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#38: Christine McConnell, BCSP Foundation Officer, at NSC 2019
77 Plays6 years ago
Jill and Christine take some to talk about BCSP Foundation and three main initiatives they’re working on at the Foundation.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
00:00:10
Speaker
This is the Accidental Safety Pro, live at the 2019 National Safety Congress and Expo in beautiful San Diego. My name is Jill James, the Bivids Chief Safety Officer. And with me today, I am joined by Christine McConnell, who is the philanthropy officer for the BCSP Foundation, or better otherwise known as the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. Christine, welcome to the podcast. Thanks for having me, Jill. Really appreciate this.
Mission and Structure of BCSP Foundation
00:00:38
Speaker
So the foundation.
00:00:40
Speaker
Tell us for anyone who does you know a lot of people are familiar with the board of certified safety professionals and the designations maybe that they've Gotten through them testing they've helped with but maybe people aren't familiar with the fact that you have a foundation Well, it's cuz we're new really I know it's so brand new Jill. It's an exciting time So for those of you who are familiar with BCSB, you know, we've been around for 50 amazing years contributing to the field and
00:01:08
Speaker
Over the evolution of those five decades, they've done a lot to invest back into the profession and the board has really been committed to that, but they took a next step
00:01:20
Speaker
In the last decade, to really make that manifest by supporting other organizations' foundations, they do a fair amount of giving through the ASSP Foundation to support students and other projects and research. And then they've also decided to do a lot of that on their own, supporting universities through their accreditation and re-accreditation programs, and then supporting students on their journey. So they were providing student scholarships.
00:01:46
Speaker
And then about five years ago, they decided, we need to formalize our giving process. How do we do more in this space to support the profession? What does that look like? And then two years ago, they voted as a board to really take that next big leap and they made a significant financial investment.
Accomplishments and Community Building
00:02:07
Speaker
to get the foundation off the ground and they've committed tremendous resources to it themselves and then they're personally invested and so it's now formally its own 501c3 and we're in that really interesting charitable space and we have our own strategic plan and
00:02:27
Speaker
We have our own group of donors, both individual and corporate. And it's really unique, but it's a direct reflection of BCSP's commitment to advancing the field. And it's kind of the softer side. So Jill, we get to do really interesting things like you know, you're aware of it. We kind of get to step outside of just the credentialing.
00:02:51
Speaker
We've expanded beyond just professional advancement, but how can we support the field in other ways through research? Or how can we take on big scope projects that would be otherwise limited by the business model for just BCSP, which is credentialing, which is huge on its own, right? So we get to be that kind of stretch side of safety and go really exciting spaces.
00:03:13
Speaker
So what are some of the accomplishments of the foundation to date? Can you give us
Scholarships and Research Funding
00:03:19
Speaker
some ideas? No, I think it's fun. So because we've like, we've just filed our first 990. So in January, what's a 990? It's our tax exempt status. It's our IRS form. It's seriously in the life of starting a giant, like a philanthropy, like it's a big deal. It's a big deal. So no, so, so we actually were formally incorporated a year ago.
00:03:42
Speaker
And in that one year space, we held our first research and innovation summit. It was amazing. It was amazing. And that's the reason that we can do things like that is because we sit so firmly on the foundation of BCSP's commitment to the community, and we can pull on those resources, both staff and credential holders. And that allows us to really go
00:04:12
Speaker
big right away but we held our first research and innovation summit and that's one of the primary programs for the foundation but we brought together a hundred individuals to Indianapolis and we had two full days and during that time we conducted research roundtables too which is really the larger framework of having this conversation about
00:04:36
Speaker
what do we not know in safety? And how do we get there? And that will drive the foundation's giving in research and innovation grants for the next two years. And then we'll bring those people back together and present again. But it was unbelievable accomplishment. So we're very excited about that. And then we have other projects that we're working on, but that's like a
00:05:01
Speaker
Like in a year, that's a really big deal. A big accomplishment. To have our first summit and it was meaningful. So it was great. So good things came of it. So research and innovation is one of the focuses of the foundation.
00:05:17
Speaker
Are there two other primary focuses? Is that how it works? We do. So we have the three. So we are maintaining that continued investment in faculty and in the school programs. So that tradition of giving that started was the initial idea for the foundation. We're maintaining that through our professional advancement opportunities.
