Project Hope and the Board - Assignment Example

Organizational analysis of Project HOPE and the board or CEOs Introduction Project Hope is a human service organization formed to provide equal health opportunities for people around the world with special focus on children’s health. Since its inception, the project has strived to provide medical services initially through SS Hope, the hospital ship and through land centered programs that have now evolved into a long term and continuing health care service in developing nations around the world. The objective of Project Hope is to educate community health volunteers and health professionals, distribute supplies and medicines, support health facilities and fight diseases like Diabetes, HIV/AIDS and TB (Health and Hope for Tomorrow 2009). Mission of Project Hope The mission statement of Project Hope is “To achieve sustainable advances in health care around the world by implementing health education programs and providing humanitarian assistance in areas of need” (Our Mission, 2009). The mission of Project Hope has transcended family and regional levels to a tertiary health care set up by training community health workers with meager resources and by extending assistance through biomedical engineers and cardiac surgeons where the required technology is available to support the initiatives. Though the mission of Project Hope is diversifying with the increased requirements and new health challenges the main goal of Project Hope remains to assist individuals to assist themselves. The world is changing in terms of health requirements and the objective of Project Hope in promoting medical diplomacy through cordial relationship with individuals of varying culture continues through the treatment of patients, sharing medical expertise and the training of health worker counterparts. Project Hope has been successful in instituting long run solutions to critical health issues by adorning the role of a leader by forming new association with leading players in the health front (Our Mission 2009). Organizational structure The strategy of Project Hope is to extent services to nations that request their assistance (50 Years of HOPE 2009). Project Hope implements programs on request from host countries by associating with them and designs a program to suit the local requirements and priorities (Partnerships: International Partners 2009). Services are provided in partnership with the host country’s health authorities and government to ensure that health care services and education programs have continuity. While planning and implementing programs, the project builds partnerships that develops a capacity among local organizations like universities, NGO’s, ministries of health, health departments, health centers, families and communities in urban and rural setting to address health issues in the long run. Local counterparts also involve in the planning and implementation process effectively and appropriately to address pressing health issues and to ensure its sustainability (Partnerships: International Partners 2009). For instance, associating with provincial and national government authorities enables Project HOPE to implement programs that can focus on a number of health care requirements including diabetes, AIDS/HIV, nurse education and medical training. This has been the reason for the success of its mission in China for over twenty five years. Likewise, Project Hope has been successful in associating with University Children’s Hospital in the communist Polish government since 1974 in addressing health care requirements of children. In the initial years of service using the SS Hope, the duties of every volunteer in the ship was to educate a counterpart in a nation with health care need (50 Years of HOPE 2009). Project Hope has also associated with the Vilnius University to implement Health Care Management education in Lithuania. The sixteenth century university offers a wide scope for academic and international scientific activities and has produced a number of prominent professors, graduates and scientists. By associating with the university, Project Hope assists in bringing out more number of specialized post graduates in odontology and medicine. Project Hope has also associated with University of Medicine, Kaunas in Lithuania to implement health programs with its various faculties that include Faculty of Stomatology, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Pharmacy and Faculty of Public Health. This increases the opportunity to associate with a number of health care professionals and volunteers (Partnerships: International Partners 2009) who would contribute to the efforts of the organization in sending relief in times of need. The strategy of Project Hope is also to find new methods to distribute lifesaving health programs by associating with business, academic, government, military and a number of health care volunteers to extent the most effective, efficient and best care to nations with health care need (50 Years of HOPE 2009). By laws Project is registered with IRS and is exempted from tax according to 501(c) (3). The organization is also registered with USAID. It is a member of PCMD (Partnership for Quality Medical Donations) which is a part of healthcare firms and relief agencies devoted to developing high quality medical product. Project Hope complies by the detailed charity accountability norm of BBB Wise Giving. a) Non-Discrimination The by-laws of Project Hope ensure that there is no discrimination