Introduction
Compiling the community resources and discussing how they contribute to the development and flourishing of the local community is extremely important. Individuals need to have the capacity to connect with others, discuss what matters to them, and spend their free time with other people. Public wellness organizations provide a space for unity and gathering for various individuals while giving the population invaluable services. Those organizations focusing solely on healthcare ensure communities stay healthy, giving individual families more time to bond and connect with others. In this interconnected structure, spreading awareness regarding existing community organizations helps individuals better contextualize their place in society and know where to turn in times of need.
Organization Overview
Columbus Free Clinic
All services in the clinic are provided for free. The staff will not inquire about their consumers’ insurance coverage or citizenship. Telehealth is accessible, but only after the initial in-person visit. Both long-term and urgent care can be provided.
Calling 911 or going to the closest emergency room are the better options if there is an emergency. All community members will receive supportive care and high-quality healthcare from the clinic (Columbus Free Clinic, 2023). Primary Care, Pharmacy, Lab & Imaging, Longitudinal Programs, Social Work & Behavioral Health, and Specialty Clinics are among the services offered. Everybody has different needs. The clinic maintains its finger on the community’s pulse to provide services that suit such requirements.
Location: The clinic is in the Rardin Family Practice Building at 2231 North High Street, Columbus, OH 43201
Phone: 614-404-8417
Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) Ohio
CRIS offers comprehensive case management and core services to help newly arrived refugee families and individuals of various cultures, languages, and countries of origin (CRIS Ohio, 2023). The program values its relationships with neighborhood organizations and people who support CRIS in its efforts to welcome refugees to Central Ohio.
Any refugee entering the country via the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is eligible. All refugees undergo a thorough screening procedure, including interviews with representatives from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Resettlement Support Center, and United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to determine whether they have a legitimate fear of persecution (CRIS Ohio, 2023). As they get used to resettling in the United States, refugees encounter numerous challenges connected to their health and well-being (CRIS Ohio, 2023). Refugees with severe physical and mental health issues can get comprehensive case management assistance from CRIS’ Refugee Health & Wellness Program.
Location: 1925 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Suite 102, Columbus, OH, 43229
Phone: 614-235-5747
NNEMAP Food Pantry
The NNEMAP Food Pantry meets the changing needs of the neighborhood by offering wholesome food and links to necessary services. The business is a pioneer in providing community members with resources and food access to enhance their health and well-being—the origins of NNEMAP date back to 1958 (NNEMAP Food Pantry, 2023). After the roadway was built, a new population of disadvantaged people required emergency assistance within three months. The Fourth Avenue Christian Church established a food bank with several support services and ran it out of their building for ten years.
Location: 677 E. 11th Ave. Columbus, OH 43211
Phone: 614-297-0533
Resource Directory
Having a resource directory for ECE administrators is an effective way to establish the best potential tools that can be used to access information and opportunities in the field of early education. Specifically, it is essential to highlight that relevant organizations actively address gaps in policy, research, and regulations, and administrators can support said causes and become a part of a community. As a result, the efforts to maximize success in early education programs will increase as collaboration and cooperation among administrators will be more prominent.
The Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA)
OCCRRA is a reputable organization specializing in supporting programs related to professional development and assistance in early care and learning. Thus, the organization’s goal is to positively impact early care through policies and information resources and through the establishment of a competent workforce. The organization has been a useful resource for ECE administrators since 1989 (OCCRRA, 2023). The group is a reputable resource for individuals seeking professional development and reliable information on effective ways to approach the subject of education at an early age.
Location: 2469 Stelzer Road, Columbus, OH 43219
Phone: 614-396-5959
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) positions itself as an organization that directly works with various circumstances and addresses many elements concerning early education. Specifically, NAEYC is involved in resourcing effective practices, establishing and implementing policies, and practically minimizing gaps in the field. After its establishment in 1926, the group has been a leading resource for ECE administrators concerning professional development, evidence-based policies, and advancement opportunities in the field (NAEYC, 2023). Based on the information above, it is certain that NAEYC is a valid source of information and further resources.
