Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Neal.
Hi Rachel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always believed the quality of any person’s life is hugely affected by how that person earns a living. Having a fulfilling work-life means pursuing your dream job, but you must accept the possibility of failure to do so effectively. The thought of earning a living doing something I love has always outweighed my fear of failure. So, after working a 9-5 for 15 years, I left to start my own business. I strategized off and on for ten years while working, and along with twenty years of experience in the Child Welfare field, I opened Child Caring Consultants, LLC (childcaringconsultants.com). 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.) and obtain a contract to place children in their facility or foster homes. Our company also assists new and licensed agencies in maintaining substantial compliance with the state licensing entity and other state child welfare agencies.
I am an entrepreneur at heart and knew that I would eventually jump right back into the game after raising my son to the ripe old age of 18. I chose a stable occupation during his youth to ensure he would have all the advantages he needed while growing up. Moms know what it is like to sacrifice! I decided to open Child Caring Consultants to have more freedom to focus on my creative endeavors, including filmmaking (raggityanns.com) and writing (heyrachel.org). Just like many others, my creative dreams were put on hold due to Covid.
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.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
After many tries, I can testify that taking the path of an entrepreneur is not always a smooth road. From the onset, I have encountered problems daily, but here’s how I overcame some of these struggles:
Finding Time and Finances to Start The Business. After coming home from my 9-5 job, I worked tirelessly to develop my business plan. I scrimped and saved money and paid off my bills before stepping out into a venture that guaranteed me little to no income for an extended time.
Saving For a Rainy Day. In the beginning, I often spent funds that should have been reserved for a rainy day. Sometimes, my husband had to pick up the financial slack, and as an independent person, it was hard to be financially dependent on someone else. Now, I force myself to always save a portion of my income.
Sleeping In. My alarm clock no longer wails at 6:30 every morning, so I have to ensure I set a standard wake-up time that works for my schedule. I often try to sleep in… just because I can.
Not knowing when to quit. There is no “day clock” when you work for yourself. I work countless hours and tire myself out. The benefit of tiring myself out is knowing that at the end of the day, I work for myself and can adjust my schedule as needed.
Dealing with Distractions. At times, the daily demands of cleaning the house, washing clothes, running errands, shopping, etc., are overwhelming. I’ve learned that I can still pursue my business plans by working even later. It helps that if I choose to, I can sleep in the next day!
Posting on Social Media. Social Media is not my forte, but to spread more information about my business and to reach my customers, social media is the most effective tool. I try to post about my business as much as possible.
Worrying About the Competition. There are thousands of chains selling hamburgers, and most of them are making money. I remind myself of this simple fact every day.
Guarding the Content I Create. Trying to safeguard the documentation that I develop is a constant battle, but in the end, no matter how much I try to protect the information that I create, it can always fall into the wrong hands. Although I am cautious, I remind myself that if my work is used without my permission, I offer my customers more than just written words on paper; I offer something no one else can—all the attributes that come with being me.
I can go on and on about the struggles an entrepreneur faces, but for me, the pros outweigh the cons. I don’t have to sit in traffic anymore! I no longer dread Monday mornings. I am in charge, so I no longer have to ask for time off to go to dinner or take a vacation. The amount of money I can earn is limitless, and I control the work I put into the universe. Overall, being an entrepreneur is an extraordinary challenge, but I feel FREE! Which is the most crucial pro to me.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Child Caring Consultants?
The staff at Child Caring Consultants, LLC 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 care 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. We recently started providing similar services in other states.
Current Georgia DFCS/OPM facility needs include child-placing agencies (Foster Care and Adoption Services), pregnant and parenting teen programs (Maternity Home and Second Chance), child caring institutions (Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children services) and Independent Living Programs (ILP).
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. Thus far, 100% of our licensing applications have been approved!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Due to Covid, it appears as if more individuals are striving to live a fulfilled business and home life. True fulfillment comes from helping others. I see Child Caring Consultants expanding to offer services in all states, which will allow us to develop a nationwide network that places foster children in the supportive settings they need to prosper. Unfortunately, there will probably always be children who need foster care, but new laws, such as the “Family First Prevention Services Act,” will improve the quality of care children receive over time.
As for my creative endeavors, I plan to start filming my next short film, RIP RAP ROAD, once I feel comfortable enough to work with others. Although the film industry has opened up somewhat, Covid mandates are still impacting my ability to work in an environment conducive to filming.
Contact Info:
- Email: childcaringconsult@
gmail.com - Website: childcaringconsultant
s.com, https://www.rabranenter prises.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/raggityanns/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/rachel.neal.393 - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
HEYRACHELorg - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UCRgd4unoffZFXOp7LomOf3A - Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/
biz/child-caring-consultants- douglasville-2?utm_campaign= www_business_share_popup&utm_ medium=copy_link&utm_source=( direct)
