“Business as usual” is certainly not the norm of late, but for an organization that deals with trauma and toxic stress in the “normal” course of business, when the time came to seek help for organizational pandemic response – Tristate Trauma Network did not hesitate. “Who could have anticipated the stressors COVID-19 would put on our organization as well as the organizations in our network? We needed help.” said Executive Director Melissa Adamchik.
The organization, which focuses on community-wide prevention of and recovery from trauma and toxic stress, was in the midst of a financial crisis due to the loss of funding due to COVID, and needed immediate assistance. A board member had worked with OneSource Center in the past, and recommended they be contacted. Adamchik said OneSource Center’s quick response time was incredible, and within a short amount of time the organization was able to modify their business plan to focus on available resources and services currently needed in the community and to utilize board members in the process as well. Adamchik also began working with a OneSource Center coach, Ruth Joffe, and she recommends this process whole-heartedly. Said Adamchik, “We are a small nonprofit in the midst of a storm, so having both a coach and a team of experienced professionals available to provide calm, practical advice and perspective has been a tremendous assist.”
The process of self-examination, directed by OneSource Center consultants, caused staff and board members to look hard at the organization’s mission and at new program ideas to support growth. “Having new sets of eyes helps organizational leaders step back and reexamine areas they might not have thought of before,” said Brian Robson, project co-lead. “One of our roles as consultants is to bring our work experience to bear helping organizations think ‘outside the box’, to help them examine their business model, and to ask tough questions. Is the current income stream sustainable? Should programs be offered in a different way? How are you gaining members? How can your resources be offered to others in expanded formats? I am honored to be part of the process here that utilizes these skill sets for community good.”
An additional service offered to Tristate Trauma Network was targeted grant research assistance, offered by OneSource Center consultant Joe Linahan. (See related story.) “Our organization does not have a development staff, so delving into research on additional funding options was very time consuming and we were delighted to have some assistance with it,” said Adamchik. “Having this list of grantors with an affinity for organizations like ours is extremely helpful and will direct our efforts in a targeted way to do more good in the markets we serve.”
Through this consulting and coaching process, the organization has been given breathing room to move forward through this process of growth. “Thank you OneSource Center for providing the framework to make our financial position and our mission stronger. With your support, more in the community will be helped, and this is the end result we all want,” said Adamchik.
