Bea's Beginnings Essay

Submitted By 1forschool
Words: 3753
Pages: 16

Executive Summary
Bea’s New Beginnings is a start-up not for profit social service agency serving the greater Memphis/ Shelby County/ Arlington areas. The organization was founded by Women of Vision who has both the practical experience and the education to lead the organization. WOV is currently working on assembling a strong Board of Trustees which will be invaluable for the organization.
Services
Bea’s New Beginnings is an organization that provides transitional housing and life skill training for women. It offers assistance to women, frequently homeless, as they move from dependent, often abusive relationships into independent, self-sufficient lifestyles. Additionally, it assists clients in child reunification. This is particularly important as 80% of the clients have children but no custody.
This is the city's third women-only facility with long-term transitional housing. All other shelters only offer 30 days or less of housing whereas Bea’s New Beginnings offers up to two years. We currently staff a chemical dependency counselor, AIDS counselor, and a family reunification counselor to assist clients.
The facility provides clients within an eight-step program that teaches them necessary life skills. This collaborative approach to empowerment is the keystone to developing self-sufficiency in the clients. The steps include personal development, vocational training, substance abuse counseling, interpersonal skills building, community involvement, leisure activities, and independent living skills.
The Market
Bea’s New Beginning’s has identified two distinct market segments of customers based on age; those who are under 30 and those who are 30 and over. The distinction is important because of the high percentage of clients with children, and those in the younger market segment having far younger children. The less than 30 age group is growing annually at 9% and the 30 and over age group growing at 8%. The two groups respectively have 165,454 and 158,745 potential clients. The overwhelming majority of clients come from lower socio-economic population groups. These segments can be difficult to communicate with, yet their use of Bea’s New Beginnings services would give them some profound benefits.
Management
Women of Vision founders have earned a B.S. degree in Social Services from Belhaven University and a Master Degrees in Social Work, Non-for-Profit Management and Business Leadership from various Universities. Additionally, Women of Vision all have several years of social service project management. While working in individual capacities Women of Vision have developed a proactive empowerment program which has become the foundation for Bea’s New Beginnings collaborative approach to empowerment. Women of Vision have developed a comprehensive network of personal and professional contacts with key community leaders. This will be instrumental in raising the profile of Bea’s New Beginnings within the community as well as having a significant impact on fundraising activities.
1.1 Mission Statement
BNB’s mission is to provide women of Memphis a safe transitional housing alternative, teach a multitude of skills to empower the women to self-sufficiency, and facilitate the possible reunification of clients with their children.

1.2 Keys to Success
Build a strong, active Board of Trustees.
Ensure that the offered services satisfy market needs.
Design and implement strict financial controls and accountability.
1.3 Objectives
Secure sufficient funding, both start up and operational.
Create a women's-only transitional housing facility that provides housing and a variety of empowering skills.
Develop a strong Board of Trustees that can offer guidance, help with fundraising efforts, and oversee the smooth operation of the organization.

Organization Summary
Bea’s New Beginnings was founded as a Memphis, TN based not for profit 501(c) (3) organization. Upon the Board of Trustees' final approval,