00:05:37
Speaker
We're also supporting people through research and innovation, which is new. So we'll be doing master's and dissertation. So thesis and dissertation level investments. And then we'll do three at the master's and two at the doctoral level every year. And you can apply for all of those right through our website. So we have the whole online application process. It's a really great program.
00:06:00
Speaker
student applications for student scholarships are in the same space. Yeah. So let's just pause for just a second for people who are listening who are like, wait a minute, what? I'm a student right now. Right. Let's rewind. What did Christine just say is available for
Innovative Funding Opportunities
00:06:14
Speaker
me? $5,000. Okay. So we're awarding one $5,000 scholarship to every qualified academic program, a student from every QAP that BCSB has listed. Okay. And the good news is if you go to the website, all the criteria is right there, Jill.
00:06:28
Speaker
So you can read about deadlines. Yes, we have deadlines for submission and all of the application requirements. And it's all right there and available to you. And the same thing is true for the research, the research funding. So we do have some fun space in the research where we'll do one like proof of concept.
00:06:48
Speaker
early seed funding and it's a small amount. It's a modest one. It's about $25,000. We'll do one of those per year. Okay. But it's enough to get people started on developing the concept. And then we'll do some collaborative giving through the foundation with other organizations that we've partnered with. So that's nice.
00:07:09
Speaker
with the innovation stuff. Yeah. Jill. So exciting. This is crazy cool. Okay. So this is for everyone who developed a solution in the garage. Like you were someplace and you and your buddy like needed to fix something and you looked around at all your coworkers and like, well, if we just had X piece and you went and made it in your garage out of like whatever Legos, I don't care, but it fixed the issue. Yeah.
00:07:34
Speaker
And you realize maybe you don't have the skill set or maybe you don't know how to bring that forward and to do all the necessary paperwork for trademarking and protections. And it's something that has to do with safety, both workplace or community. Is that it? Yeah, it doesn't have to be a tangible. It can be a procedure. It can be anything that really steps into that safety space.
00:07:57
Speaker
but has the potential to impact lots of and benefit others. So we're here to help you do that.
Youth Safety Initiative Overview
00:08:03
Speaker
Right. So safety professionals who are listening, who have done something in their maybe a workplace or their, um, or maybe in their, um, in
00:08:14
Speaker
type of industry, an industry, maybe an industry group, maybe you belong to a group for safety for just your type of industry, like one of our previous guests was talking about an electrical federation group they were part of, or I've mentioned it was part of the US Poultry and Egg Association before, another professional friend who's part of a zoo and aquarium industry, maybe as an industry group you came together and came up with a process procedure, a thing that you could go to the foundation for help to make it real.
00:08:43
Speaker
or live or within your own company. Right, so it's really exciting. So it's two rounds of funding, right? So the first one is only $10,000 and it's sort of to like, fill. It sounds like a lot. Well, $10,000 to move it, it's up to move it forward, right? But then we'll give you all the professional services to wrap around. So that $10,000 is really to build the mold or to like do some more testing or whatever it is. And then we'll do two of those a year. And then after that, what will happen is you can come to us
00:09:13
Speaker
and you'll sit through a panel and you could qualify for $50,000 and then the next level and we'll hopefully help you match you with the marketplace. So that's kind of like, we are working really hard at the BCSB Foundation to make sure that we're stepping into spaces that others haven't gone, right? Sometimes the work is like too big or it's too hard or sometimes it's just like, I don't know, is there value in it? So let's not duplicate, right?
00:09:43
Speaker
We're going to do the student scholarships because we believe in it and it's the right thing to do. And we're going to continue our support of other organizations through their scholarship programs. But I don't look at that as our primary driver. That is something we just maintain and we will perpetuate. But the opportunity is in these research and innovation areas and in youth safety and so doing those sorts of things.
00:10:07
Speaker
It's making sure that we're creating a lot more opportunity in a lot of different ways. Yeah, wonderful. Those are some really great and exciting pieces of news. Yeah, for safety professionals to hear, especially innovators out there who are like, this could be better, this could be different. And you know you know how to make it better, right? Or you already have, but you're like,
00:10:27
Speaker
maybe you don't think that what you fixed for yourself and, you know, your other co-workers, where else it could go. And so let's help you take it there. Wonderful. And then you mentioned just just a second ago, that third initiative, Youth Safety.
