deductions is to reduce your taxable income and your tax bill—and in this case, improving the world while you’re at it.
Executive Director, Taylor Hixson, and Director of Development, Adrienne Koon attended Part II of an Investment Series presented by The Trust Company of Tennessee at United Way of Greater Chattanooga to gain further insight for what our donors are looking for in nonprofit charitable giving, and how we can better cater to our donors who have a desire to make a greater impact and/or leave a legacy. We are empowered with the information we received and are eager to celebrate your tax savings with you.
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Gina Moss Joins CRITI!
Gina joined us as our newest Case Manager and we're excited to welcome her on board!
Born in Dalton, Georgia, now residing in Ringgold, Gina Moss graduated cum laude from Dalton State College University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. While studying for her degree, she worked at Highland Rivers Health in the crisis and stabilization unit. After graduating, she joined Carter Hope Center, a nonprofit addiction center in Dalton, through which she received her Addiction Counselor II Certification. After her five-and-a-half-year experience with Carter Hope Center, Gina wanted to get back to her roots of social work and case management.
She is excited to have joined Chattanooga Room in the Inn and is thankful for the opportunity to help individuals get in touch with the resources they need to be successful.
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Chattanooga Room in the Inn Builds Alliance with Community Partners
Some of our team visited the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults Crisis Resource Center and learned about their programs and services offered to sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. We are grateful to have them in our community to aid some of the most vulnerable citizens, and to be part of a symbiotic network of community resources. Expanding our interconnectedness is ever important because we will be able to help more people as a whole. The way our community comes together in alliance is astounding!
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UTC Field Fair
On March 7th, two of our team members, Kaitlyn Bureau, Lead Case Manager, and Sydni Owens, Intern, set up a booth at UTC's Field Fair. The field fair was provided for social work students at UTC where they had the opportunity to provide resumes for internship opportunities. Being an intern herself, Sydni was able to share her personal experience of interning at Chattanooga Room in the Inn. She says she may be a little biased, but she also says it's the best! Thanks to UTC for hosting us and thanks to Kaitlyn and Sydni for representing CRITI so well!
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Tutoring provides personalized attention, helps students overcome learning gaps, boosts confidence, and develops valuable study skills, ultimately leading to improved academic performance and a stronger foundation for future learning.
We are proud to share that as of March 11th, we have five resident students attending on-site math, reading, and Spanish tutoring because of our caring volunteer tutors who give their time and smarts to the children in need. There's even a Special Education tutor on board! We're so grateful to these wonderful people.
This is the most tutoring we've had going at the same time because it's a struggle to find the right tutor for the right subject at the right time. Whew! That's a lot of coordinating! A big shoutout to our on-staff Child Advocate, Jessica Brackett, for making this happen!
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CRITI Talks Derby
We had a great time at Talk Radio 102.3 on March 10th with Jennifer Crutchfield and Natalie Gard! We were invited to speak about our mission, ChattaDerby on Saturday, May 3rd, and our upcoming thrift store. Everyone was so warm and welcoming, and we got in a few good laughs while we were at it.
Listen to the segment by clicking HERE.
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CRITI Conducts Homeless Outreach
Kaitlyn Bureau, Sydni Owens, and Gina Moss from Chattanooga Room in the Inn accompanied homeless outreach with Joe Brackett, Homeless Outreach Specialist at Homeless Health Care Center.
Joe Brackett has worked at Homeless Healthcare Center for the past 7 years. Joe is responsible for traveling the city of Chattanooga, and locating all individuals experiencing homelessness. Joe provides these individuals with supply bags, informs them of resources, and provides a listening ear. Joe does outreach every day of the week, no matter the season. Joe stated, “Before leaving, I always ask them if there’s anything else I can do for them. Even if they always say no, I always ask the next time I see them. The more they see me, the more likely they are to open up and share what they are truly in need of”.
Homeless outreach is crucial because it connects vulnerable individuals with vital resources and services, addressing immediate needs and promoting long-term stability, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable community. Thank you to all who went on this outreach, and to all who are willing to support CRITI and Homeless Health Care in their efforts.
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CRITI Plans Expansion After Land Donation
"A Chattanooga women's shelter that focuses on offering its clients longer-term housing help will expand in the next few years after taking in a land donation from Hamilton County." That's us! We are excited to be in a study phase that will let us know the likelihood of expansion.
Read the full Chattanooga Times Free Press article HERE.
| | | Glow-in-the-Dark Dance Party! | | Resident children met their final reading goal of 5,000 pages read and we celebrated by turning the lights off, supplying everything neon, and dancing the night away! What a fun time! We're so proud of these kids! | |  | |
Shelter to Stability Donor Society
Join the Shelter to Stability Donor Society and make a meaningful impact in the lives of women and children in our program. Your dedication can transform into essential resources like clean clothes, mental health counseling, and life skills classes, all of which contribute to a path toward stable living. Together, we can create a brighter future for those in need.
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Thank you to our current donor society members!
- Karen Scott
- Deborah Hulse
- Pamala and Robert Thompson
- Jordan Farmer
- Julie Russell and Bill Crunk
- Joseph Shown
- Anonymous (x9)
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