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Leadership Fredericksburg: Community Awareness of Safe Harbor By KERRy L. PInTo Part three in a three-part series Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center in Fredericksburg provides child abuse victims with a child friendly environment where professionals from multiple agencies come together to address the child's abuse. In the final part of a three-part series, members of the multi-disciplinary team at Safe Harbor and members of Leadership Fredericksburg discuss their cohesive role in the program's continued success. said Gail Perkins, Forensic nurse at safe harbor. Executive director Pamela Garrett added, "We would "As we grow, we need to grow into a bigger facility," begun. ideally like a house-like setting with a yard and a playground. Perhaps a front door and a back door for more privacy when other families are coming in at the same time. But definitely more room." Currently, safe harbor relies on state funding, grants, church donations and fundraisers. however, these sources can at times be unpredictable. That's where Leadership Fredericksburg comes in. over 410 children. With such a successful start to the program, plans for the future have already S ince opening its doors in May 2009, safe harbor has served susan spears, Executive Director for Leadership Fredericksburg, explained the purpose of the program: "Leadership Fredericksburg is a program of the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce. The program, in its fifth years, kicks off annually in september and runs for nine months. In a classroom setting, approximately 25 "Fellows" meet monthly to learn in-depth leadership skills. Each Fellow receives a 360 rating assessment – accompanied by an Executive Coaching session – at the beginning of the program. They are also matched with a mentor from the business community for the duration of the program. "Fellows are divided into teams which will be assigned a project. Each participant will enhance their team-building skills and their community knowledge as they partner with area nonprofits that sponsor the projects." After submitting an application in the summer of 2011, safe harbor was chosen as one of the area nonprofits that would be supported by Leadership Fredericksburg. In the fall of 2011, a seven-member team of Fellows met with safe harbor to discuss what they wanted to accomplish over the nine-month duration. "The board president (Cheryl schlesinger) and the executive director (Pamela Garrett) were very certain on what they wanted us to work on and that was to rewrite their mission statement and help them with their strategic plan, specifically the marketing outreach section and the financial plan section," said heidi DiEugenio, a Fellow in this year's Leadership Fredericksburg graduating class and the director 28 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • June 2012