Location: 1401 H Street NW | Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-232-8777
Ohio Association for the Education of Young Children (OASEYC)
Ohio AEYC is an organization that provides resources and establishes professional programs for individuals in the field of early childhood education. Namely, it is a branch of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Ohio office operates with professionals in the states, facilitating a more individualized source of information and support for ECE administrators (OAEYC, 2023). As a result, the policies and developmental programs will better suit the demographic for which it is designed.
Location: 48 Iberia St, Mt Gilead, OH 43338
Phone: 419-946-6693
Reflective Summary
Compared to actually writing this document, creating a reflection summary proved to be more challenging than I expected. The idea of trying to provide my feelings on the matter after attempting to stay neutral for so long has affected my ability to reflect. The distinction between when I need to state my opinion and when I need to discuss any part of the project objectively has blurred for me. However, after some planning, I managed to find my voice, or at least come as close to it as possible. The project was exciting, including the research process and the time spent writing the text.
Some of the issues that held me back were outlined in the presentation accompanying this document, while others I have mostly kept to myself. First, settling on a specific topic or framework I wanted to adopt was challenging. Choosing the style appropriate for the discussion was similarly difficult, as I was torn between a more warm, informative approach and an authoritative, no-nonsense style. I chose to talk with a mix of both, providing a lot of factual information and simple statements while also sprinkling in the sense of care and attention to the work of these organizations.
Another thing that has been a primary concern for me is making the narrative interesting and engaging to the reader. Many informative articles and statistics fail to reach their desired audiences because the text is too dull to read. I was unsure if my writing could summarize the subject well or how a potential reader might react to the information. To address this issue, I used my friends as test readers and actively attempted to trim any unnecessary additions or tangents that took away from the delivery of the work.
Regarding practical challenges, choosing specific organizations and deciding what to say about them was the most significant hurdle. While I was able to cut down on unnecessary exposition and trim the material, there was still a lot I wished to compile. Not all of it fits into the document, naturally. However, this also gave me the much-needed time to practice distinguishing important information from less important information.
I wish to provide more context for these organizations and community entities instead of focusing on reflecting and describing my process. My lack of affinity for reflection can be seen as an issue in and of itself. It hindered me from making what I consider to be insightful commentary regarding the creative process and its role in the present discussion.
The document contains information regarding various public health and wellness organizations, including their missions and target areas. The document discusses how individuals can receive assistance, what kinds of help they can get, and how they can get in touch. In addition, the discussion touches on the role many of these organizations serve in a community environment, positioning them as vital tools of connection, conversation, and acceptance.
A comprehensive overview helps to establish a sense of understanding and proves that all organizations discussed are trustworthy. I attempted to choose organizations that would address the differing needs of the community and be capable of supporting a diverse, vast population. Because of this, some organizations focus on healthcare, while others help individuals establish their rights and freedoms in the US. This arrangement shows that communities are not uniform, and each family or individual may need a different type of support to flourish. Furthermore, procedures such as dental care are often neglected in public health discussions.
One lesson I have learned is that far more organizations can support populations than I initially assumed. Food pantries, healthcare centers, community centers, churches, resource centers – all these organizations work to change people’s lives, often one person at a time. With outreach from the community and their funds, these organizations gain the ability to do far more than any single person can. While the terms offered differed, I still found it admirable that many of the organizations covered worked very altruistically.
It has been a refreshing view on community organizations after becoming jaded by corporate greed. In particular, the flexibility and capacity of these organizations to provide care regardless of people’s citizenship, documentation, or insurance were encouraging to see. I feel that discussions of healthcare and population health are often dominated by negative voices and those who are rightfully concerned over the wellness of the masses. However, it should be noted that good organizations already exist, and their input must not be diminished. I do agree with the idea that more such organizations should exist, though.
References
Columbus Free Clinic (2023). Columbus Free Clinic. Columbus Free Clinic. Web.
CRIS Ohio (2023). Community Refugee & Immigration Services – CRIS’ mission is to help refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, sustain self-sufficiency, and achieve successful integration into the Central Ohio community. CRIS Ohio. Web.
NAEYC. (2023). Home. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Web.
NNEMAP Food Pantry (2023). Home. NNEMAP. Web.
OAEYC. (2023). Ohio AEYC – support for early childhood professionals. Ohio AEYC. Web.
OCCRRA. (2023). Home. Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association. Web.