What are the three top reasons foster care and residential programs fail?  In our experience at Rock Solid Foundation in working with over 100 agencies, the main reasons programs fail are: (1) inadequate leadership (underqualified/mismatched licensed administrator), (2) lack of sufficient capital, and (3) provision of services that do not meet the need of the purchaser.

We have found that there is a critical shortage of qualified administrators; we have made a concerted effort to identify available administrators and match them with the right positions in organizations that have a need.  We have also discovered that social workers tend to be a bit naïve about the business of operating a program, e.g., the difference between cash flow and accrual.  Finally, too often, founders develop programs based upon their visions without regard to the needs of the community in which they serve.

We can help by taking time with an organization to develop a business plan and a strategic plan that will sustain the organization's mission.