Cassie Burr’s Post

"We fumbled through it" "It wasn't ideal" "We will do it differently next time" These are a few statements in a recent e-mail I had with an organization that didn't cover a parental leave. I had been in touch with them prior to the leave, but the investment of coverage was a stretch for their budget. They were a small shop and decided to try and divide the work throughout the team. My heart felt for them -- I've worked with many small organizations where the investment of doing the right thing sometimes seems a bit out of reach. But what is the long term impact of not thoughtfully covering a leave? In the time we've been covering parental leaves, we've seen higher rates of retention, self-reported increase in job satisfaction (among the parents, employers, and colleagues), and of course an increase in productivity during the duration of the leave. At Balanced Good we are continuing to build thoughtful and accessible programs so non-profits of all sizes can support and cover parental leaves. Want to be the first to know about our newest offering? Sign up below as we get ready to announce a highly accessible and supportive Parental Leave Planning in a Day offering. https://lnkd.in/gKmXJnBT #parentalleave #maternityleave #nonprofit #nonprofitleadership #nonprofitHR

Are you a nonprofiteer afraid to go on paternity leave?? What a ridiculous statement to make.... Too often we hear stories of positions being "covered" by remaining staff while someone is out. To us, lack of support during parental and maternity leave is another glaring gap in the supports for nonprofit workers. But part of the challenge can be how often will you find a fundraiser/marketer/ED on a short term basis that "gets" nonprofit?? _____________________________________________ This weeks free Hive Chat sponsor, Balanced Good, is here to change the way we think about parental leave. They are a larger part of the conversation on "how" we care for changemakers as they navigate the intersection of personal and professional life. By providing skilled professionals to support teams during an employees parental leave, Balanced Good is a shining example of all we hope to see change in nonprofit work. Make sure to check out the incredible work Lacey Kempinski and team are doing by giving them an instagram follow. Link in the comments! #parentalleave #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #parenting

Today, I want to share a personal experience and highlight the incredible services of Lacey Kempinski and her work at Balanced Good, a company that truly understands the unique challenges parents face in the workplace. Reflecting on my own journey, I remember the overwhelming feeling when I went on maternity leave, just weeks before giving birth to my first child in September 2021 and adopting another three weeks later (on my birthday!). It was a time filled with joy and immense responsibility, but also a time where I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I had to justify to the board the fiscal responsibility of my leave for the organization. Thankfully, Chelsea Bergfeld, MSW, MBA stepped in to fill my role, and her exceptional performance eventually led her to become the Vice President of Advancement. What I wish for every parent is to have a service like Balanced Good. Their services have expanded beyond fundraising and communications-based roles to include programs-based positions like Program Manager, Executive Director, and Program Coordinator. This expansion allows them to make a larger impact in the non-profit sector, assisting both employers and parents navigating the challenges of parental leave. Specifically, I love that they have a Parental Leave Plan in a Day Program. Navigating all the legalities of leave is so hard on your own. It is a comprehensive program designed to help employers and employees create a clear plan for parental leave coverage. And it’s only $795! If you or anyone you know could benefit from these fantastic offerings, please spread the word! #maternityleave #nonprofit

This is a dual-purpose appreciation S/O post. First to my hubs Christopher Amenta for our 50/50 co-parenting approach. I could not be the mother I am without a partner who is equally invested, interested, and available so I can be the best version of myself - both inside and outside of our family dynamic. Most days feel like a hamster wheel with a 3YO and 1YO, full-time career, and attempting to preserve/maintain a life in and outside of those elements. There are days I feel like "I've got it", but more that don't. I'm not a believer in "you can have it all". I believe in "you can do it as best you can --- and that's okay." I am in awe of those who go at this thing called parenting solo. Secondly, to see my employer, Citizens, encouraging colleagues to bring their whole selves to work, including those who are caregivers. Our newest Business Resource Group (BRG) “Caring for Citizens” launched in April and has more than 600 members! 💚👏 I’ve not seen many companies focused on building a community of this nature amongst their employee-base. Yet another reason I admire and enjoy working for this organization. As part of #NationalWorkAndFamilyMonth, the BRG held a colleague panel to celebrate the different family dynamic experiences of working caregivers, swap advice, and donate books to Books Are Wings. I shared in some perspectives, and learned from others. Job well done Cait Swanson & Allegra Murray. Together, we’re #MadeReady. Learn more about our BRGs: http://spr.ly/6041udYxU #CitizensColleague

