Common Ground Named “Best Managed Nonprofit”

(from Crain's)

After being named a finalist in 2010 and receiving an honorable mention in 2004, Common Ground has been named Crain’s Best-Managed Nonprofit for 2014.

The 43-year old agency, which helps people going through emotional and/or mental health crises, is featured in the Dec. 1 edition of Crain’s Detroit Business.

CEO Tony Rothschild said he was thrilled that Common Ground has been recognized as a standout among its peers. He said he believes one of the reasons Common Ground won the honor is because of the innovative approaches it takes in providing services to the community.

“We’re not afraid to take risks,” he said as an example. “Sometimes you have to spend some money to develop an idea and not just wait for funding. If it’s a good idea, funding will come.”

The agency has big plans for the future—all focused on helping people move from crisis to hope. It has adopted a peer recovery coach model, where those who have had and recovered from mental illness help those currently in treatment. The model involves partnering with other organizations on a number of new and innovative projects. It also includes moving its crisis services to a state-of-the-art facility and plans for much more. 

Common Ground is a nonprofit agency dedicated to helping youths, adults and families in crisis.  The agency’s 24-hour Resource and Crisis Helpline (800-231-1127), youth and family services, emergency psychiatric services and other programs throughout Oakland and Genesee counties are a lifeline for runaway and homeless youth, families in crisis, victims of crime, people with mental illness and others in critical situations. The agency operates a budget of more than $12 million annually.
Jerry Wolffe is the writer-in-residence, advocate-at-large at the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center. He can be reached at (586) 263-8950.