a man and a woman in a classroom

Strategic Planning 

The Key to Our Success

The Center for Children & Young Adults (CCYA) maintains a current Strategic Plan at all times, and the process for developing and monitoring the plan is predominately achieved through an annual Fall Leadership Strategic Planning Retreat and an annual New Year Board Kick Off Event. Additionally, Board Meeting Agendas are designed around Strategic Plan goals and progress reports are reviewed regularly. A full SWOT Analysis is completed at the annual Strategic Planning Retreat.

To guide the strategic planning process, information is gathered from a host of sources, including but not limited to client surveys, behavioral health & medical assessments, agency outcome/data reports, individualized service plans, team case reviews, incident reports, and strategic planning retreat activities. Trends can be found in data collected to identify gaps in client needs & services. Information is also collected through stakeholder interviews, volunteer surveys, staff feedback, and research outcomes in the field that target the client population served (i.e. Association of Children's Residential Centers (ACRC), Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC), Research Clearinghouse & Annual Conference presentations, Georgia Score, Kids Count Data Center, Annual CCYA State Cost Reports, Georgia Children & Families Services (CFSR) Report). Information gathered is used to guide decisions in developing the Strategic Plan and prioritizing plan goals and strategies to achieve those goals.

The CEO presents a Year End Report and Strategic Planning Progress Report at the Annual Leadership & Stakeholders New Year Kick Off event. Additionally, a six-month progress report is also presented at the Annual Strategic Planning Retreat.

Each year, CCYA Leadership also participate in state and local conferences to stay current on trends, state Office of Provider Management Minimum Standards, legislation, evidence-based practices, innovative programs/services, and research/data collection as related to the professional fields of child welfare and juvenile justice and specific best practices related to residential childcare, youth homelessness, foster care, youth development, & trauma informed care.

2026-2028 Strategic Plan Summary

In summary, the Board of Directors has approved an updated Strategic Plan for 2026 -2028 with the following SIX Major goals:

1. Financial Planning for the lost Rental Income from the forced sale of the Fairground building proceeds in 2022.

2. Future planning and succession planning for the signature annual PaJammin' fundraising event.

3. Extensive Facility Improvements due to aging buildings and building systems (found in the Facilities Strategic Plan)

4. Improved and expanded mental health services (access & quality) that promote placement stabilization for higher level clients.

5. Increased programmatic support and community engagement that expand Post-Secondary Education & Career planning services for youth aging out of care.

6. Improved and expanded technology for all administrative and programmatic functions of the agency.