while carrying out health services and stands for equal opportunity. Hope is aimed to serve people in need. In terms of employment, it offers equal employment opportunities for applicants and employees for employment not considering the religion, color, race, sexual orientation, gender, nationality, handicap, disability, age or status as a veteran. Project Hope abides by the requisite law that governs non discrimination at work. This policy of Project hope is applicable to all terms of employment comprising but not restricted to termination, hiring, promotion, placement, recall, compensation, layoff, leaves of absence and training (Professional Standards 2009). b) Internal Audit Committee The bylaws of the organization have constituted a committee from the Board of Directors to audit the activities and oversee the responsibilities of reviewing the financial details that are offered to contributors, grantors and others for review. The board is also responsible to overview the internal control (audit) process established by the Board of Directors and the management. Therefore the audit committee is entrusted with the responsibility to offer clear communication between internal audit process, management, board of directors and the independent accountant. The company’s charter is required to be reviewed and updated by the committee on an annual basis. The by laws requires the committee to conduct an inquiry on the management and accountant about the possibility of risk and evaluate the measures taken by the management to evade such risk. The committee is also required to report of any irregularity or material error from the part of the management. The committee is entrusted with the right to consult with the management, if required, to employ audit firms in addition to the accountant of the organization to review the financial activities. The internal control of the organization includes security and computerized data system controls. The committee can take up any matter in consultation with the accountant, any findings or recommendations that impose restriction on the scope of their task or accessibility to required data. The committee also has the authority to review procedures and policies of the organization formulated to meet employee and corporate ethics. The committee is required to meet at least thrice or more times in a year to discuss various issues related to the management. The committee can include other members of the board, if required, to avail detailed information about a particular issue. The audit committee constitutes a minimum of five members from the Board of Directors and the chairman of the committee is recommended by the complete Board of Directors. The responsibilities and duties of members of the audit committee are in addition to the duties prescribed for the individuals as a Board of Directors (Financial Information 2009). Budget Project Hope has earned a good reputation for its financial efficiency and integrity. The leadership of Project Hope is serious in maximizing the value of contributions. Therefore, over 90 percent of resources received are used for philanthropic purposes in supporting life saving health programs world wide. Only ten percent of the resources are used in fundraising and management. As on June 30, 2008, the ratios of amount spend for health programs stood at 92 percent while 8 percent was used for fund raising and management. Project Hope offers the option to investigate the financial policies before donating towards its funds. Project Hope has gained a four out of four marking for Charity Navigators in the web which is a highest ranking. Donations are tax deductible and are assured that it will be utilized to better the lives of poor families and children. Project Hope also meets the accountability standards under the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The financial dealings of Project Hope are transparent. On making donation eligible for deduction for tax purposes, Project Hope ensures high standard accountability to donors. The utilization of funds can be viewed from the various annual audit reports, regular audit report of country offices and the efficiency of programs can be evaluated from program audits (Financial Information 2009). Funds are gathered from voluntary donations. Donations are accepted on a one time basis or on a monthly basis. Monthly donations make sure that the services of Project Hope have continuity. Funds are also raised from partner firms that set apart a sum to support the project (Donate Now 2009). The funds of Project Hope are used in various humanitarian programs that save the lives of millions of people from contagious and vector borne diseases. For example, Project Hope has implemented a program to eliminate malaria and yellow fever in Equatorial Guinea. The budget of Project Hope is divided and used for several useful projects that helps around 4, 86,900 people who live in this tropical African country. The first step is to provide mosquito nets that are priced between $7-$10 dollars and accommodate two people. This step costs around half of the funding but it will be an effective method to protect people from mosquito bites that spreads the disease. In addition to providing nets, the community is also being educated to understand the significance of sleeping under the nets. The usage of nets will also protect the people from Dengue Fever (Project Hopes Budget Break Down). Similarly, funds are allocated for various health projects around the