Introduction

During my Advanced Administrative Practice ll course, a few classmates and I were able to group together and create a new organization called Turning Clouds to Rainbows (TCR). This organization is to help children of all ages who are dealing with grief and equip them the necessary tools needed to deal with the loss of a parent, sibling, or significant person(s) in their lives. This organization is needed because kids that experience grief are not taught how to handle it. It has been proven that children who have experienced grief or loss may show one or more of these signs: (1) an extended period of depression which can cause the child to lose interest in daily activities and events, (2) inability to sleep, (3) loss of appetite, (4)prolonged fear of being alone, and (5) acting much younger for an extended period of time. We are aware that we cannot stop this from taking place, but we can help children get through these emotions and behaviors, together, during the process. During this proposal we discussed why Turning Clouds to Rainbows would work as a nonprofit organization throughout Bradley and Hamilton Counties in Tennessee. 

What social issue has been addressed and why?

Turning Clouds to Rainbows (TCR) focus solely on grief and loss for children aged 18 and under. The common problem will be every child has either been separated from their family, or have lost a close family member. This will not be limited to loss caused by the death of a loved one. This can also be grief caused by separation due to divorce, adoption, miscarriage, and any other circumstance which has triggered grief symptoms within the child. 

What interventions have been designed?

Turning Clouds to Rainbows (TCR) mission statement is: “To empower little ones to move through trauma associated with grief and loss.” With this mission statement the overall goal is to equip children with coping skills related to loss and grief, and to provide a place in which children can go, regardless of economic status, where they can process grief. To accomplish this goal, TCR will provide individual & group therapy, therapy within schools, and therapy in the child’s residence.

What were some of the results achieved?

Due to this project being created for our Advanced Administrative Practice course, we were unable to implement this program into the world today. We were able to create this well worked out proposal and receive feedback to insure that we comprehended the material that was given. Submitting this proposal displayed the gathered data that would be used to implement the security of this organization and the chance of it surviving. Completing the proposal was submitted for a final grade.

Conclusion

Completing this proposal, we didn’t have much limitations. We all worked well together and schedule times to meet & gave each other deadlines on what sections needed to be completed. We were a group of three so we were able to divide each section up evenly. Working in a group of three allowed each member to understand who was great at what. One member was exceptional at correcting grammatical errors, another one was proficient at finding and explaining researched materials, and the other was great at organizing all of the received information. Overall, I was extremely proud of the work that we were able to accomplish and the role that I was able to partake in.

Competencies Addressed

Competency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior:

During this group assignment, we were able to demonstrate ethical and professional behavior by first discussing the lines of communication. We agreed that we would communicate through email, iMessage, and in-person weekly meetings. We utilized Zoom and other media as needed for finalizing group projects before a submission. We were also able to use iMessage to be aware of when others have read your message or agreed to certain sections to complete. We maintain honest and fairness decision making in the group; by doing that we made sure everyone’s ideas were heard and discussed as a group on whether or not it would be beneficial to add or not. 

Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice:

Creating this organization we discussed issues that could become possible barriers to this organization and how to address those situations. We were aware of the diversity that would be put in place and how to illuminate discrimination. We developed three strategies that will be used to address diversity at Turning Clouds to Rainbows, which are: Treatment Team Meetings once every week, Implicit Bias Training, and providing mentors. Attending a Treatment Team Meeting once every week, allows each staff member to express how their week has been, as well as any challenges and achievements that have taken place that week. During those meetings, each member can ask for advice on how to better handle situations. The Treatment Team Meetings allow each member to feel heard and understood. An Implicit Bias Training will also address diversity because it helps create a safe environment that will raise awareness of insensible attitudes/behaviors. The last strategy that will be implemented will be providing mentors. Providing mentors will allow each member to receive support and promote growth. 

Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice:

In analyzing ideas for this organization, we came to the understanding that similar organizations that were in the same environment did not have specific therapists who are trained only in childhood grief and trauma. We were able to learn that human rights, social, economic, and environmental justice were being neglected due to the lack of distribution of opportunities and privileges within this community. Turning Clouds to Rainbows will hire therapist that specify and are trained in assisting children that have or are going through grief and trauma. Turning Clouds to Rainbows is different from other counseling organizations in the Bradley and Hamilton County areas because of the specialty focus within the field of childhood grief. The population this organization will serve will be children aged 18 and under whereas the population which the aforementioned serve is for people of all ages. It has also been proven that in the past 12 months, Tennessee is the 6th lowest state, 7.0%,  to receive any mental health care/counseling. 

