Maryville, Tenn. – The boards of directors for Blount County-based Haven House and New Hope–Blount County Children’s Advocacy Center announced today the intent to merge the two non-profit agencies. A joint resolution gives both organizations the authority to form a transition team to begin the process of merging and forming a new agency, which will be set to begin unified operations in January 2014 once both boards review and vote on the new agency’s charter and by laws.
The merged agency will serve as one of the few accredited non-profits in the state of Tennessee universally focused on all forms of domestic violence and child abuse prevention, advocacy, treatment, safe shelter and victims’ services.
Haven House has focused its mission on domestic violence awareness, prevention and victim services for the 30 years that it has been in operation in Blount County, while New Hope has focused its mission for 10 years in Blount County specifically on child-abuse awareness, prevention and victim services.
“The boards of both New Hope and Haven House strongly felt that a unified agency with one another’s strength of expertise, resources and capacity presented the perfect opportunity for a merger of equals – all to serve the larger community in greater ways going forward,” said Betsy Cunningham, Haven House board president.
“After weeks of discussions and thoughtful deliberation, both boards overwhelmingly supported this move toward a singular, focused agency that can achieve greater efficiencies and impact as one organization,” said Ned Willard, New Hope board president. “All of our respective stakeholders will benefit tremendously from this decision.”
A Transition Team will begin work immediately on developing and executing operational, financial and outreach plans to complete the merger as seamlessly as possible, all while continuing the work of both agencies, as normal.
“Congratulations to the both boards for making this leap of faith in the interest of the community as a whole,” said Haven House Chief Executive Officer Valerie Day. “We are confident and enthusiastic about this opportunity and the expected positive outcomes, many of which we are already beginning to realize.”