City of Rochester Summer Meals Needs Assessment: Informing a Community-Wide Strategy to Close the Summer Meals Gap 1/1/2013, by Jaime Saunders, Erika Rosenberg
CGR was engaged by the Rochester Area Community Foundation to assess the Summer Meals program providing free meals to eligible Rochester youth at sites throughout the city. Our analysis found that less than a quarter of children who would benefit from the program are currently being served, leaving a gap of nearly 16,000 youth. CGR recommended next steps, including expanding the number of children served by 20% a year, formalizing a community coalition to increase access to Summer Meals, and developing outreach materials and strategies from the parent’s perspective.		Full Report
Subject(s): Children & Youth Services, Human Services, Program Evaluation Location: Monroe  (New York)

Options for the Future of the Chautauqua County Nursing Home 8/1/2012, by Donald Pryor, Jaime Saunders
Concerned about the cost of its nursing home, Chautauqua County requested bids for the facility from potential buyers, then decided to simultaneously assess what it could do to operate the home more cost effectively. In early 2012, CGR was engaged to determine the home’s financial viability and assess options for its future. CGR’s report outlines questions to be asked and considerations to be weighed if the county ultimately decides to sell, and also identifies changes to reduce budget shortfalls if it retains ownership. CGR identifies no opportunities for the home to be completely self-sustaining in the future as a public facility, even if recommended changes are fully implemented, and finds the estimated shortfall would result under various scenarios in a cost of $6.50 to $15.50 per year for the average taxpayer.		Full Report
Subject(s): Health, Human Services Location: Chautauqua  (New York)

Coming Home to Caring Communities: A Blueprint for Serving Veterans and Families 2/1/2012, by Donald Pryor, Kirstin Pryor, Jaime Saunders
After more than a decade of war in Afghanistan and years of combat in Iraq, thousands of returning service members struggle with injury, post-traumatic stress or other challenging problems. The lives of more than 6,200 families changed forever when they lost family members in these wars. The Rochester NY nonprofit Veterans Outreach Center, recognized as a national model, enlisted CGR as a partner to develop a replicable and scalable best-practice blueprint to be used by communities nationwide to build integrated systems supporting veterans and their families. NYS Health Foundation provided funding.		Full Report
Subject(s): Human Services, Strategic Planning & Facilitation, Health Location: Monroe  (New York)

Village of Potsdam Dissolution Study and Dissolution Plan 7/1/2011, by Charles Zettek, Jaime Saunders
Located in northern NYS, the Town of Potsdam includes two villages; with the majority of residents living in the Village of Potsdam, population 10,000. Home to two state universities, nearly 70% of village properties are tax-exempt – putting pressure on village residents to cover a large share of the costs of services. In response to public requests, the village board appointed a study committee to review the impact of dissolving the village, including the impact on economic development, police services, and a new hydroelectric operation. The committee also developed a dissolution plan, and identified a range of improvement opportunities without dissolution. Village voters rejected dissolution in a November 2011 vote.		Full Report Website
Subject(s): Shared Services/Consolidation, Government Management Location: St. Lawrence  (New York)

Village of Candor Dissolution Study and Dissolution Plan 12/1/2010, by Charles Zettek, Jaime Saunders
The Village of Candor, population 794, is located in the Southern Tier of New York State and received a petition calling for a plan of dissolution of the village government. The village engaged CGR to assist a committee of residents in developing cost-effective options to deliver municipal services up to and including dissolving the village and merging operations with the Town of Candor. In March 2011, village voters rejected dissolution 165 -70.		Full Report Website
Subject(s): Shared Services/Consolidation, Government Management Location: Tioga  (New York)