Our IDEA Program
Trellis Supportive Care (‘Trellis’), its Board of Directors, leadership, and staff have long been committed to promoting an inclusive workplace and equitable access to care. Our long-standing Inclusion and Access Board committee provides guidance on diversity initiatives and holds agency leadership accountable for achieving our inclusion objectives.
In recent years Trellis has further deepened its commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) with the launch of our IDEA Initiative. Aligned with our mission of caring, the goal of this initiative is to create a Culture of Belonging in our workplace and throughout our service offerings. Our goal is to hardwire IDEA initiatives into the Trellis fabric, creating a welcoming culture that will endure.
Our commitment to the success of the IDEA initiative is demonstrated through our multi - year tactical plan, which includes staff training, program strategy, and qualitative metrics that will support our stated goals. As well, we have made lasting provisions for our IDEA program goals, including them in our long-term strategic plan and ongoing operating budget.
We will continue to involve key staff members in the planning and implementation of the initiative, bringing forth change from within.
Embracing Diversity
Trellis Supportive Care embraces diversity. We pride ourselves on providing easy and open access to anyone who can benefit from our care. We recognize that there may be real or perceived cultural barriers, myths and misconceptions that make accessing Hospice more difficult. However, it is our aim to eliminate any barrier that might prevent an individual from gaining full access to our compassionate care. That is why we want to do everything possible to answer questions related to those barriers and misconceptions.
We wish to provide compassionate care to every individual who could benefit from our services. Embracing diversity, we do not discriminate based upon race, color, sex, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. In Forsyth County, for example, the population of African Americans is 26% (based on the 2009 census). Of all patients being served by Trellis Supportive Care, approximately 19% are African Americans. While the disparity is not great, it does reflect a gap we would like to eliminate. To that end, we have developed an Inclusion and Access Program, led by a team of committed community members, board members and staff who share a passion for increasing access to every individual in need of our care.
As we identify any underserved population or geographic area, we will do everything possible to reach out, raise awareness, dispel myths and, most importantly, make sure that we are a trusted and accessible organization to all. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
"No sé que hubiese sido de mi familia si no hubiésemos recibido los servicios de Trellis Supportive Care después de la muerte súbita de mi hijo mayor de 7 años. Hospice se convirtió en un refugio para nosotros. Allí nos sentíamos cómodos, seguros, podíamos llorar y expresar nuestros sentimientos y también encontrar la tranquilidad y la paz que tanto necesitábamos. Mis hijos, mi sobrina y yo pudimos recibir el apoyo necesario para aprender a vivir con el dolor de una muerte inesperada y trágica. Los Terapistas/Consejeros y hasta el personal administrativo nos escucharon, nos apoyaron y nos dieron de su amor. Siempre le estaré agradecida a Hospice por todo lo que hicieron por nosotros." ~ Hayluri "Luly" Beckles
“I do not know what would have happened to my family if we had not received services from the Trellis Grief Counseling Center after the sudden death of my oldest son (7 years old). Hospice became a refuge and a safe place for my family and me. We felt comfortable enough to cry and express our emotions there. We were also able to find tranquility and peace. My surviving children, my niece and I were able to receive counseling services to help us deal with a tragic and unexpected death. The counselors, and even the administrative staff, were there to listen to us and give us their love and support. I will always be grateful to Hospice for what they did for my family.” ~ Hayluri "Luly" Beckles
“My experience with hospice was in 1998 when my mother-in-law, diagnosed with dementia and end stage renal failure, was referred to hospice by the medical staff at Forsyth Hospital. She was terminally ill and she was going to need 24 hour care, so our first connection to hospice was at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice home. When we arrived we met kind and caring staff who cared for my mother-in-law as if she was one of their loved ones. The nursing staff explained in detail how she would be cared for and that we were also a vital part of their team. In addition, the room she was assigned was very homelike and it reminded us of her bedroom at home. My wife and I are eternally grateful to hospice because they took us on a compassionate, caring journey with our mother that ended peacefully, lovingly and most of all with dignity!” ~ Ward B. Miller