Impact of Youth Safety Initiative
00:10:43
Speaker
So talk a little bit about that. So Youth Safety is really the driving force behind Dr. Turnbull. For those of you who don't know,
00:10:53
Speaker
Dr. Teresa Turnbow, she's the CEO of BCSP. But she's also a mom, right? So she raised three kids. And she's familiar with what it looks like for teens to enter the workplace. Yeah. Kind of scary. And it is scary. And I think one of her quiet goals in sort of bringing the foundation to fruition was, what are we going to do about this?
00:11:22
Speaker
And there are a lot of organizations that are involved in some way in youth safety, including a fabulous partner of ours, NIOSH, who has what's called Talking Safety, which is a great program.
00:11:38
Speaker
There are limitations to what we've sort of seen and grateful to everyone who's willing to be in that space. But the recognition that to have a really big impact is a really expensive deal. It requires a huge lift from a fundraising standpoint.
00:11:54
Speaker
And if you're not, you actually don't fundraise, right? You're already invested in the public good. And if we're going to do this really, really well, it has to be free. It has to be free. It has to be accessible. And there are some programs out there, not in the domestic market, but there are some programs internationally that really have made a difference in youth safety.
00:12:17
Speaker
in numbers, diminishing numbers of incidents, but also in buy-in from the corporate community. Because I think that's really important, right? We need to be in the school systems. We need to have good partners in the trades, in the crafts. We need to have really strong relationships. And so I think the prohibitive factor has been money. It's expensive. It's also really time-consuming. And in order to develop a curriculum
00:12:46
Speaker
It requires a huge pool of SMEs. The good news for me is once again, I can lean on BCSP.
00:12:55
Speaker
We develop credentials, it's what we do, of the highest standard. And so I have this immediate pool of resources on the backside. Of subject matter experts. Yeah, I do. And they're available and anxious. Right, let's do this, let's fix it. And we have partners who can provide us with a platform or are interested in that space of making it accessible to everyone.
00:13:21
Speaker
We have tremendous amount of corporate interest and so now we're here and it's Everyone's been anxious But if you're interested if it's if it rings about with you
00:13:37
Speaker
I would like to see every mayor in every city who has a program for hiring youth in the summer before we throw a yellow vest on them. Let's make sure they've
Vision and Funding of BCSP Foundation
00:13:47
Speaker
done this. Let's make sure they've fulfilled and gotten their digital badge. So they'll have their own unique digital badge. They'll be able to present that to employers. Employers will have a database that they can search.
00:14:01
Speaker
And let's have some pride in this. So would it be accurate to say the big idea behind youth safety is preparing our next generation of workforce? And so that not only do they, as they get those teen jobs,
00:14:18
Speaker
that we want our kids to have jobs and work experience, that their employers aren't thinking, oh, they're just a kid, we don't need to train or educate them to the same level we would our other employees because it's a temporary, it's temporary in nature or they're young or there's other employment laws that, you know, we don't have to comply with or we need to remember about working hours or whatever, but it's providing that foundational piece
00:14:47
Speaker
to keep those young workers safe in their youth jobs, but also a foundation to build on when they enter the workforce. Is that the big idea? I think that it's to increase awareness. We want to educate them about what their role is in the workplace. It's also about personal responsibility to their co-workers. So we'd like them to be in a position to have enough information to be educated so that they can advocate for themselves and their co-workers, so that they can reasonably spot risk.
00:15:16
Speaker
be responsible enough to report risk because they have this awareness and knowledge that they didn't otherwise have. It's also really interesting, that's the conversation with the trades. We would really like these kids to go through this process so that when, before they enter a journeyman program or an apprenticeship program, they already have a commitment to safety.
00:15:39
Speaker
This isn't something that they had to be taught later on. They have this sense of self and responsibility to other. Yeah. Yeah. Because safety is invisible, Jill. Right. I'm not a safety professional. It's in everything. It is in everything. It is in everything. And kids don't know that. Right.
00:15:58
Speaker
It's okay. Unless they're growing up in a household where their parent is a safety professional, they don't. And the idea is if this youth safety initiative, when it has legs, which will be soon, that there's access. So there aren't barriers to access to the information, to the education, to the awareness. Free. It has to be entirely free. And then, I mean, it's a huge, it's a big left.
