Community Resources

By Tom Victoria Eagle Staff Writer

March 27, 2012 Last Updated: March 28, 2012 02:23 PM Special Sections

Erin McGarrity with the Center for Community Resources works at a computer at the Main Street center, which offers information and referrals dealing with mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse, among other issues.

CCR chief helps make difference

Mike Robb originally had aspirations to be a high school teacher helping students.

By switching to the human services field, Robb ended up helping people of all ages and types.

“I thought I could make a difference across the board,” he said.

Robb is the executive director of Center for Community Resources, the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and the Nonprofit Development Corporation.

CCR, the oldest of the three organizations, links people to a network of human services agencies.

“Our role is to really be a resource to anyone in the community,” Robb said.

CCR coordinates supportive services for those seeking information and referrals for mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse and other issues.

Services are available for the deaf, visually impaired and those with physical or intellectual disabilities.

CCR handles more than 10,000 cases annually. Each month, there are 400 walk-ins.

Robb is especially gratified when CCR can help people with no place to turn.

“You're there to help somebody who may not have anybody,” he said.

One day in July, Robb walked into the Butler office on Main Street and found a woman waiting to talk with an employee.

More than six months later, the woman called Robb. Feeling like her back was against the wall, she recalled how Robb listened to her before.

The woman told him she had no other place to go.

Robb said CCR is helping the woman deal with housing, custody and other issues.

“We get some pretty complicated cases,” he said.

Once CCR helps a person, the agency periodically checks in to see what else the individual may need.

Along with its referral work, CCR also provides some services directly, such as manning a crisis hot line and giving tax preparation assistance.

Robb said such services enable CCR to reach more people.

“These are all entry points for us,” he said.

CCR operates the Utility Assistance program, which is a single point of contact to find government, private and charitable funds to help people prevent heat or electricity shutoffs.

The agency also provides information on energy conservation and weatherization to reduce people's utility bills.

Under CCR's Homeless Case Management program, people with disabilities or substance abuse problems are assisted.

Housing is offered via 18 apartments.

Inside CCR's 18,000-square-foot building on Main Street, there are six counseling rooms with sliding glass doors and acoustic panels to provide privacy.

In addition to the main building, which was bought in 2010, CCR has roughly 5,000 square feet of office space in the Sunnyview complex.

Robb, 40, lives in Winfield Township with his wife, Angie, and four children: Emily, 13, Caleb, 12, Ian, 8, and Macrina, 6.

The Robbs picked a name with Greek roots for their youngest child.

“It means ‘little great one,'” he said.

A Cabot native, Robb is a 1990 graduate of Knoch High School in Jefferson Township.He received a bachelor's in psychology/philosophy from John Carroll University in Ohio. He then got a master's in counseling/psychology from Slippery Rock University.Before attending SRU, Robb ran a youth center in Martin, Ky., for the Christian Appalachian Project.Alliance for Nonprofit Resources (ANR) provides management services for nonprofit or charitable organizations. Since 2008, it has operated Butler Area Rural Transit.In 2010, ANR started doing medical assistance transportation trips. Before ANR took the service over, Butler County paid Armstrong County to schedule the rides.ANR also operates the Welfare to Work program, which helps ensure people get to their jobs.For example, if a person in the program can only afford to buy one tire for a personal vehicle but needs four, the other three will be bought for the individual.The third organization, the Nonprofit Development Corporation, was formed to own the Main Street building.Any organization renting space in the building has access to the receptionist, waiting area and conference room.Robb said sharing building amenities with other nonprofit organizations benefits CCR and ANR because it collects resources together.He views his job as facilitating the agencies' functions.“My role is layered,” Robb said.For Robb, one of his functions is getting the right staff.“Number one, hire really good people and let them do their jobs,” he said.Robb said if the employees are treated well, they'll pass on the sentiment with clients.“Another role is making sure, as much as I can, everybody matters,” he said. “If you treat them well, they'll treat walk-ins well. That translates into quality.”Heading into the future, Robb sees financing as a test for the agencies to continue providing quality service at an affordable cost.“The challenge for us with the funding cuts is how to maintain those tenets,” he said.Robb said if funding cuts would necessitate a service being scaled back, the goal would be to keep the essence of the service alive.He said it's better to serve fewer people through a program than eliminate that program.“The challenge is to maintain your mission while you seek new opportunities to service,” Robb said. “It's not about chasing the dollars.”

ROBB FILEName: Mike RobbAge: 40Residence: Winfield TownshipEmployment: Executive director of Center for Community Resources, the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and the Nonprofit Development CorporationFamily: Wife, Angie, and four childrenEducation: 1990 graduate of Knoch High School; bachelor’s in psychology/philosophy from John Carroll University; master’s in counseling/psychology from Slippery Rock University.Community activities: Winfield Township supervisor, coach for the Knoch Area Soccer Association and South Butler School District boys and girls basketball.LIFE LESSONSMike Robb, executive director of Center for Community Resources, gave these tips for nonprofit organizations to improve the community:• Relationships matter. It is important to regularly expand your network of relationships and nurture these relationships for deeper engagement.• Messages matter. Does your organization’s message resonate and inspire people to get involved?• Programs matter. Ensure programs identify needs in the community.• Positive outcomes matter. The goal of an organization should not just be to survive, but truly make an impact.• Communications matter. Communicate regularly with people and other organizations to keep them engaged and excited about what’s happening at your organization.ON THE JOBName: Center for Community Resources, the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources and the Nonprofit Development Corp.Top official: Mike Robb, executive directorCCR Services: Coordinating services for people seeking information and referrals for mental health, mental retardation, substance abuse and other issues; services are available for the deaf, visually impaired and those with physical or intellectual disabilities.Mission: To make a positive difference in the daily lives by connecting people to a network of supports and services essential for actively learning, working and living.Clients: Handles more than 10,000 cases annually.Number of employees: Nearly 100Phone: 724-431-009524-hour hot line: 800-292-3866Website: ww.ccrinfo.org———ANR services: Butler Area Rural Transit, Medical Assistance Transportation ProgramMission: Provide a network of quality administrative and operational supports and services essential for other nonprofits and programs to actively engage in the community and fulfill their missionsNumber of employees: Nearly 50ANR phone: 724-431-3723Website: ww.anrinfo.orgBUSINESS INSIGHTMike Robb, executive director of Center for Community Resources, gave these tips for succeeding in the human services industry:• Seek good counsel and build relationships at every level• Ask questions and pay attention to the big and small picture• Know when and how to share your opinion• Maintain a positive attitude and be proactive• Never end personal improvement.