world. Funding More than two million volunteer nurses and doctors work with Project Hope with medical supplies worth two billion dollars that offers a better health care for patients in more than eighty countries. It is remarkable to note that around ninety percent of Project Hopes funding is obtained from corporations, foundations and individuals which may be categorized under private sector funding. The balance ten percent aid is obtained from USAID and the state department (Campbell 2007). A TB training center is established in Turkmen State Medical Center in association with the institutes Tuberculosis department. The project was launched with the support of USAID and Project Hope. The training center is aimed to educate the nation’s medical specialists to implement a national TB control program on the basis of DOTS. Project Hope has been instrumental in providing training equipment, educational resources, air conditioning and furniture required for the centers with funds from USAID (Morgan 2007). Staffing The management of Project Hope is comprised of educated and experienced individuals who look after the international division of the organization. These individuals have experience in handling managements operations of Project Hope in places like Guatemala, Central/West Africa, China and Haiti. The operations of Project Hope are carried out world wide with Regional Directors. Top management officials are qualified with high educational degrees and extensive experience in international health, communications and education. In addition to academic qualifications, managers of project hope are well versed with project management, relationship building and deal efficiently with host governments. The activities of Project Hope are made easy with Chief Compliance Officer who has the expertise in federal grants and compliance to carry on the financial management of the organization. The management of Project Hope is comprised of individuals who have served other humanitarian aid organizations like the American Red Cross, AIDS foundation and Mercy Corps International (Project HOPE Announces Staffing Additions 2009). Project Hope as an organization provides challenging and rewarding careers in profession that include a wide range of departments from finance to health education. With projects in more than thirty countries worldwide, Project Hope provides chance for volunteers, interns and employees to obtain experience from a global perspective by working in academic tutoring or clinical experience with knowledge in health issues to meet requirement in developing nations through the development and research of health care system and experience in drafting and evaluating programs. The basic principles for the success of Project Hope are its mission with the underlying values of excellence, integrity, compassion and respect. Project Hope gives value to diversity and solicits the application of qualified candidates. The applications are filed into the human resources system and candidates are summoned when opportunities or assignments are available. Major staffing requirements are open in international health projects and education programs for professionals with experience in handling Health systems and facilities, Infectious Diseases (Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS), Humanitarian Assistance, Administration, Health of Women and Children, Health policy publication and Health professional education (Employment with Project HOPE 2009). Recommendations for future operations The CEO of Project Hope coordinates the operations of the organization in association with the Board of Directors, volunteers, partners, supporters and the U.S. Navy to provide continuous solution to the critical health care issues of people around the world. The health care services of Project Hope is combined by the publication of the peer reviewed bi-monthly journal called Health Affairs which was commented as the bible of health policy by the Washington Post. At the end of fifty years of humanitarian service, it may be summed up that Project Hope has supported over 100 countries, trained over 2 million health volunteers and distributed medical equipment, supplies and medicines worth more than $2 billion. The following recommendations are set out for the operation of Project Hope in the next fifty years. The areas that need focus are humanitarian assistance, chronic diseases and health training and education. Humanitarian assistance comprises the response of Project Hope towards conflicts, disasters and crises in foreign nation wherever it occurs and offer medical support. In the year 2008 alone, Project Hope has supported immensely towards earthquake relief in China and Peru, severe winter in Tajikistan, conflict in Georgia and the hurricane in Caribbean. Chronic disease management is an important aspect of health concern and project hope would continue to widen the successful implementation of education programs to handle AIDS / HIV, diabetes and launch education programs to combat malaria, cardiac illness, tuberculosis, obesity and other contagious disease in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world. Project Hope is also geared up to meet the demand for educated medical professionals through sustainable and proven health training programs and education. The programs are aimed to educate community health volunteers as well as health professionals comprising facility staff and midwives to enhance the utilization, quality, coverage and effectiveness of