Chapter 3: The Case of Sarah’s House

Healthcare management is a broad phrase.  It can mean directing a healthcare facility and all that entails.  It can mean managing one’s own health and navigating the healthcare system.  It can also mean managing societal health concerns, the health and safety of its constituents.  This is a case of the latter. The case of Sarah’s House speaks to mental illness, health disparities, and addiction.  The case exemplifies the ethical principles of good will and caring for those who need it. 

The Case of Sarah’s House 

The Sarah’s House is located in Bloomfield, Indiana.  It was founded by the town’s prominent psychologist, Dr. Joseph Douglass, and named after his daughter.  Sarah was a troubled teen.  Sometimes, despite any professional training one might have, it is difficult to care for those closest to us.  Sarah frequently ran away from home and was addicted to drugs.  The last time Sarah ran away, she was gone for three months. One night, Dr. Douglass received a phone call from the police in Flint, Michigan.  Sarah had been found lying on the street in a coma.  Drugs and toxic levels of alcohol were found in her system.  Sarah died a month later at the age of 16.  The police were able to piece together some of the events leading to Sarah’s coma.  Hitchhiking, prostitution, and homelessness were some words Dr. Douglass had to read in the report. 

Dr. Douglass was not one to wallow in sorry, was a man of action.  He was determined to channel his grief into helping other adolescents and their families through circumstances like Sarah’s.  He wanted to create a safe place for adolescents to escape to if they needed it.  Sarah’s House is a shelter, not a youth detention center.  It offers free room and board to runaway teens but is not designed to be a long-term home.  The facility has community partners, child protection agencies, who work to prevent the teens from leaving the house into homelessness or into bad home lives.     

Sarah’s House operated well for twenty years.  It became the center of both Dr. Douglass’ philanthropic and professional missions.   Two years ago, Dr. Douglass passed away unexpectedly.  As he was very involved with the organization, Dr. Douglass did not consider his legacy or successor in terms of spearheading the efforts at the shelter.  Individuals who were given safe harbor and help as well as their families still see the value of the facility.  Bloomfield is a big city. City officials do not see the value in keeping Sarah’s House in operation.  They feel its services can be merged into that of other organizations and do not feel the cost outweighs the outreach.  The alumni of the program disagree.  They feel they would have gotten lost in the bigger systems, that their needs would not have been met, or they would have avoided the system entirely and been in great peril.  They need our help to keep Sarah’s House open and to meet the needs of the youth of today.  We need to make a case for the house to present to the city officials. 

The following research/essay/information will comprise a theoretical packet being prepared for the city council. 

1. Define the risks that exist for runaway teens in 2020.  Admittedly, these issues are not new but are currently receiving national attention.  I am specifically thinking of sex trafficking and the opioid epidemic.  Define these societal concerns.  The danger is real for the teens who seek shelter at Sarah’s House.
2. Research what are some of the health disparities associated with homelessness and runaway teens.  Be sure to include information relevant to minorities and relative to poverty.
3. Mission, vision, and values statements are important to organizations.  They help to direct its efforts.  Imagine presenting to a group of politicians who have not heard of this relatively small organization in the past.  Relate a little about its history.  Create the mission, vision, and values statement for the organization.  The history of St. Jude’s is very compelling.  I am including it here to inspire your work.https://youtube.com/watch?v=zFAXg2mnr48%3Fstart%3D65

    

4. What infrastructure do you believe a facility such as Sarah’s House needs? Keep in mind that this is not a youth detention center but a safe harbor where guests typically stay four to six weeks.  Does the facility need a library, gym, computer lab? Therapy? Cooking lessons? There is no right or wrong answer, let your imagination run wild.  However, you must explain why the types of staff, activities, amenities, or spaces within the facility are necessary or desirable.
5. City officials have responsibilities to the communities they serve.  The must protect and serve their constituents including being good stewards of city funds.  Research the funding of an organization.  Start by examing the funding for organizations such as Ronald McDonald House.
6. Provide an ethical argument (deontology, utilitarianism, etc.) for the existence of the facility. Include the philosopher that created that theory.