We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Neal a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rachel , appreciate you joining us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I want my legacy to be that I always helped those in need, cared deeply for my family and friends, and helped to place many foster children in the supportive settings they needed to prosper.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Almost thirty years ago, I experienced a tragedy that changed the course of my life. I was working as a flight attendant for the now-defunct ValuJet Airlines when an engine fire occurred upon take-off. I was the only person on the plane severely injured. It took me almost five years to recover from my injuries and the same amount of time to figure out my purpose and why I survived. I always enjoyed helping others, so I went back to school, majored in counseling, became the administrator for a group home, and then went on to work for the state as an individual who assessed licensed group homes and other child caring facilities/agencies. With over 20 years of expertise in the field, I decided to become a consultant and open CHILD CARING CONSULTANTS, LLC (childcaringconsultants.com). While working as a Consultant, I have also been able to focus more on my creative endeavors, including filmmaking: RAGGITY ANNS (Raggityanns.com), which has won over thirteen film festival awards, and authoring books: HEY RACHEL! REAL TALK. REAL RELATIONSHIPS. REAL ADVICE. (HeyRachel.org).
Child Caring Consultants is a one-stop-shop for anyone seeking a license to open a Child Welfare Agency (Foster Care or Adoption Agency, Group Home, Maternity Home, etc.), a contract to place children in their facility or foster homes and to assist new and licensed agencies in maintaining substantial compliance with licensing and other state child welfare agencies. So far, the business has taken off, and my application approval rate is 100%. That means more of Georgia’s foster children will be able to live in loving, supportive and stable environments.
The staff at Child Caring Consultants, LLC (childcaringconsultants.com) will work with you to obtain a license from the Georgia Residential Child Care Licensing (RCCL) Unit, a Provider Contract from the Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS)/Office of Provider Management (OPM) and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to open a child caring agency/facility within a few months at a minimal cost. For those agencies/facilities that are licensed, we will ensure that your agency/facility remains substantially compliant with all regulatory child welfare agencies. Our efficient process is streamlined and will allow you to get licensed in as little as four months. Excellent customer service is our number one goal!
Child Caring Consultants help individuals make their dream of opening a child caring institution (group home), foster care agency, or any licensed facility/agency that cares for foster children come true. My strategy for developing any licensed program and ensuring that it operates according to the rules, regulations, and continued support is a tried-and-true method based on customer satisfaction. So, if you are ready, let’s get started!
I have attempted to do everything I wanted, including authoring books, making a short film, and being an entrepreneur. I am proud that I am not afraid of failure, but most importantly, I instilled this same thought pattern in my son, Brandon. As a young man, he has followed all his dreams boldly and unapologetically, and at 21 is already enjoying the fruits of his labor!
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I have been in business for almost three years now, and the only marketing I have done is get certified with Google Business. I strive to ensure that my clients are satisfied and happy with the outcome of any of the business services I offer. For this reason, word of mouth has been my business’s best source of new clients. Also, my name was well known in the industry prior to starting my consultant business, so that helped with my credibility.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
My business is home-based and purely based on policy development. The initial funding only included purchasing a computer, printer, etc., so, the start-up costs were minimal.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.childcaringconsultants.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raggityanns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachel.neal.393
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-neal-aa7928154
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HEYRACHELorg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRgd4unoffZFXOp7LomOf3A
- Other: www.HeyRachel.org
Image Credits
Kirk Davis