medical services in regions where it is highly required in the future. Major Milestones from fifty years of dedicated service SS Hope – The first ever hospital ship with American medical volunteers completed eleven mission and provided humanitarian aid and health care for people in need worldwide. Shanghai Children’s Medical – An advanced pediatric care hospital was set up in China by associating with the Shanghai Municipal Government. It is the largest pediatric hospital in China and treats over 8, 80,000 children and the hospital has performed over 2600 heart surgeries for children in a year. Tuberculosis programs – From the year 1993, the detailed regional TB project in Central Asia has reduced the number of unwanted death from tuberculosis by diagnosing and treating thousands of individuals with tuberculosis. Prevention, Support, Treatment and Care for AIDS/HIV - Project Hope set up various programs to meet the challenges of HIV/AIDS patients. The project was launched in Malawi in 1996 and the service has made its presence in 14 countries around the world. Major results were obtained from the Health Professional Education Project in a Chinese province by reducing the mortality rate by 72 percent. Association with U.S.Navy – The partnership of Project Hope with U.S.Navy is a significant aspect in distributing humanitarian aid through sea for various needy people around the world with major services being offered by Tsunami and hurricane victims in the last few years (Project HOPE Celebrates 50 Years 2008). The relationship of Project Hope with the U.S. Navy and military dates back to the project’s inception in 1958 when William B.Walsh convinced the then President Eisenhower to provide a U.S.Navy hospital ship to carry out humanitarian and health care services. Though the SS Hope terminated its services, Project Hope shifted its focus to land based projects. Project Hope has conducted 11 humanitarian and health education voyages during the period 1960-1973. Current the project has programs in over 35 countries. The association of Project Hope with the Navy was reinstated in the year 2004 to provide support for the Tsunami victims. The Navy Hope partnership was again used in 2005 to assist people hit by Hurricane Katrina. In continuation to these humanitarian aids, the partnership has expanded its programs to the rest of the world by offering health education to local communities specially to take care of children in countries of South East Asia, Latin America and Oceania. The partnership with U.S. Navy is carried forward with health training mission with the service of over 600 Hope volunteers and has been successful in treating around 300000 individuals in twenty seven countries. The organization plans to conduct humanitarian mission in association with the US Navy in Latin America, Southeast Asia and West Africa in 2009 (HOPE Department of Defense Partnership 2009). In conclusion, Project Hope has accomplished its mission in the past fifty years and strives to accomplish new horizons of health care challenges wherever there is a need. Reference 50 Years of HOPE 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/spotlight/view.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Campbell, A. 2007 Project HOPE CEO: Volunteer Docs, Nurses Deliver Health, Hope http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/8577-project-hope-ceo-volunteer-docs-nurses-deliver-health-hope. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Donate Now 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/supporthope/donatenow.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Employment with Project HOPE 2009 http://www.projecthope.org/joinhope/employment.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Financial Information 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/ourmission/financialinformation.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Health and Hope for Tomorrow 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/. Accessed on January 31, 2009 HOPE Department of Defense Partnership 2009 Available:   http://www.projecthope.org/wherewehelp/hopenavyprograms.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Morgan, V. September 18, 2007 Project HOPE and USAID help to open a TB Training Center at the Turkmen State Medical Institute http://centralasia.usaid.gov/files/press_release_071809_en_project_hope_tbcenter_opening.pdf. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Our Mission 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/ourmission/. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Partnerships : International Partners 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/ourmission/partnerships/internationalpartners.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Professional Standards 2009 Available: http://www.projecthope.org/ourmission/professionalstandards.asp. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Project HOPE Announces Staffing Additions 2009 Available: http://www.projhope.org/newsupdate/currentnews/view.asp?id=100030. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Project Hopes Budget Break Down Available: http://www.biology.ccsu.edu/doan/ProjectHope/buget.htm. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Project HOPE Celebrates 50 Years of Improving Health around the World. November 14, 2008. Available: http://eon.businesswire.com/portal/site/eon/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20081114005114&newsLang=en. Accessed on January 31, 2009 Read More