Competency 4:  Engage in Practice-Informed Research and Research Informed Practice

While creating this organization proposal, there needed to be researched completed in order to support the data that was used. For instance, research has to be conducted to support the Human Resources Plan (HRP) and the Fundraising Campaign Plan (FCP). One specific research that took place for the HRP was based on how to keep volunteers and staff involved and motivated (Cox & Steiner, 2013; Kang et al., 2011). For the FCP, the research involved explaining the rationale behind the strategies employed.  In order to keep volunteers and staff involved and motivated we learned that we will have to (1) ensure that all positions are paid at a competitive rate for the field, (2) maintain self-care procedures through utilizing the office break room, (3) a staff program regarding self-care will be implemented and include gym membership, team building exercises, and office “vacation” days at least twice yearly where the entire office will participate in a spa/self-care day. and lastly (4) organizational climate, supervision being provided, and personal recognition within the organization (Griffiths, et al., 2019).

Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice

During the creation of this organization, we researched policies/laws that would be beneficial to the organization. One specific policy that was found in favor was the Tennessee Code Title 33 Chapter 6: Emergency Involuntary Admission to Inpatient Treatment. This policy is to protect people who might be a danger to themselves or others but refuse to get the proper treatment. This law grants certain people who are qualified, such as mental health professionals, doctors, and police officers, the authority to detain someone who may be a harm to themselves or others and get them to a treatment facility for further assessment. In 2017 studies show that suicide attempts and death by suicide were on the rise in the US for children and young adults aged 10-24 (King et al, 2018; United Health Foundation, 2020). One risk factor for suicide is loss of a parent to death or divorce, as well as psychiatric disorders which include depression (United Health Foundation, 2020). The organization Turning Clouds to Rainbows deals with grief and loss for children aged 18 and under. This law is beneficial to our organization because most individuals are unaware of how to handle grief and trauma and become overwhelmed mentally, emotionally, and physically causing them to want to harm themselves. 

Competency 6:  Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Creating this organization was a group effort. We all contributed time, ideas, plans, and resources. This organization engages with individuals, families, groups, and communities for support. In order to engage in communities, we planned to host a carnival festival to raise funds for the new pilot program to assist children who are working through grief and loss. This festival will allow families to bring their children for an afternoon of fun, while contributing to a new organization whose mission is to bring healing and hope to little ones who deal with trauma associated with grief and loss. While at the carnival, families will learn about the new resources that are being offered to them and the great impact it could have on helping children and their family to learn how to handle grief and loss.

Competency 7: Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Assessing the staff and volunteers of this organization, there would be an evaluation to take place. The staff evaluation will start with the supervisor asking the staff member for feedback with questions like “How do you think you did?” Each time the supervisor meets with the staff member, the supervisor will communicate some areas of success as well as discuss some areas that need continued growth. Just as staff members are evaluated, volunteers are evaluated as well. In order to be able to evaluate volunteer’s performance, one must be able to measure the impact that the volunteers are making in an agency. In this agency, the supervisor will measure the impact of the volunteers by creating goals each month and certain tasks set aside just for volunteers and looking at the success rate of accomplishing those goals. Both of these evaluations will be a collaborative process. 

Competency 8: Intervene with individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Included in this organization proposal plan, there needed to be options to have other organizations involved. For example, the children’s doctors needed to be included just in case a child was on or needed to be prescribed medication. Other ways to intervene with individuals, families, or groups were hosting group sessions in order to conduct positive outcomes. The children’s schools will also be involved because appointments will have to work around the child’s school schedule. The local DCS offices will also have a schedule for groups that are offered as well as organization contact information in order to make referrals. Involving/Collaborating with other organizations will allow for therapist to better understand the children’s lifestyle, background, and school history. Collaborating can help develop a better approach, a different outlook and outcome (Kanter, 2014).

Competency 9: Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

During the creation of this proposal, each section was evaluated by our professor. We would received feedback to make sure that each section was understood or needed adjustments. Once given corrections, the entire group would gather and implement the changes that needed to be made. 

With the organization staff members and volunteers will both be evaluated. In this agency, instead of the staff only getting feedback once a year, the supervisor will spend time once a month with each staff member and give them feedback as to their work performance. For the volunteers, which can include interns as well as members of the community, the supervisor will measure their impact by creating goals each month and certain tasks set aside just for volunteers and looking at the success rate of accomplishing those goals. The supervisors will hand out surveys to the staff and volunteers and request to have it completed before having supervision. During supervision their surveys will be reviewed and discussed. The supervisor will also request feedback from the volunteers once every month to get their opinions as to what is working and what could be changed to better suit the agency. The clients will also receive a survey to fill out at the end of every month, so that the staff members can have a better understanding of what the client feels is beneficial, unhelpful, or ideas that they believe should be included. This task will help us monitor and track our progress. 

View the entire Organizational Proposal Plan here: Turning Clouds to Rainbows