Strategic Plan

Hopewell’s Strategic Plan

2026-2029

Hopewell strives to be recognized regionally and nationally as a leading residential therapeutic care community, rooted in nature and purposeful work.  This strategic plan seeks to strengthen Hopewell by addressing five strategic priorities and aligns organizational priorities with board committee leadership.

1. Growth and Visibility — Achieve and sustain an average census of 33 residents to ensure a balanced operating budget and a rich, dynamic supportive community.

Strategic Initiatives

• Create a comprehensive communication and marketing structure to support the needs of development, marketing, communication and outreach

• Define roles and responsibilities among staff in the above positions
• Implement consistent messaging across all channels
• Continue to expand the professional referral network
  • Strengthen relationships with clinicians, hospitals, and community partners
  • Build formalized referral pipelines
  • Increase visibility among professional referrers
  • Leverage Exploring Mental Health event to engage professional referral sources
• Improve consumer channel marketing to create greater visibility
  • Create social media strategy for outreach and engagement
  • Consider paid advertising campaigns to reach families and individuals
  • Improve user experience and accessibility through website optimization
  • Continue brand refresh initiative
  • Complete website redesign
  • Respond to AI and technology shifts in a changing landscap

2. Long Term Financial Sustainability — Ensure long-term financial viability while minimizing the finance burden on residents and families.

Strategic Initiatives

• Fundraising Growth and Expansion
  • Define and execute a development strategy
  • Establish a permanent plan to grow endowment
  • Consider a planned giving program
  • Expand, refine and grow donor base
  • Align fundraising goals with operational needs
  • Engage alumni and families as donors and advocates
• Financial Management
  • Maintain disciplined budgeting for long-term sustainability
  • Explore alternative revenue sources, including insurance reimbursement and government funding opportunities

3. Enhancing Talent, Leadership and Structure — Strengthen organizational leadership and governance, to support the requirements of the organization and priorities of this strategic plan.

 Strategic Initiatives

• Board Development
  • Recruit 10-12 new board members and find meaningful ways of engagement
  • Identify and fill critical skill gaps, while being mindful of creating a diverse board
• Optimize Governance Functioning
  • Review and refine board and committee structures
  • Implement annual board evaluations and onboarding processes
• Leadership and Staffing
  • Ensure full staffing to meet program needs
  • Review and revise Executive Director role to emphasize external leadership
  • Evaluate and optimize management organizational structure
  • Regularly evaluate staff morale and culture to retain quality staff and organizational health
• Succession Planning
  • Implement short- and long-term succession plans for leadership and key staff
  • Develop future leaders through mentorships, coaching and training
• External Relations
  • Develop legislative and government relations strategy
  • Engage consultants in areas of needed expertise

4. Maintaining Clinical Excellence and Expanding Impact — Expand and enhance Hopewell’s therapeutic programming to increase impace, accessibility, outcomes, and clinical expertise.

Strategic Initiatives

• Program Expansion and Clinical Service Excellence
  • Develop short-term and respite care programs
  • Explore young adult transition programs and college student support services
  • Improve medication management experience
  • Explore collaboration to offer CET services
  • Increase substance use education programming
  • Strengthen job development initiatives
  • Expand transition program to include direct admit to the program
• Partnerships and Collaborations
  • Build collaborations with local hospitals, universities, and local mental health providers
  • Develop integrated clinical and marketing partnerships
• Research and Outcomes
  • Partner with NEOMED on outcome measurement research and build internal expertise to measure and communicate impact
• Alumni and Family Engagement
  • Develop structured alumni programs and events
  • Build family support networks and programming

5. Optimizing Facilities — Provide a premier residential and therapeutic environment that enhances programming and experience, while promoting sustainable practices when applicable.

Strategic Initiatives

• Facilities Master Plan
  • Implement 5-year upgrade and maintenance plan
  • Maintain and improve existing facilities
  • Maximize use of farm property
• New and Improved Spaces
  • Evaluate current office space
  • Relocate and upgrade nursing and psychiatry offices
  • Explore new creative arts studio space
  • Explore new construction to meet future programming, staff, and family needs