What is "Clustering"?
"Clustering" is the process that expands the number and variety of TNN member resources that are available for Clients in all 50 states in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Historically, we have been able to allocate 88-94% of all expenditures directly to Client service due in large part to the success of this expense-leveraging development strategy. The cost to serve each Client remains between $325-500 and our Network's service continues to be offered free of charge.
We have found through experience with thousands of women in need of support that a "cluster" of practical resources in one geographic area is key to our being able to provide prompt and comprehensive service. When residential, counseling, employment or academic opportunities and medical services are all available in one community we are able to engage the members of that community more quickly in the direct hands-on nurturing of our Clients.
A "Cluster Coordinator" is a Network member who offers to recruit and bring to our attention caring friends and family who will offer one of these specific resources. Cluster Coordinators often make the difference in locating some of the more challenging support resources that we would have difficulty finding from our national headquarters location. Although the task is relatively uncomplicated and the time involvement very flexible, there is no gift of caring more important to the mothers and children whom we serve.
Typically, Cluster Coordinators begin by making a short list of potentially interested colleagues, friends and family members. They then contact each person, sharing their own support for our program and determining each potential supporter's level of interest in offering a specific resource. Once they have identified at least one individual in each of our key resource categories, they fax or mail a list of names and addresses back to us.
To keep administrative work to a minimum, we send the relevant information along with a personal letter from TNN’s President directly to each of these individuals, letting them know that we do so at the Cluster Coordinator’s kind suggestion. We copy Cluster Coordinators on these letters so they will know when they were mailed and can follow up in any way they feel would be most effective. Each new Cluster Member is added to our database and begins to receive our newsletters and special mailings. This new relationship encourages an ever deepening level of commitment.
When at least five resources, including some degree of financial support has been offered and the appropriate questionnaires and confidentiality statements have been received, a top-rated, comprehensive cluster has been formed. We will notify the Cluster Coordinator when this happens and look for an opportunity to send this group of caring friends a truly special gift . . . one of our grateful and deserving Clients to nurture.
Even as new resources are being added to a Cluster and the Cluster is still "incomplete," it becomes an important resource for our Clients and is utilized whenever possible. As the Cluster becomes more fully developed and more inclusive of additional resources in a given community . . . as it serves multiple Clients and adds Co-Coordinators to share the joyful task of helping to expand our Network . . . mothers and children all across the country are being assisted with additional practical resources wrapped in hope and compassion.
15-Minute Presentation
This brief speech was written by Mary Cunningham Agee as a resource to assist Nurturing Network Cluster Coordinators who generously offer to share our mission of practical compassion with their friends and colleagues. Please click here to review and print a hard copy.
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