Consulting

Our consulting services in organizational development and program planning are designed to maximize sustainability. GLCYD can help:

   * Design effective youth development programs
   * Evaluate programs & organizational functions
   * Develop strategic plans
   * Identify new sources of funding
   * Build sustainability into your organization
   * Strengthen management skills & systems
   * Strengthen the board

We utilize internal staff for much our consulting services. With a combined resource of over 35 years' experience working with nonprofits, youth development and communities, our staff can assist you in addressing the needs of your organization or community. If we don't have the expertise or time in-house to meet your needs, we can help you identify another consultant to work with you.

Our services are available by the hour, the day, or for comprehensive projects over several weeks or months. Scholarships are available to members who need financial assistance.

Some of the Actual TA/Consulting Services:

Burt Township School Asset Building Activity
Brian Prill, high school history and Spanish teacher at Burt Township School in Grand Marais, participates in an asset-building activity called “Every Student a Star,” facilitated by GLCYD Youth Development Associate, Linda Remsburg. In the activity, school staff are able to get a picture of where student-adult bonds are in most need of being strengthened and then commit to building connections with individual students through asset-building actions as simple as saying hi in the hall or asking a student about their after-school activities. If your school or nonprofit organization would like to do this activity as part of its professional development, call Remsburg toll free at 877-339-6884.

Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Early Childhood Program
MDS Early Childhood Program, a division of the MDS Community Action Agency located in Escanaba, has a great staff that is dedicated to young children and their education. The Early Childhood Program manages all of the Head Start and Early Head Start preschool services in the three-county area, especially for children from low-income families. MDS Early Childhood Program needed to develop a new three-year plan in order to most effectively use government resources and provide the highest quality education and child development programs possible with the resources available. So, the organization contracted with Great Lakes Center for Youth Development for consulting services. Judy Watson Olson, President of GLCYD, worked with program director, Kim Johnson, to design a two-and-a-half day retreat held at the Rapid River Falls Lodge May 31 – June 2, 2011 for the management team. The sessions were energetic and engaging resulting in a three-year plan that can help guide their work. This was the third time Great Lakes Center for Youth Development has provided strategic planning services for the MDS Early Childhood Program, a member of The Center.