Public Health Heroes Recognition Program

Authorized By: District Director of Health
Initial Effective Date: 2/20/2023 (JLM)
Replaces: Employee of the Quarter (EOQ) Implemented 8/1/2011; Revised 12/16/2015, 8/18/2021; Moved to Google Sites 8/18/2021; Updated with Google Forms 2/7/2022 and Together Everyone Actives More (TEAM) Program implemented 2/20/2015; Revised 7/2/2015, 11/17/2017, 8/18/2021; Moved to Google Sites 8/18/2021; Form moved to Google Sites 2/7/2022, 7/1/2023, 4/25/2025
Reviewed:
Revised: 2/2/2024 (JLM)
Contact: Head of Human Resources

Purpose

The purpose of this program is to recognize NKY Health merit system employees who consistently demonstrate NKY Health's core values and an unwavering commitment to public health principles as well as achieve outcomes that go above and beyond their professional responsibilities.

Peers nominate co-workers and management makes the final decision regarding recognition.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible to receive this award, the employee must meet all the following criteria:

Be a current NKY Health employee
Be in a merit system position (as opposed to a contract or appointed position or supplemental staff from another agency)
Have successfully completed their initial Introductory Period

Any NKY Health employee may nominate an eligible employee.

Procedures for Nominating an Employee

Any employee may nominate an eligible employee by completing and submitting the “Public Health Hero Nomination" form during the last two weeks of February and first two weeks of March each year.

Winners will be announced in early April during National Public Health Week.

Please follow these steps to nominate someone:

Read the "Eligibility" section above to ensure the employee meets the criteria and you understand the process.
Complete and submit the "Public Health Hero Nomination" form below.

Procedures for Verifying Nominations

Upon receipt of a nomination, Human Resources verifies that the form is complete.
Human Resources forwards a copy of the nomination(s) and link to the “Public Health Hero Verification" form to the nominee’s supervisor (unless the supervisor is also the nominator).
The supervisor completes and submits the "Public Health Hero Verification" form.

Procedures for Selecting Employees to be Recognized

Human Resources shares the completed "Public Health Hero Nomination" form and the completed "Public Health Hero Verification" form with the Division Directors.
The Division Directors discuss at their next meeting and make recommendations.
The District Director of Health makes the final selection based on the selection criteria.

Selection Criteria

When selecting an employee to recognize, the District Director of Health confirms that the nominee:

Has successfully completed their Introductory Period.
Has received at least a "meets expectations" rating in all categories of the most recent performance evaluation.
Has no Performance Improvement Plan within the past twelve (12) months.
Has received no Disciplinary Action within the past twelve (12) months.

In addition, the District Director of Health considers how well the nominee:

Contribute(s) to the fulfillment of NKY Health’s mission.
Represent(s) NKY Health’s core values.
Went above and beyond their normal job duties to be a public health hero in the past 12 months.

Award

Each employee receives the following award:

Recognition in a message shared with all employees.
A printed certificate that they can keep and/or display.
Eight hours of Annual Leave deposited in a full-time employee's leave bank, prorated for a part-time employee.