Ask UPLIFT: Health Care Resources Plus
Owning and operating a small business is a journey. Whether it’s slinging drinks, hiring employees, navigating finances, learning new tax codes, or carving out a space to make your own, each journey is different. UPLIFT is Women of Cincy’s directory of women-led products, services, and businesses. Each month, we ask one or more UPLIFT entrepreneurs about their journeys, and we discover a new business and a new path to entrepreneurship.
This month, we talked with Janie Allen of Health Care Resources Plus about the journey of entrepreneurship.
What's the pitch for your business?
Health Care Resources Plus, Inc. (HCRP) is a community-based healthcare company whose mission is to promote the health and safety of individuals, families, and communities through the provision of equitable health and medical services by positively impacting organizational policies that affect health. Everyone deserves access to quality health care. To that end, HCRP makes available diverse healthcare services that improve the quality of life and prevent unhealthy conditions. These services include nursing and medical services, education, training, occupational/worker, health care programming, and management.
What does community support mean to you?
Community support means that I can depend on the community to recognize the service that my company provides as an asset for growth and stability. Community support is the foundation of a successful business, and while we provide a needed service, it’s up to the community to embrace what we are trying to do to enhance their lives, as it is up to us to provide community awareness. Without community support, no matter how great your solutions to their problems are, your services will not be accessed. It’s a two-way trust between the community and our company.
What role do you want your business to have in the community?
I want my business to have two roles in the community: partner and good neighbor. In my partnership role, I want the businesses, community organizations, families, and individuals to know that we are available to partner with them in various health and community activities that are important to them and that we are available to assist in the achievement of their mission and goals. As a good neighbor, I want the community to know that my company can promote their endeavors; whether it’s helping with a project or giving access to temporary workspace, etc., we are there for them.
How do you check in with your team to make sure everyone is on the same page? How do you coordinate your team?
Mentoring is a strong element of assuring my team is on the same page. When company meetings take place, the mission and vision are reviewed along with the company brand. Staff members are free to discuss challenges as well as make recommendations. It is important that team members feel good about themselves and what they do; therefore, I make it a point to find out how everyone is doing. Brief and informal staff development sessions that incorporate social and emotional learning take place weekly to ensure that my team is at their best while on the job.
How has starting a small business changed your mindset or how you see yourself?
My thought processes and my beliefs have changed; I have always seen myself as a visionary with the gifts of independence and resourcefulness. However, owning a business has humbled me and made me realize that I need more than myself to be successful. While still independent and resourceful, I now see myself as someone who is open to learning new ways of doing things. I see myself as someone who is growth-oriented, knowing that I can shape myself into whomever I want to be and, with the help of others, can improve lives through employment, service, advocacy, and mentorship.
Thank you, Janie! You can find Janie at Health Care Resources Plus. You can check out all of our UPLIFT business here.