The Concept To provide the most cutting edge and effective preventive health services to at-risk youth and families in West Los Angeles. In 1995, Allen Miller, a hospital administrator, and several colleagues at Santa Monica Hospital came up with a program that provided important services to the clients of some West Los Angeles health clinics while encouraging habits of public service in future healthcare professionals. Early on, the program gained momentum through a dedicated group of volunteer healthcare providers and students from UCLA. A course at the university was created that could train over 100 students per year to volunteer for COPE’S services. The Challenge Overcome the enormous hurdles of both winning and then managing a major state grant while at the same time developing an informal operation into a strong, self-sufficient organization. Shortly after Allen came to Community Partners, staff helped him write a 200-page proposal for a sizable state grant. Amazingly, though they’d never received any previous outside funding, COPE won the grant. “They took a huge chance on us,” Allen says now. “We were a group of physicians, professors and healthcare administrators and we had no clue about running a nonprofit.” The staff does a lot of cheerleading, they’re very supportive. — Allen Miller, COPE How Community Partners Has Helped Since the state grant of $200,000 was awarded by reimbursement only, Community Partners’ financial backing of the grant was crucial. “We did take a chance on them,” says Community Partners’ staff member Janet Elliott, who helped COPE manage the grant. “But this grant really put them on the map.” COPE has gone from $50,000 in billings each quarter to $60,000 each month and is now serving 10 times the number of people from its original client base. The project’s huge growth was not without its difficulties, however. At a certain point, Allen felt “totally exhausted, overworked and overwhelmed.” He remembers telling Community Partners’ staff member Jan Kern that he wanted to quit, but she encouraged him to give it another six months. “That was one of the most critical points in COPE’S life cycle,” Allen says. “The staff does a lot of cheerleading, they’re very supportive.” He also appreciates the contacts developed through Community Partners’ President Paul Vandeventer and the invaluable technical assistance he received from Community Partners’ staff. “They’ve really worked to learn what they need to know,” says Janet. “And that bodes well for their future success.” SOURCE: Community Partners 2001-2002 Biennial Report PROJECT STATUS: COPE was a project of Community Partners from 1996 to 2002. COPE continues to serve at-risk children, adolescents, and their parents through programs and health education.
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