00:16:27
Speaker
So we need a 50-state solution. We need a massive rollout plan. Fortunately, we have pieces in place for that. We already have the structure around the curriculum. So it's finishing the delivery mechanisms. And there are a lot of moving parts. But we want it in every high school. I want it in every employer for onboarding so that every kid that walks through, and maybe it's a natural fit for onboarding. And if I end up reaching,
00:16:55
Speaker
The 45-year-old who's got a mid-career, mid-life change. Who's never had... But never had safety. Good for us, right? It's the same base of information that everyone should have access to. So let's put it in that space. That's a lot of work for the foundation and it's fabulous, important work. So question, where does the funding come from? How does that piece work?
00:17:18
Speaker
Well, it's tricky, right? As the philanthropy officer, this is like, this is your focus, right? Right. So the philanthropy officer is a fun role because we get to give away money, but we also get to ask for money. So I get the dual opportunity.
00:17:33
Speaker
Fortunately, we have some fabulous support from BCSP proper, right? They didn't just say, hey, let's have a foundation, but we're not going to give you any support or resources. So they're super fabulous that way, and they're super committed. But it's from individuals. We have major donors who've looked at us and said,
00:17:54
Speaker
We've done you know scholarships at other places or we've done scholarships with the other you know even you know we'd like we're interested in supporting you in scholarships but we really let's do these programs like we haven't had this place before so yeah let's do that and we have companies that are in that same space that they that safety may not be entirely what they do but they
00:18:15
Speaker
want a robust safety culture. They believe in a robust safety culture. So they may come from a different industry, but they get this as a part of their commitment to community and a commitment to their workers. That having investing in this means that their kids will grow up safe. It also is self-interested, right? They would like to attract people into their company structure who have some sense of safety already. It supports their culture long-term.
00:18:44
Speaker
And they think they feel like if they do this now. Growing the workforce for tomorrow. Exactly right. And growing an educated workforce for tomorrow.
Christine's Background and Philosophy
00:18:52
Speaker
Who doesn't think of safety as a burden or rules of regulation but it's a part of their core being and it's a value for them personally. And they have a language for it when they get to work. Right. So it makes it easier on that employer and it makes it easier for them as well.
00:19:09
Speaker
So it's both. It's individual support and corporate support. And then fortunately, we also have some project support from other foundations. So it's interesting you can have that inner foundation relationship. So we're working with other foundations and endowments who are in education and workforce development and use safety space.
00:19:32
Speaker
or would like to be there in young person health, youth health. And they see this as a direct reflection both from a workforce development and from healthy communities and access. So how long have you been with the Foundation? Two years in October. So they hired me to start the Foundation.
00:19:55
Speaker
She had a very specific vision of what she wanted to accomplish, and so did the board. And so we've been there, I've been there since the very beginning. And you're not a safety professional because that wouldn't necessarily be the fit for a philanthropy officer. No, I mean that. But you're getting dangerously knowledgeable, or as the pun intends, accidentally, you're accidentally becoming a safety professional.
00:20:19
Speaker
I am. I am. I think so asking for money is a tricky thing, right? And for me, it has to be values based. Yeah. You have to really believe in why you're asking people to join you on this important journey of commitment of resources, whether it's time from volunteering or
00:20:41
Speaker
financial resources. And safety makes sense to me. I came to the foundation from capital campaign work, building buildings. It's real obvious bricks and mortar, we need it. Most of my work was done in rural healthcare. So if you're out in the middle of the Dakotas, or if you're out in Northern California, other places where if an accident happens, you're two hours away from a medical facility,
00:21:12
Speaker
That's a problem. You're talking about access. I am. And also recognizing that those health care institutions are also maybe the largest employer in a region. Right. And that's not a big employer. But if the hospital should go away, then it radiates out to the town, too. And so it's high need, right? So safety seems to resonate to me that way as well. And I kind of started to think about it.
00:21:41
Speaker
And I'm sure that this is probably very not safety, but I think of it as the invisible web that holds and binds us together. It's 100% safety. Yes, keep going with that. I don't know if that's a common phrase. It's not, you made it up, but I'm understanding what you're saying. It is a tie that binds us together. It does. It's in everything. It's in how we grow our food and how we deliver our food to the grocery.
00:22:10
Speaker
It's in how healthcare is delivered. It's in our IT systems. It's in our roadways. I mean, it's in all the things that make it possible for us to get everything done every day. Safety is the built-in component.
