It is Kids' Chance Awareness Week. See Just Another Week? (November 2024). Every November, this organization strives to makes itself better known in the workers' compensation community. There is a vast array of professionals involved throughout the country.
Kids' Chance began in Georgia many years ago (1988), with the admirable goal of helping students whose parent or guardian has been significantly injured in a work accident. That is a fairly simple definition or mission. A great many people are hurt at work each year in America, and a natural consequence is that there are impacts. There is a Kids' Chance affiliate in each state.
Certainly, there are obvious impacts. The worker who is hurt is the most obvious. Anyone who has ever worked with someone who was injured knows that there can be an impact on coworkers, management, and the business. That is who workers' compensation was designed for, employees and employers.
But there is undoubtedly an impact on families. Anyone who has ever been a parent knows that there are a variety of daily challenges with keeping a household running. There is cleaning, personal care, homework, school activities, and so much more. When I think back on the school-age years, I wonder that I ever survived it.
What happens when one of those parents is challenged with the aftermath of a work accident? There are less hands contributing to the household needs and challenges. There are often additional tasks necessary in the care of the injured worker. And in some households, there is only one parent at the outset.
Time and again, we see amazing young people applying for scholarships from Kids' Chance. They have persevered through the challenges faced by a parent or guardian. Many have actually thrived. I have seen those who worked 40-hour weeks, finished high school, achieved stellar grades, been involved in clubs and activities, and even concurrently earned an associate degree with their high school diploma. "Amazing" does not do them justice.
They are beyond amazing. The opportunity to meet and work momentarily with these students has been amazing. To play any small part in their success is an indescribable honor.
It is Kids' Chance Awareness Week.
I am so proud that Kids' Chance of Florida passes the decade landmark next month. I recall with clarity so many conversations in the early days. One recurrent theme was persistent: "How do we find more kids." I hated part of that one. Sure, this is Kid's Chance, and the use of "kid" is inevitable. but these are not children we are dealing with.
Early on, the small group of founders struggled with the burden of awareness. We had a multitude of challenges that seem so mundane in retrospect. We needed bylaws, a bank account, an address, officers, lines of responsibility, and so much more. We had to grapple with taxes, registrations, and reporting. There is no one "way" to start a corporation, and we had many decisions to make.
Awareness. How would we let the community know we exist? How would we get the word out to the students that might benefit from our efforts? That was a formidable task. We had a suggestion from Kids' Chance of America (some misconstrue that our Florida corporation is somehow a "chapter" of that company; it is not. At most, it is an affiliate). And, the KCOA even provided us some seed money for that first scholarship. But we had to find a student!
Their suggestion nonetheless was to deploy a group of fans, supporters, and publicists. They suggested we create a group of "Ambassadors." We took months to discuss the how, when, what, and who of Ambassadors. In the beginning, we found one or two industry leaders willing to be a face for us in the community.
As detailed in yesterday's post, some of those Ambassadors went on to join our Board. But a host has dedicated themselves to the more challenging role of integrating the Kids' Chance message into their daily professional lives over the last decade.
They start conversations with their business contacts. They show up at conferences and meetings to sit at information tables or to take the stage to speak of the Kids and the opportunities. They wear lapel pins. They volunteer at events. They answer questions, build bridges, and engage the workers' compensation community for Kids' Chance of Florida. In truth, we would be lost without them, their dedication, and their efforts.
As we strive this week to make the world more aware of Kids' Chance, I pause for a moment to recognize the current Kids' Chance of Florida Ambassadors and thank them for their service to our community and the dependents of those injured at work.
The Ambassadors:
TINA BROWN, Professional Rehabilitation Consultants
MARY CLIVER, FFVA Mutual
KRISTIN GREEN, The David Corey Brands
JASON HALL, Iconic Investigations
ALEXIS HARDIGREE, Global Neuro & Spine Institute
JEANNETTE LOPEZ, Creative Comp Solutions
BRANDI WALKER MADDOX, NeuroRestorative
MELISSA MENDIETTA, RN, Infinity Nurse Case Mgmt
SANDY SHTAB, Healthesystems
BRIAN RICOTTA, Esq., HR Law, P.A.
JOSE MONTEAGUDO, Rehab Without Walls
JANEL STEPHENS, Bichler & Longo
SHAWN TWISS, Paradigm
FRED WEBSTER, Linea Solutions
DONNIE WOODS, TriFlex PT Network
Some have been around years. Some have joined more recently. The common thread is that they are welcoming, effective, and so sorely needed. It is a formidable list of outstanding personalities and professionals. If you want to know more about Kids' Chance, I encourage you to reach out to one of them and discuss.