History and Vision

SENG is dedicated to fostering environments in which gifted adults and children, in all their diversity, understand and accept themselves and are understood, valued, nurtured, and supported by their families, schools, workplaces and communities.

History
Mission
Strategic Plan
2005 Annual Report

History

 In 1981, SENG was formed to bring attention to the unique emotional needs of gifted children. It provided adults with guidance, information, resources, and a forum to communicate about raising and educating these children.

Today, SENG has expanded its goals to focus on not only gifted children, but also on gifted adults. Many schools, communities, and organizations focus on the intellectual needs of gifted individuals. SENG brings attention to the unique social and emotional needs of gifted individuals, which are often misunderstood or ignored. By underwriting and providing education, research, theory building, and staff development, SENG promotes environments where gifted individuals can develop positive self-esteem, thrive, and utilize their talents.

SENG is now an independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) entity with a diverse Board of Directors. Thanks to the generosity of a few of its long time supporters, SENG has developed the ability to offer a wide variety of services. With the goal of further expanding its activities and reaching more people, SENG also accepts contributions of all sizes from individuals and organizations. Please join us in our work to increase understanding, knowledge, and services for gifted children and adults.

Please see our new article highlighting the organization's 25 year history!
Read SENG's 25th Silver Anniversary Conference - Reflections on SENG's History
by James T. Webb, Ph.D.

Mission

 SENG seeks to inform gifted individuals, their families, and the professionals who work with them about the unique social and emotional needs of gifted persons. We support programs that foster in gifted individuals the mental health and social competence necessary for them to be free to choose ways to develop and express their abilities and talents fully. 

With support, gifted individuals can develop abilities that enhance their own lives and the lives of others. Without understanding and support, they may be inhibited in the development of their gifts and talents, which can result in significant negative personal and societal consequences. The mission of SENG is to empower caring families and communities to influence more positively and effectively the development of giftedness in those individuals entrusted to their care.


Strategic Plan 2005-7

 The purpose of this 3-year strategic plan is to focus SENG’s attention and activities on those things that have been deemed most important based on its mission and vision statements and the priorities set at the two retreats over the past year: Governance, planning, and hiring an executive director; fund-raising and marketing; and programming that includes parent support groups, the annual conference, CE courses, and a focus on communications. It is intended to keep an eye toward the future and long-term aspirations of the organization and identify specific goals and measurable objectives aligned with these future aspirations.

Goal 1: Public Awareness & Strategic Alliances
Objectives
  1. Create strategic partnerships (association and corporate) that enable SENG to reach out to key groups and more broadly communicate important messages related to the social and emotional needs of gifted individuals.
  2. Enhance public awareness and recognition of the value of understanding the unique needs of the gifted and talented.
  3. Develop and initiate a campaign to develop strategic partnerships that will result in both substantive and financial benefits for SENG.

Goal 2: Enhance Competency
Objectives
  1. Provide educational and health professionals, as well as parents and community members with knowledge about the social and emotional needs of gifted individuals (eg. parent support group facilitator training, convention, etc.).
  2. Provide professional development opportunities for educational and health professionals about the social and emotional needs of gifted individuals (convention, CE courses, etc.).
  3. Provide program opportunities to increase self-understanding of gifted individuals about their social and emotional needs and how to manage them.

Goal 3: Information Resources
Objectives
  1. Increase SENG’s capacity to provide up-to-date information on the social and emotional needs of gifted individuals to interested groups and individuals.
  2. Increase SENG’s ability to provide information in multiple formats.
  3. Enhance our understanding of the groups we serve and how to best respond to their needs.
  4. Promote awareness of SENG products and services (brochures, website, convention).

Goal 4: Leadership Development
Objectives
  1. Create and support systems to identify and develop future leaders for both SENG and the field.
  2. Formalize models for leadership development and ongoing education, both internally and externally.

Goal 5: Organizational Effectiveness
Objectives
  1. Hire an Executive Director to oversee activities deemed worthy by the board and to manage SENG operations.
  2. Strengthen the board’s structure and governance process to enhance its ability to carry out its mission.
  3. Increase clarity about roles and responsibilities of the board and staff, particularly related to hiring an ED.
  4. Obtain additional sources of funding that align with SENG’s strategic direction.
  5. Actively recruit volunteers to work on committees to facilitate the development of organizational leadership and to increase organizational productivity.
  6. Develop and implement models to monitor and evaluate SENG initiatives, as well as the board and staff.


2005 Annual Report

Click on the image to view a PDF of SENG's 2005 First Annual Report, including:
  • the year's accomplishments
  • descriptions of our programs and activities
  • acknowledgment our generous donors
  • statement of finances
  • goals for the year to come!