About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
FACTOR convenes Community Stakeholders to assess and strategically improve the health and well- being of local residents.
VISION
A collaborative community, committed to sustaining the highest quality of life and well-being for all residents.
Upstream Thinking and Downstream Issues
Please see this 80 second video at this Link
Fayette FACTOR is involved in Upstream Thinking to help address Downstream Issues that threaten the well-being of the community
How does Fayette FACTOR facilitate community well-being?
By working with the community to identify and address “upstream” root causes of downstream negative impacts.
An Example of “downstream” impacts of Mental Health Issues in Fayette County:
FACTOR convenes Community Stakeholders to assess and strategically improve the health and well- being of local residents.
VISION
A collaborative community, committed to sustaining the highest quality of life and well-being for all residents.
Upstream Thinking and Downstream Issues
Please see this 80 second video at this Link
Fayette FACTOR is involved in Upstream Thinking to help address Downstream Issues that threaten the well-being of the community
How does Fayette FACTOR facilitate community well-being?
By working with the community to identify and address “upstream” root causes of downstream negative impacts.
An Example of “downstream” impacts of Mental Health Issues in Fayette County:
- Mental health and behavioral disorders – including suicide - were the second leading cause of death for all county residents between 2013 and 2017 (Piedmont Fayette Community Health Needs Assessment)
- Increases in isolation and loneliness from senior citizen population
- Increases in difficulty with coping with life events across all ages
- Increases in Depression, Anxiety, and PTSD
- Increases in the presentation of more complex mental health issues
- Increase in demand for mental health services not being met by current capacity
- Stigma in acknowledging mental health issues as both personal and community issues
- Lack of comprehensive community leadership around:
- An assessment of behavioral health needs and available resources to address them
- Increased need for awareness and education about mental health services
- Reducing barriers to increased screening
- Access to affordable mental health care for all, especially the uninsured and underinsured
- Models for the promotion of good mental health
- Understanding impact of social media and technology on mental health
- Understanding the link between mental health issues and substance abuse
How Can FACTOR Help Mitigate Issues that Impact the Well-being of Our Community?
FACTOR Utilizes A Strategic Prevention Framework
What are the specific roles FACTOR can play to help address important human services issues?
1. Collect and summarize data to better understand and prioritize issues, through focus groups, key informant interviews, surveys, and scientific research
2. Develop logic models that hone in on defining problems, identifying local conditions and determining root causes
3. Work with stakeholders to build community capacity, such as increasing partner participation, engaging community champions, and raising financial and in-kind resources
4. Convene community stakeholders to share the issues and supporting data
5. With community support develop data driven and best-practices strategies to address identified issues
6. Help provide oversight and project management
7. Evaluate progress of strategically addressing these issues, and working with partners to adjust and prioritize as needed
An easy analogy to understand the role of FACTOR in the Fayette Community
“FACTOR is to the Human Services Community what the Chamber of Commerce is to the Business Community.”
Under the leadership of Dawn Oparah, Executive Director, FACTOR's current major initiatives include: Substance Abuse Prevention through the Drug-Free Fayette Coalition, Darkness to Light's - Stewards of Children training, ENCORE! Fayette Leadership Program for Older and Seasoned Adults, Back to School Annual Community Event, School Readiness Needs Assessment for the children ages 0-5, and a Mental Health Community Needs Assessment.
As a 501c3 non-profit, all donations to FACTOR are tax deductible. Only through the generous support of our community are we able to create significant and lasting change. If you would like to contribute to our efforts, simply click on any Donate Now button. And thank you for your support!
1. Collect and summarize data to better understand and prioritize issues, through focus groups, key informant interviews, surveys, and scientific research
2. Develop logic models that hone in on defining problems, identifying local conditions and determining root causes
3. Work with stakeholders to build community capacity, such as increasing partner participation, engaging community champions, and raising financial and in-kind resources
4. Convene community stakeholders to share the issues and supporting data
5. With community support develop data driven and best-practices strategies to address identified issues
6. Help provide oversight and project management
7. Evaluate progress of strategically addressing these issues, and working with partners to adjust and prioritize as needed
An easy analogy to understand the role of FACTOR in the Fayette Community
“FACTOR is to the Human Services Community what the Chamber of Commerce is to the Business Community.”
Under the leadership of Dawn Oparah, Executive Director, FACTOR's current major initiatives include: Substance Abuse Prevention through the Drug-Free Fayette Coalition, Darkness to Light's - Stewards of Children training, ENCORE! Fayette Leadership Program for Older and Seasoned Adults, Back to School Annual Community Event, School Readiness Needs Assessment for the children ages 0-5, and a Mental Health Community Needs Assessment.
As a 501c3 non-profit, all donations to FACTOR are tax deductible. Only through the generous support of our community are we able to create significant and lasting change. If you would like to contribute to our efforts, simply click on any Donate Now button. And thank you for your support!
|
DAWN OPARAH:
As the Executive Director for Fayette FACTOR, Dawn Oparah has spent over 40 years working in the human services field. In 1995 Dawn Co-Founded Amadi Leadership Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that offers training and consultation in organizational development, community capacity building, management, leadership development, school improvement strategies, and human development. Dawn provided Technical Assistance to non-profit organizations in the areas of organizational improvement, board development, sustainability planning, strategic planning, marketing, program planning, evaluation, and resource development. Prior to becoming a consultant Dawn served as a university administrator, instructor, schoolteacher, school principal, government administrator, and a college lecturer abroad. Dawn is the author of the book “Make a World of Difference: 50 Asset Building Activities to Help Teens Explore Diversity." Dawn co-authored a chapter in the book Empowerment Evaluation in 2015. She has served on 24 local, regional and statewide boards including the board and executive board of the Fayette Chamber of Commerce for six years. Dawn was also a co-founder for AVPRIDE, Inc. A resident of Fayette County for over 30 years, Dawn has been married for over 40 years and has 4 adult offspring and 4 grandchildren. Our Board |
Chair- Sam Sweat
Vice Chair- Chief Janet Moon
Secretary- Judge Stephen Ott,
Treasurer- Audrey Toney
Member- Dr. Vanessa Johnson