Early Planning Activities Update

Belton Free Clinic
Early Planning Activities Update
As Of 2/27/09

The following are some activities that might typically occur in the beginning of a clinic planning process, perhaps during months 1-3:

• Pray to discern God’s will for the clinic – Ongoing
  • FBCB Prayer Ministry and Prayers Chain
  • Missions Committee
• Request and receive official endorsement of church or FBO – submitted
  • Missions Committee – Endorsed via emails - ~2/13/09
  • Strategic Planning Committee 2/15/09, 4:00 p.m. - Endorsed
  • FBCB Business Conference 2/15/09, 5:50 p.m. – Unanimously approved
  • Submitted to ECHO 2/16/09; ECHO signed copy coming with John Mills?
• Form a planning team (see “Composition and Characteristics of Successful Faith-Based Clinic Planning Teams”), led by a strong organizer and communicator, and begin meeting regularly – Key Positions Roster and Lead Team Designations available
• Recruit a physician champion who will lend credibility to the clinic, reach out to the medical community, and advise on clinical issues – Dr. Ligon
• Research health care needs, assets, and resources in your community – Julie O’Rear and Emily Smith
  • Needs
    • Helping Hands – 1200 families
    • BISD Nurses – BISD POC - Pat Sleeth
  • Assets and Resources
    • Key Positions Roster Free Clinic “Members” - <100 (including Key Positions)
    • Helping Hands Organization and Facilities – continue recruiting through meetings and website - www.beltonfreeclinic.org
    • Affiliation with area clinics and hospitals - ongoing
• Visit and talk with other free/charitable clinics
  • Plano Free Clinic
  • Temple Free Clinic
  • Greater Killeen Free Clinic
• Connect with state or regional free/charitable clinic association, if there is one
  • Ready?
  • Who are responsibility / POC?
• Begin to form a plan for the clinic
  • Floor Plans – in progress
  • Procedures -

The following are some activities that might typically occur in the next stage of a clinic planning process, perhaps during months 4-6:

• Following the 3/2/09 Open Meeting form a representative community team of volunteers to accomplish the following tasks:
  • Craft statements of vision, mission, and values
  • Establish name of clinic
  • Determine scope of services (what), plan for operations (how), and target population (who)
  • If a church or group of churches is starting the clinic, form a new organization:
    • Form an initial board of directors
    • Prepare and submit articles of incorporation to state
    • Write bylaws
    • Open a bank account
    • Prepare and submit Form 1023 to IRS for 501c3 tax-exempt recognition
• Designate day-to-day management responsibility for the planning process, with an eye towards eventually hiring a director who will be accountable to the board
• Find suitable space for the clinic, and design for clinic use – ongoing with Helping Hands
  • Dr. Billy Ligon
  • Mike Bergman, Director of Helping Hands
  • Larry Neil, Architect
  • Ron Emerson, Construction Manager
• Open discussions with hospitals/health systems, public health, other agencies with an eye towards forming partnerships for funding, coordination of services, etc.
  • Dr. Billy Ligon
  • Patti Wright
• Develop a clinic “prospectus” or brochure that describes the plan for the clinic
  • www.beltonfreeclinic.org – Matthew Irvine
  • Prospectus / Brochure – Herb Cox
• Prepare a first-year budget for the clinic
• Identify prospects for funding and begin cultivation activities
• Become familiar with liability protections available for the organization, board and staff, volunteers, and property – ECHO or Church Mutual
• Present volunteer opportunities to prospective clinical volunteers
  • Using peer-to-peer approach, with help from physician champion if needed
  • Web presence - http://www.beltonfreeclinic.org/volunteer/
• Continue to pray for God’s leading!!