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Central Administration Office Employee Appreciation BBQ
Celebrated the first full week in May, Public Service Employee Appreciation week is dedicated to recognizing the amazing work you do.
We had a great turn out on a soggy day for our staff appreciation BBQ. The food was delicious and the company was top notch. Thank you to all who gathered with the team and shared your dishes. It was a really fun day!
Check out some pics and a cool video from the day!
Central Office Team Highlights
ICYMI - The Central Office's Employee Appreciation Committee wanted to highlight the teams and individuals who comprise the Central Office. We hope to share a little insight into each person's role in the success and running of DYS, introduce people to other units within our EAC, and learn about their work and how it contributes to DYS.
While the ins and outs of our daily work pull us in many directions, the camaraderie we share and our connections are more important than ever. Take a moment today to learn about the work units that make up the DYS Central Office!
Employee of the Month - April
Tessa Rael
Title IV Coordinator/Contract Administrator
DYS Finance
Thank you all for the nomination. I am very grateful to work at DYS. My time in the Finance Division has been a great learning opportunity while working with everyone has been an added blessing.
When I am not at work I am spending time with family and friends. I love having coffee breaks and enjoying Colorado weather, such as walking Tito or acting like I am a gardener. Spending time with my kids is most often a joy but always entertaining - lol. I am a Denver native and therefore have plenty of friends and family nearby and can share meals and time together. I enjoy cooking and love experimenting with new recipes. Other hobbies include hiking and painting "retired" furniture to repurpose.
Tessa and Sanctuary
Social Responsibility
Since the DYS Finance Director and a lead Budget Analyst have left DYS, Tessa has stepped up into really leading and supporting the Finance Unit in communications, sanctuary pre-certification, and team meetings.
Growth and Change
Tessa stepped up and is in training to learn all facets of the contract procurement and maintenance tasks. She is doing this along with her Title 4e Billing. She has already scheduled meetings to learn from program managers what their upcoming needs are.
Open Communication
Tessa is always encouraging others to use open communication, even if difficult conversations need to happen. Tessa participated openly in one of the problem solving group meetings in finance and really did a nice job leading much of the discussion. I appreciate her open communication and she reminds me to communicate different issues to the team.
Tessa's nominator has the following to say about her:
Tessa is ensuring that despite our vacancies in the finance unit, that the right services are being provided at the right time. She radiates as a Quality Staff.
Commitment to Social Responsibility
Commitment to Social Responsibility
May Theme
Text courtesy of Elisa C. Hicks - MSW, MA, CJSP
NCCHC Coordinator, BHMS
The Commitment to Social Responsibility is a delicate balance between the individual and the community; personal rights and responsibilities versus the community's rights and responsibilities. The issues of social justice and moral safety are at the heart of trauma, including ongoing traumatic experiences, and the restoration of a sense of a "just world" is a critical component of healing.
Social responsibility asks us to recognize that fairly distributing individual and social justice is the key to having a peaceful, nonviolent, and safe organization. We must always balance our individual needs with the responsibility we have to our communities, as well as recognize and accept that all of the time we are either part of a solution or part of a problem. There are no bystanders in social interactions, and social responsibility relies on true and honest demonstration of the Golden Rule.
Some tips to keep in mind:
We act for the benefit of the larger society or community around us.
We are accountable and responsible for out own actions and words.
We maintain connection with others through our social interactions.
People Centered Practice for the Month
People Centered Practice for the Month
By Fitzgerald Clark, Director of People-Centered Practices
CDHS recently adopted the FAIR framework for how we model our Colorado for All commitment through these four values:
Fairness: Everyone is equipped to succeed.
Access: Everyone can fully participate.
Impact: Everyone is empowered for excellence.
Relationships: Everyone has a people-first approach.
As DYS employees we all want Fairness to be an essential part of our workplace. One key element of fairness is ensuring that staff have what they need to be successful in the work that we do. We all know that the government does not have unlimited resources, but we still need to make sure that staff have the tools and resources that are needed to get the work done.
As a government entity who serves the people of Colorado, creating real Access for all, is a necessity to be a responsive public agency. As such, we have to think through how our services, communication and spaces are designed so that they are accessible to all. Digital accessibility is one of the spaces where we are working to build skills and apply learning to make sure that the information DYS produces is as accessible as possible.
Evaluating Impact is a critical part of understanding what leads to success in the work we do here at DYS. While there are many tools and data that are analyzed to help understand impact, we are focused on ensuring that everyone here at DS is empowered for excellence. What does that mean? Among many things it means:
Ensuring that there are good opportunities for professional development for all staff.
That leadership development plans are in place and we are able to successfully replace experienced leaders who retire and move on.
That staff understand the career growth opportunities that are open to them at DYS, CDHS, the state of Colorado or wherever else their journey leads them.
Relationships are one of the sometimes-overlooked factors to success in any enterprise. How well and effectively we work together to serve the youth in our care, their families, the state and all of our partners, is impacted mightily by the strength and health of the relationships we have with our colleagues. None of us can do this job by ourselves. How we treat each other and a personal commitment to developing impactful practices that lead to healthy and inclusive environments will be important factors in not only creating effective work environments, but also in the extent to which we enjoy the work that we do.
I invite each of you to think about how you can contribute to the development of this FAIR framework here at DYS.
Thank you PA's
Thank you PA's
National Administrative Professionals Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday of April every year. The day is dedicated to appreciating the efforts of administrative professionals who keep their office running efficiently.
On April 22nd, The Central Administration Office organized a fun potluck to celebrate our Program Assistants and recognized their dedication to keeping the office afloat.
Thank you Central Office PA's for all that you do!!!
From left: Edwin Rodriguez-Education, Jenny Christian-Youth Center Operations, Lauren Gurrola-OSD (former), Carlos Lomeli -CYDC, Matice Garcia-Director's Office, Sara Kahat-Director's office
Not pictured - Angela Barnhart-BHMS, Robin Gemoya-Assessment, Kristin Alt-Food Services, Michelle Duran-Finance
May
May
Brian Bungum
Lori Meyers
Jenny Christian
Matice Garcia
Diane Skufca
Jeremy Pierce
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