Family Counseling Center receives grant for staff training software

At a time when most local social service agencies are being forced to cut training budgets, one has the opportunity to invest in its most important resource: its people.

Family Counseling Center Inc. has been awarded the Netsmart Learn4Life Training Grant. The center has offices in Golconda, Vienna and Cairo.

The grant covers two years of access to Netsmart’s myLearningPointe training software for all Family Counseling Center staff members and has an approximate value of $20,000.

Family Counseling Center Inc. executive director Sherrie L. Crabb said that she considered the grant to be a bright spot during what has been a dark time of late for the agency, as well as other local agencies.

“In the current budget climate that Illinois human service providers are operating in, Family Counseling Center Inc. greatly appreciates Netsmart’s recognition of our efforts and dedication to improve our employees’ skills,” Crabb said in a news release.

“This investment in our work family ensures that we may continue to provide quality services to our clientele in order to assist them in reaching their full human potential.”

IT consultant Rollie Hawk wrote the grant for the agency and said he is excited to see the impact it will have. Hawk works parttime as Family Counseling Center’s IT director.

“When a business invests time and resources into training, it says a lot about its commitment to its employees and their futures,” Hawk said in a news release. “It can change what might have only been a temporary job for someone into a potential career as they have the opportunity to grow beyond their current skill level.”

Hawk said he considers this completely in line with the agency’s mission.

“Family Counseling Center has a motto of ‘helping others to help themselves’ and that’s not just in reference to the clients they serve,” Hawk said.

“This software will give employees access to training that goes beyond what the agency requires and is an opportunity for them to truly help themselves to increase in knowledge and to develop new skills.”