Funding Tied to Hot Issues
As more jobs and initiatives look to grants for funding, we realize the money (whether private or government) relies on pleasing the funders by assertively addressing the driving issues of the community.
Diversity has been a major emphasis the past few years. This year the diversity hot button has become more encompassing. As the population becomes more diverse, formalized strategies and goals to address it become more important. Funders want to know not only your response to diversity issues, but how it was prepared for, and how it was determined to be the correct response.
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sticky-note-on-my-computer-screen person. Funders don’t like that. Funders like well thought out, well crafted, written policies. They like concisely written plans to address those many questions I tend to think about only when they arise.
A well-written policy establishes that special recognition of an issue is necessary, and then sets out how it will be addressed. A pro-active, well-crafted policy will provide a guide to a consistent response avoiding a panicked reaction.
Many organizations either post their policies on their website or will provide you with their Policies and Procedures Manual. You cannot merely cut and paste “XYZ Program” to replace “ABC Program,” but you can take benefit of their research and word crafting to supplement your agency’s input to develop your own custom-fitted diversity policy.
Once the policy is in place, making good working decisions will be easier and allow you to relax, knowing the organization policy is there to support your decisions and actions. Your organization will benefit from having taken that hard look at internal biases, decision-making, and response. I can save my sticky notes for other important matters.
Pauline Gage, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
|
|
Clinic Offers Free Medical Care
The Polk County Health Center, in partnership with Citizens Memorial Healthcare, now offers free health care services at a weekly clinic to Polk County residents with no healthcare coverage.
“The clinic fills up each week very quickly,” says health department administrator Michelle Morris, “But that is why we have done it.”
The clinic opened July 1st, and depends on donated time from local physicians and medical staff. It is open only to Polk County residents with no Medicare, Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, or any other health insurance coverage.
It is open Tuesday evenings from 5:00—7:00. Patients must call 326-7250 in advance to schedule an appointment.
A limited number of appointments are scheduled each week. Patients arrive by 5:00 pm and are seen in the order that they arrive.
This free clinic is a collaborative effort between Polk County Health Center, Citizens Memorial Healthcare, Bolivar Technical College, Bolivar High School, area physicians, local pharmacies and volunteers.
The clinic does not dispense or prescribe narcotics.
For more information, call 417-326-7250.
Sandra Zanaboni, Polk County Health Center
|
