The Cobb and Douglas County Community Services Boards (CSB) are taking a new approach to funding. The agency has appointed long-time employee Teresa Smith to the newly created position of Strategic Resource Management Director for the Cobb and Douglas Community Services Boards. Teresa will be responsible for pursuing alternate funding resources, primarily in the form of grants, to help sustain the mission of the organization and the community it serves.

"Mrs. Smith will be charged with identifying new business opportunities tied to the social mission of the organization. We are aware that there are many grant resources out there that would find doing business with this progressive agency that offers numerous wrap around services quite attractive," said CSB Director Tod Citron.

In an effort to be less dependent on state dollars, which have been cut over the past couple of years, revenue diversification has evolved as a major strategic theme for the agency. Diversifying agency revenue streams is one of the main challenges for Mrs. Smith in her new position.

"I see as one of my main challenges being the pursuit of new programmatic opportunities for the organization with a focus on revenue diversification. This will also help establish a road map for growth and development. Community agencies like ours must have this type of business philosophy and approach to sustain long-term viability. We can not be dependent on a single revenue source moving into the future," said Mrs. Smith.

Mrs. Smith said she is looking at marketing opportunities to form partnerships with other community-based agencies, behavioral health organizations, and businesses.

Mrs. Smith of East Cobb has been with the agency for 21 years, most recently as the Director of Residential Services. In 1992 she started the Mothers Making a Change (MMAC) program, a program that provides treatment and long-term housing and addiction treatment for homeless substance abusing women with children seeking help to change their lifestyle. MMAC has received national recognition and last year was one of four programs throughout the country that the .S. Department of Health and Human Services recognized as a model family reunification program. In the past, Mrs. Smith has obtained funding for the agency by applying for various grants.

"I am most excited about this new position and have tremendous confidence in Teresa Smith's abilities and her business and marketing savvy," said CSB Director Citron. "This is a progressive step forward for this organization and allows the organization to compete in what has become a competitive behavioral healthcare marketplace."

The Cobb & Douglas Community Services Boards provide mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services to more than 12,000 residents of Cobb and Douglas Counties annually. For services relating to mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse call the Access Center at 770-422-0202.