Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rose Grant-Robinson (Wiseman). We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Rose, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
The biggest risk was hiring individuals straight out of college. No strong prior work history, but they showed dedication to the client population that our agency served. I was told that I must be crazy to hire someone fresh out of college because they did not have the experience. I agree to a certain point, but I found out that those individuals were eager for the challenge. They brought new ideas and innovations that others seemed to lack. They were open to critique without getting emotional or vengeful because someone was correcting them. Sometimes, we can be in a field for a long time, and we get set in our ways, but we need those new individuals to come in and wake us up.
So, it may be a risk, but this agency is up for the challenge because with these new individuals, they bring innovation and creativity that is needed.
Rose, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I run a child advocacy center, where we work with children from 3-18 years of age who have reported they have been physically or sexually abused. We provide forensic interviews of those children for the special victims’ unit of the police department along with the Department of Family and Children Services. We have a special way of interviewing children in a child friendly environment, so they do not feel intimidated or that it is their fault. The interview is recorded for the detectives and the Department of Family and Children Services. After this process is complete, we offer counseling services to those children. There is no time limit on how long a child can come to our agency for counseling services.
I got into this field about 7 years ago, after working as a legal advocate for a domestic violence shelter for over 14 years. It seems I have always been in social services. When I completed my degree in Psychology, I knew I wanted to do something to help people, I just did not realize that I would someday be running an agency. My main function is to keep this agency running so that my staff can continue advocating for children. My day to day reality is making sure that we keep funding coming into the agency so that the doors can stay open. We see over 250 children a year. In 2022, we saw over 300 children who reported that they were physically or sexually abused. So, I know there is a need to continue providing services. We have been in Savannah since 1992.
My proudest accomplishment since being at Coastal Children’s Advocacy Center is opening the Hispanic Outreach Center in 2021. I saw in the numbers that we were not seeing a lot of Hispanic/Latin Children and I knew they were going through some of the same situations that the other children were facing. We now have a center where families who need assistance can go and not fear retaliation for seeking services. We have an advocate that goes into the community and work with families, agencies or churches that maybe in need of services and to make sure that they are aware of the services that we provide.
Any advice for managing a team?
For me, managing a great team and maintaining high morale takes understanding and being that boss that actually listens. Many times, we love telling people what to do and how to do it, but my philosophy is a little different. I hired you because you are the one bringing the expertise or the skillset I need. I depend on my staff to do what they are hired to do, so I give them the tools they need to be successful, and I take my hands off. Yes, they have to follow policies and procedures, but I look to them to be the creators of their job. This makes us successful because they are now invested in their job and their role. I feel my role is to also listen to what they are trying to build at this company. I realized that someday I may leave this agency and they will still be here, I want it to be an environment where they enjoy coming to work and being successful at their job.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Dependability. I’ve been a resource for many years and that is truly due to being dependable. I made it my business to understand resources and how to use them to better serve the clients we see in this community. I think my reputation grew because people knew if they called me, I knew how to get the answer. I don’t know everything, and I will tell clients I don’t know but I will do my best to find the help you need. I have learned to also look and call myself; I don’t just give the information to the client; I will call first to make sure they can still get the service(s) they are looking for or need. Many times, agencies change, even the number changes, so it is important to make sure we are giving the right information.
I also believe in the old fashion, Keep Your Word. If you can do it, do it, but if you know you cannot just say, You Cannot. People remember what you say or do. They may not through it up in your face, but it is spread behind your back and other people don’t want to deal with someone who cannot keep their word. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ccac-savannah.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coastal_cac
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/CoastalCAC
Image Credits
Shots By Somi