After taking the time to research our two assigned RSOs, a non-for-profit organization and therapeutic recreation, we began the process of comparing and contrasting the two establishments from a variety of different perspectives. As detailed in our previous posts, we chose the Champaign Crisis Nursery as the local non-for-profit in the Champaign-Urbana community. This organization provides two main services. First it acts as an around the clock safe haven for children ages zero to five experiencing some sort of crisis. The concept of a crisis is defined differently for each family and ranges from cases of homelessness to domestic violence. The second service is one of continued progress and change. The workers at the center provide therapy, mentorship, classes and home visits for those who have used their services in order to ensure that they will not need to continue to visit the nursery. Our second organization, the Oasis located in the basement of the Illini Union is quite different. This branch of the McKinley Health Center provides a variety of wellness services to its customers. Some of the products include massages, relaxation rooms, free access to the Wii, and personal health give-aways.

 

While the two organization are drastically different in terms of the services they provide, they both have distinct goals and motives. The Champaign Crisis Nursery works to provide a safe haven for children, and ensure safety and well being for individuals who cannot provide such things for themselves. They work directly with the families in the community who are desperately in need of assistance and comfort and they care for individuals, both the small children and their families, on a personal level. The Oasis on the other hand has set goals that involving allowing students to relax, rejuvenate and refresh. They promote overall wellness, both mental and physical, and boast easy access while providing care for students and teachers on a personal level.

Just as the goals between these two organizations vary, so to does the way that they are funded. Champaign Crisis Nursery, as a non-for-profit, is funded almost entirely by donations from local businesses and community members. Many school groups also make monetary donations, as well as those that involve food, clothing, diapers, ect. Finally the nursery applies for government grants on a regular basis in order to sustain constant service and pay its small group of staff. Because the Oasis is connected with the McKinley Health Center on campus, the primary funding comes from university tuition. Each student is required to pay a $250 health fee annually that covers the cost of such services. This allows students virtually free access to all the Oasis amenities, with the exception of massages. Faculty and guests at the Illini Union Hotel are required to pay a small fee for most services including the use of a relaxation room.

                                          

The nature of the two organizations also means that they benefit to very different populations. The Champaign Crisis Nursery, as mentioned previously, works with families of children ages zero to five who are experiencing some sort of crisis. This crisis situation is defined differently for each situation, but involved helping primarily single mothers, those in the community with lower socio-economic backgrounds, the homeless, and those we are experiencing some type of emergency situation. The beneficiaries of The Oasis on the other hand are University of Illinois students and faculty, as well as guests staying at the hotel located insider the Illini Union.

     

Job opportunities are also very different between the two organizations. Because the Champaign Crisis Nursery is a non-for-profit organization, they only employ a small board of directors whose primary responsibilities involve running the day-to-day tasks of the business. These positions include an executive director, an events director, a family specialist, and an administrative assistant. These workers accept a smaller salary knowing that they are providing invaluable resources to children, however they do receive benefits through a social worker program. Volunteers run most of the center, in fact it takes nearly 150 individuals a week to manage the center and care for the children. Because The Oasis is paid directly from the university, they are able to pay a much larger staff. Those people include a dietician, nutritionist, athletic trainer, physical therapist, massage therapist, receptionist and managers, as well as some student interns. These workers must be qualified for their positions, meaning they hold degrees, and are compensated for their level of education.

Even though our organizations were so drastically different, they both have many strengths and weaknesses associated with their goals. The Champaign Crisis Nursery is unique to the area, specialized to a specific population, well run and organized, and brings in lots of donations. They have also seen great success with their in-house supervision program and the new mother program that was put in place last year. With all of its strengths however, comes a few weaknesses. The center is only capable of holding twelve children at a time for a maximum of 72 hours each based on government regulation. After these restrictions have passed, families must find another means of caring for their small children. The Oasis is unique to the university and also the Champaign area, it boasts a wide variety of services, and prides itself on catering to an exclusive group of individuals. They have had difficulties with publicizing in the past however, and many of their services are by appointment, which is inconvenient for many students who tend to plan things last minute.

                                          

All and all we feel that both of these organizations do serve their purpose for their respective populations. Both provide care for those who utilize their services and work to make lives better in a personal and meaningful way. The Champaign Crisis Nursery helped over 1000 children last year and continues to make a name for itself within the community. They are continue to progress their services and are working to touch as much of the Champaign- Urbana community as possible, especially during these hard times. The Oasis too, it continuing to change and adapt to student’s needs and has begun to make a name for itself on campus. We are so grateful for the opportunity to explore these places and are even looking to get involved at both centers.