Introduction
Social work is a noble endeavor of the highest order. In the midst of all sorts of negativity, man still finds time to help his fellow beings. A charitable organization can also be a source of income if one has the resources to further this cause. Donations and volunteering are the major source of income for non-profit companies today. Twin Cedars is one such organization that is involved in charity for empowering children, youth, families, and the community in general.
This essay begins with the goals and objectives and the formal structure of Twin Cedars. It also discusses the social service programs the agency offers followed by the types of clients and their needs. It evaluates the other disciplines of the organization, its sources of funds, and the general atmosphere. Policy making and the services offered are also discussed in detail.
Goals and Objectives
Twin Cedars endeavors to provide children, youth, families and communities with the necessary programs so that they can perform to the best of their abilities. The agency believes in making their customers happy and bringing smiles to their faces. They promote team work so that everyone feels involved. They want to ensure that the future of people is safe in their hands. They believe in optimism and celebrating every little success. They feel that work is not a serious business; rather it should be filled with fun. Twin Cedars wants to become a leader who gives quality services to children, youth, families and communities.
Twin Cedars has a team that is at the helm of affairs in achieving the stated objectives. Mike Angstadt is the executive Director. Sheri Cody as the Deputy Director also directs Program Services. There are three Program Directors, one each for its centers. The other directors are for Administration and Human Resource, Admission, clinical services, foster care, financial services and Performance Quality Improvement (PQI). There is also a program coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).
The Twin Cedars Youth & Family Services Inc. is presided over by Cathy Smith and has other directors. The Emeritus Board has three members. The Twin Cedars Foundation Inc. is presided by Clinton Fay and consists of other directors as members. The Twin Cedars Child Advocacy Inc. is chaired by Beth Vaughan and has three other members.
Social Services Programs
The CASA programs are conducted in Chattahoochee and in Lee County. Twin Cedars works for children through the Child Advocacy Centre Inc., the centre at Troup County and the Children’s Tree House. It also offers community counseling for individual families and groups (Official website of Twin Cedars). It offers psychiatric and nursing assessment. The Therapeutic Foster Care (TFC) matches foster parents to a child. There are prevention programs for alcohol, the Troup County Centre, and for truancy. The others include Darkness to light, Keeping Family Connections, Safe Families for Children, and Circle of Care (Official website of Twin Cedars).
It conducts summer camps for children and utilizes these facilities on a temporary basis for people affected by natural disasters. It offers team building for groups that want to bond together through specially chosen activities by Twin Cedars. It provides Residential Programs for a wide range of specific programs.
Clients and their Needs
Twin Cedars caters to a wide range of clients. These include children, youth, families and the community in general. Children include outright orphans or those from broken homes. Temporary foster care is also provided to children. There are also adolescent girls who have been victims of sexual aggression. Boys in similar situations, and youth and families are also catered to. Counseling facilities are offered to people needing psychiatric help. Alcohol de-addiction is provided to those with drinking problems. Teen mothers with their babies get a ‘second chance’ at Twin Cedars. Summer camps are arranged for children. Similarly group members can bond together through group activities.
Other Disciplines
Twin Cedars provides various other activities that cater to different sections of society. Team Building is one such activity that builds cohesion among team members. It involves games and group activities to enhance the group spirit. Corporate outings are another attraction at Camp Viola. These are designed for the employees of companies with or without their families. Other activities include event planning, food services and staff facilitators which can be arranged by Twin Cedars. These are convenient for people who live in the vicinity of Twin Cedars.
Key Sources of Funding
Donations are the main source of funding for Twin Cedars; this can be individual, corporate or by other means. At the individual level, a one-time gift can be given. Donation can also be in kind for items needed by Twin Cedars. ‘Hands of Hope’ allows for donations on monthly, quarterly and semi-annual basis. ‘Planned Giving’ is of many types for example, bequests, life insurance policies, mutual funds etc. Corporate Gifts could be received through donations from companies. If an individual donates and informs his organization of this donation, the company could match his donation too. One can donate a vehicle, or sponsor an event, or opt to donate while buying online through Amazon.com or through a United Way Campaign. Nine of the centers of Twin Cedars accept volunteers whose services are of valuable help to the organization.
General Atmosphere
The general atmosphere at Twin Cedars is markedly different from that of a multinational corporation for instance. More than the competitive spirit, the spirit of service runs here. Finance is an issue because of which the community is asked to do its bit for the organization. Everyone who works in Twin Cedars has a dedication toward other less fortunate people who are in need of help. It is this service and dedication that runs this company smoothly with care and love as important ingredients.
Policy Making & Community Resources
As discussed earlier, it has a leadership and organizational structure. It has boards of Directors for Youth & Family Services and for the Foundation and for the Child Advocacy Centre. It has emeritus board members and directors in the leadership team for various activities in administration.
The beneficiaries, past and present, are one of the greatest resources that this organization has. Those who have been given assistance in terms of food and shelter have come back to return the favor bestowed on them by Twin Cedars.
The volunteers who work for Twin Cedars without any expectation are another community resource. They play a great role in the financial stability of the organization because such people need not be paid unlike fulltime employees who are on the rolls of the organization.
The other community resources are the many donors who may be individuals or companies that have donated to Twin Cedars. The donation may have been in cash or in kind; for example, appliances, vehicles, life insurance policies etc.
Services
Twin Cedars basically operates in the states of Alabama and Georgia in the US (Official website of Twin Cedars). Columbus, LaGrange and Macon are the locations for Twin Cedars in Georgia. Auburn and Opelika are the location in Alabama. Opelika offers only the Child Advocacy Centre whereas Auburn offers ‘Keeping Family Connection’ and Lee County CASA.
Macon offers Georgia Industrial Children’s Home, Team Building and TFC. LaGrange offers Alcohol Prevention, Second Chance (for teen mothers), Community Counseling, TFC, Circle of Care, Safe Families for Children, Connections, Team Building, Darkness to Light, Children’s Advocacy Center of Troup County, AULT Academy, Bradfield Center, Summer Camp and Troup County Prevention Coalition. Columbus offers Owens Cottage, Community Counseling, Truancy Intervention Program, Reality House, Team Building, Chattahoochee CASA, Anne Elizabeth Shepherd Home, TFC and Children’s Tree House.
Conclusion
The foregoing discussion has thrown light on the organization and its activities. The history of this organization dates back to 1845. It has grown over time in various ways joining several people in the goal to empower the disadvantaged in whatever manner they can. Charity in the form of non-governmental organizations can be big business in that they could attract political patronage. This can lead to media attention and publicity. In contrast, here is an organization that is spread over just two states in the US. At this juncture, one is reminded of Mother Teresa’s words “the work that I do may be a drop in the ocean, but if I wouldn’t, then the ocean would be lacking by that one drop.”
The world has enough disadvantaged people to care for. There are those who want to do something for them. Good intentions should be matched by actions. Those who are good at organizing and administering the actual business of charity should get together. They should then collect their resources and find their beneficiaries and proceed to uplift them. If everyone were to think on these lines, man could erase misery and misfortune from the face of earth.
References
Official website of Twin Cedars Youth & Family Service Inc. Retrieved from www.twincedars.org