00:22:25
Speaker
but no one sees it. So sometimes it's not part of the conversation, the bigger society conversation. Like what's the value of human, what's the value of our existence? Well, it's built on safety. Beautifully put. It is invisible until something goes wrong. And that's what I always say. That's the only time we see it. That's the only time we have the bigger public conversation about the safety.
00:22:53
Speaker
And so that's why it's the invisible thread. But it holds and binds us together as communities and as small communities and families and as large communities and neighborhoods.
Future Plans and Global Engagement
00:23:04
Speaker
And so it really struck a chord with me because it's an area of high need. And I think that safety should be
00:23:17
Speaker
safety is a human right. And I don't think that you can have a really good conversation about the value of a brand, the value of a corporate reputation or the value of any of those things without including the human factor. So it's fun. So that's why, so there's value to me. And so when I'm asking someone to come along in that journey with us, when I'm asking a company to come along, it's
00:23:47
Speaker
It's a little aspirational, right? Let's be our best selves. Yeah. And let's do this together. So that's kind of it for me. That's beautiful. Beautifully put. What great work. It's great work. It gets me excited every single day. Yeah. Yeah. It's a really cool environment. It's an amazing opportunity. Yeah. We're going to do the summit. It was our first thing, right?
00:24:16
Speaker
It was only 100 people, but that's what we wanted, right? We wanted 100 people to really connect with each other. Maybe it gets to 150 in two years. They did. So much so that we're going to Toronto for the World Congress. Oh, wow. So we thought, hey, in two years to plan this, it'll be super. No, we're going to go to the World Congress and we're going to hold a two-day summit with the same sort of conversations and experiences before that. Yeah.
00:24:46
Speaker
And during that time and the intent is to get more of a global perspective and then be able to bring some of those individuals and bring that community back to the 2021. But I don't think I anticipated that much like, this is amazing. And it was great. So yeah, we're off and running again. That's fantastic.
Getting Involved with BCSP Foundation
00:25:06
Speaker
So as we wrap up our time today, I'm thinking about you've dropped so many great ideas for people.
00:25:13
Speaker
So, first, if someone listening is like, hey, you know, maybe my company would be interested in helping the foundation, where should they go?
00:25:22
Speaker
They can go right to our website, bcspfoundation.org, and there's a contact us button, but there's also phone numbers there. And they can, if they're already a credential holder, you can just call into BCSB and someone will put you directly through to me. But I would start with the bcspfoundation.org and you can see more about our programs. And Jill, we do have programs that specifically support corporate culture.
00:25:45
Speaker
Okay. So if you're really interested in supporting your safety culture and you want to find pathways to do that, we can help you with that as well. Okay, that's a great resource. Yeah. And so if people want to, are interested in applying for the scholarship for school, for themselves, for their own development, they can do that through the website as well, find the information there. They can. Right. And then the other was about the
00:26:11
Speaker
the research and innovation grants to apply for. And you can do that through website too? You can. And then we also have a summit page. And so they're, I'm going to tell you, they're currently redoing that summit page right now. So it's great. We'll have all of the findings from the last summit and then we'll have preview for the future summits there. Okay. So all of that basic information is right there on the website and we're happy to have people access it and run through the contact page or just give us a call. Sure.
00:26:38
Speaker
And if someone is inspired by what they heard about the Youth Safety Initiative that you're starting to work on, can they just send you an email or pick up the phone and call and say, hey, I want to be part of the conversation? Yeah, please include me in this process. I'm ready to be, if you're a subject matter expert, I'm happy to share the information with you on how you can put your oar in and will it really help us grow. Yeah, wonderful. Yeah, that's fabulous. Christine, thank you so much for your time.
00:27:04
Speaker
It's great. You are an accidental safety professional. Oh, I'm excited now. You've got it down. OK. Thank you for the work that you're doing. Thank you for the work that the BCSB is doing. Really appreciate it. Thanks for the time, Jill. Yeah. And thank you all for spending your time listening today, and more importantly,
00:27:20
Speaker
Thank you for your contribution, making sure your workers, including your temporary workers, make it home safe every day. If you'd like to join the conversation about this episode or any of our previous episodes, you can follow our page and join the Accidental Safety Pro Community Group on Facebook.
00:27:35
Speaker
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00:27:50
Speaker
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