AMIkids
amikids.org
GPS supports the business development efforts of AMIkids, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping youth develop into responsible and productive citizens. AMIkids works in partnership with youth service agencies, local communities, and families to help youth separate a troubled past from a bright future. GPS has provided this support to AMI since 2019, leading to new program development and sustained growth.
Jody has been a great addition to the AMIkids team, consistently providing connections to potential growth opportunities. She is flexible and willing to provide the necessary support as our needs fluctuate. Jody is keenly aware of the importance of creating connections and relationship building that result in successful partnerships.
– Rosemary Brackman, VP of Support Services, AMIkids
BAYS Florida
baysflorida.org
GPS is supporting BAYS Florida in developing and implementing strategies to maximize business development opportunities that improve outcomes for youth and families in juvenile justice and child welfare systems. In particular, our work is focused on leveraging organizational expertise to support dually served youth. Our partnership includes strategic consultation on program development; identifying growth strategies for organizational expansion in and beyond Florida; and strategic planning.
I have known Jody for several years and throughout that time, she continues to keep youth and families first, regardless of the position. She is a great asset to BAYS Florida, consistently scanning national trends to encourage the organization to grow strategically to benefit those youth and families. She is particularly passionate about those youth with open juvenile justice cases that are also served by child welfare, encouraging growth that benefits both systems to get youth home to their families when it is safe to do so.
– Robert Patterson, President and CEO, BAYS Florida
Capacity Building Center for States
capacity.childwelfare.gov
Jody Grutza, CEO of the GPS Consulting Group, is a subject matter expert consultant with the Capacity Building Center for States (Center for States). The Center for States is part of the federal Children’s Bureau, providing technical assistance to jurisdictions across the country by helping to transform how child welfare agencies work, engaging them to make lasting and equitable practice and system improvements that keep families healthy, strong, and together. Jody has been deployed in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Washington state to support various system reform efforts, highly focused on the implementation of effective strategies for communications and stakeholder engagement.
I have enjoyed working on multiple projects with Jody in her time as a consultant with the Center for States. She quickly learns about and understands jurisdictional priorities while building strong partnerships with key leaders and staff, leading to effective capacity building efforts. Jody is an invaluable resource for the Center for States and the jurisdictions it supports.
– Tasha Toebben, State/Territory Liaison, Tailored Services, Center for States
GPS led the efforts to update the United Methodist Association’s (UMA) EAGLE accreditation standards of excellence in partnership with the UMA team and the Thrive Steering Committee. EAGLE is the only faith-based accrediting body in the United States focused on ministries that serve older adults and children. The project included the management and facilitation of six task forces composed of human services leaders from across the country contributing to the new standards. Our yearlong engagement resulted in the publication of new and updated accreditation standards that reflect current best practices in the field.
GPS provided expert project management and facilitation skills for this effort. They strategically aligned the work of six diverse task forces that resulted in an excellent product. We appreciated the energy and commitment that GPS brought to the table. The GPS team were quick studies and not afraid to dive into the project and hard work it required.
– Mary Kemper, UMA President and CEO
GPS provided project management for the recent Family Seeing efforts provided by Pale Blue. for the Virginia Department of Social Services. Pale Blue. is home to practice frameworks, projects, innovations, and intellectual property spanning work in children's and adult mental health, family well-being, healthcare, and belonging, all underpinned by a commitment to social justice. Pale Blue. has developed practice paradigms and intellectual property works, including Family FindingTM, Family SeeingTM, KinSightTM, and many more. The project involved acting as a liaison between the organizations to ensure consistent communications, timely achievement of deliverables, and other project management responsibilities.
GPS provided top notch project management for this effort! Their level of organization and responsiveness rivals the best we have seen. We would be grateful to have this level of support on all our other projects.
– Kevin Campbell and Elizabeth Wendel, Founding Partners, Pale Blue.
Virginia DSS
dss.virginia.gov
GPS co-led a system wide strategic planning effort utilizing root cause analysis and Implementation Science in the development of the Department’s Federal Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) and Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR). Our six -month consulting engagement relied heavily on strategic facilitation and intentional communication with executive leadership to successfully deliver the Federal reports to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration on Children and Families (ACF).
Working with Jody was a pleasure. She brought sincere professionalism and a strategic approach to her work with the Virginia Department of Social Services. Jody worked well with the team and always knew just the right moment to inject a bit of fun into the work. She was a true partner in the work.
– Kristin Zagar, Assistant Deputy of Family Services, Virginia Department of Social Services