Learning to navigate parental leave, becoming a parent, and managing your career in the non-profit sector is not easy! That's why Lacey developed a 5-part video series - The Parental Leave Playbook. This video series will walk you through how to tell your employer you are expecting, planning for your leave (big picture and nitty gritty details), returning to work, and so many other common topics and FAQ's. AND the playbook will be available as part of Jess Campbell's Black Friday Bundle. Not only will you get access to the Parental Leave Playbook, but you will have access to some incredible resources from so many amazing non-profit consultant friends. #parentalleave #maternityleave #nonprofits #workingmoms #workingparents

This might ruffle some feathers. But, deciding to not backfill a parental leave is not an effective cost-saving strategy. It risks burning out your staff, makes the employee going on leave feel undervalued, and honestly it adds to your already full plate. I get that sometimes another option isn't obvious -- perhaps you haven't been able to find the right candidate. Up until now, Balanced Good has only been able to support fundraising and communication based parental leave roles in the non profit sector. But with our recent growth, we are now able to support the programs side of things too (and we are so excited!). More about our growth below. So, if your organization, or an organization you know, has an upcoming parental leave and they are trying to figure out how to navigate coverage, reach out to me or anyone on the Balanced Good team today! #parentalleave #maternityleave #nonprofits #nonprofitsector

Does L&D play a role in parental leave? How do we help our nonprofit leaders navigate time out of the office? That's what host Heather Burright was looking to answer this week's episode of Learning for Good. Heather sat down with mission-driven fundraiser, Lacey Kempinski on today’s episode. Lacey is focused on changing the way the nonprofit sector supports parental leave and working parents. Episode 70 explores: ▶️ Lacey’s career journey and how having children changed its trajectory ▶️ The parental leave dilemma ▶️ The challenges of parental leave in the workforce ▶️ Solutions to the parental leave dilemma ▶️ Supporting nonprofit leaders who need time out of the office Tune in or read the recap here: https://lnkd.in/gu2Zm2Hb #ParentalLeave #StaffRetention #LearningAndDevelopment #HR

What has no paid leave cost you? Let's start a conversation about the impact of the lack of federal paid leave. What has it cost your family, employees, or business? Share your experiences in the comments, and use the hashtags #NoPaidLeaveCostMe, #PassPaidLeave, and #PaidLeaveForAll to join the movement for change. Don't forget to tag your elected officials and urge them to fight for paid leave for all! To learn more about paid leave for all, please visit FamilyCareAct.com. #nonprofit #WGF #pgh #speakup #activism #solidarity #paidsafeleave #pittsburgh #communityactivism

GUIDE | Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) released a new guide, "Care is Fundamental: How Funders Can Accelerate Vital Progress on Caregiving," drawing on interviews with seventeen leaders in philanthropy, including JAHF's Rani Snyder. The new guide shows how people across different sectors are stepping up to promote caregiving strategies, shift societal attitudes, create public-private partnerships and drive change. "Looking back, RAISE was a signal moment," says JAHF's Vice President of Program, Rani Snyder. "Prior to it, there had been no national approach to recognize and support family caregivers." Read more: https://ow.ly/OGiq50Rk4so

📣 🏥 💪 Free psychosocial support is provided by the Barcelona-based non-profit Iguality to individuals and communities in marginalised situations who lack easy access to paid mental health services. Addressing the #mentalhealth of individuals in vulnerable situations, particularly #migrants, #refugees, and #asylumseekers, is a crucial concern from a #healthcare policy standpoint. In light of this, I would like to highlight a selection of recent studies that have delved into this subject matter: 📌 Mei L. Trueba, Tessa Axelrod, and Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson's study on asylum seekers and refugees in the UK reveals the need for improved access to holistic and culturally sensitive mental health support. Barriers to existing services were identified, emphasizing the importance of training healthcare receptionists and coordinating support services for enhanced well-being. Full text here: https://lnkd.in/e2QS3bhZ 📌In their analysis on mental health care for migrants and refugees in Germany, Tahereh Mina Orang et al. found that "Value Based Counseling" (VBC) offers a culturally sensitive and strength-based approach. VBC avoids stigmatization and focuses on clients' resilience and resources. Full text here: https://lnkd.in/e99sYN2y 📌In their study on the mental health of asylum seekers and refugees in Switzerland, Shabnam Pouraghajan, Johannes Ullrich, and Naser Morina found that traumatic experiences and post-migration difficulties put refugees at high risk of mental health problems. Intergroup contact with the receiving society had both positive and negative effects, buffering the impact of living difficulties but exacerbating the relationship between trauma and mental health. Full text here: https://lnkd.in/eDxgpsjQ #RefugeeMentalHealth #AccessToSupport