Michigan State University Crisis Outreach-Employee Assistance Program
In response to the tragic shooting that took place at Michigan State University earlier this week, we want to remind you that support is available through the Encompass Employee Assistance Program. Some of you or your family members may be impacted by the trauma and uncertainty, and through the EAP, you can speak to a mental health clinician for emotional support, receive grief support, and get information or referrals for helpful community-based resources.
To access this support, you can reach out to Encompass anytime, at 800-788-8630 or www.encompass.us.com(Company Code: kentco).
Additionally, listed below are articles and information on coping with traumatic events that you can access:
Our hearts go out to the MSU community those who are grieving and supporting one another - and trying to make sense out such a senseless and tragic act. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones.
Department Updates & Events
New Employees and Staff Service Awards
Clickhere to view a list of new employees that started employment with the County between 1/03/2023 through 1/22/2023. We are excited for these individuals to join the team!
We wouldn't be the great organization we are without our employees. Click here for a list of employees who are celebrating a milestone employment anniversary with the County. Please extend your congratulations to these individuals!
63rd District Court Hosting Blood Drive
The 63rd District Court is hosting a Blood Drive on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Click here to sign up on your break to donate blood.
Community Action Walk for Warmth
Mark your calendar for the Walk for Warmth on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. Walk for Warmth is a one mile walk for heating fuel assistance for low-income households in Kent County. Learn more here.
Information Technology Announces Launch of New Intranet
On January 30, the modernized Kent County Intranet successfully launched with more than 70 departmental sites/pages. In the ten days since launch, more than 1,850 employees have been able to access intranet content – including forms, policies/procedures, and news/events.
"Built on Microsoft SharePoint, the new Intranet modernizes a legacy environment, introduces dynamic content management and authorship at the departmental level, and further leverages County investments in technology," said IT Director Tim Beck. "It is forward-looking and it will be exciting to watch content continue to emerge and develop,”
Currently, the modernized intranet acts as a communication platform available to all departments, coupled with a document repository, event calendars, county-wide news items, interactive forms, and document libraries. However, SharePoint also offers the ability for departments to utilize the platform to significantly modernize existing business processes.
If you would like to explore how the Intranet can serve your business process needs, or your department would like to design a new site/page, contact Matthew Mapes.
Human Resources Update - COVID-19 Paid Leave of Absence
If you missed the e-mail sent earlier this month on "How to Request a Paid COVID-19 Leave of Absence," click herefor more information.
SAM.gov Registration
In order to receive federal grant funding, either directly with the federal government or through a pass-through such as the State of Michigan, entities must be registered on SAM.gov. Previously, SAM.gov used Dunn and Bradstreet (i.e. DUNS) numbers for registration. Each County department and location had their own DUNS number under the Kent County organization tree, and, consequently, many departments had created their own SAM.gov registration accounts that they used to apply for federal funding.
In April 2022, SAM.gov changed from using a DUNS number to using a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. As part of this change, only one registration is permitted per legal entity instead of one per department. In response to this change, Fiscal Services will be consolidating all SAM.gov registrations into one single Kent County registration. Departments currently receiving or applying for federal grant funds will need to update their Grantors with the information below.
UEI: QWKTKLRW2HD4
Cage: 4AMX0
Name: KENT COUNTY
Fiscal Services will keep the County’s UEI number updated through SAM.gov every year. Departments should not register a new entity SAM.gov or create any new UEI numbers.
As a reminder, per Kent County Policy on Grants, Contracts and Donations, departments must seek approval from the Administrator’s office before soliciting or applying for any grant award over $25,000. All funding awards must be accepted and appropriated through the Board of Commissioners Action Request process.
Please forward this information to your appropriate staff members. If you have any questions, contact Sherah Richard in Fiscal Services.
Cultural Insight Council (CIC) Lunch & Learn
Topic: The Many Faces of Mental Health
Date: Tuesday March 28, 2023
Stay tuned for more details.
Animal Shelter Dog Walking Program-Hours Extended
Volunteers needed! Please consider taking your break or lunch to walk the dogs at the animal shelter. Click here to for more details about the Tails and Trails Program.
Health Department-The Future is Bright
It is easy to focus on the here and now, but someday all of us will say goodbye to our current role. When that time comes, we want smart, passionate, well-prepared people to step into our shoes. For that reason, it is critical that we begin to plan for future public health work force. The public health leaders of tomorrow are students today. Brandi Berry, Supervisor of our Children’s Special Health Care Services Program, was involved in an exciting project with the Grand Rapids African American Health Institute (GRAAHI) which aimed to show students of color the future job opportunities available to them in the area of health care. Berry accompanied leaders from GRAAHI on visits to several area schools to talk about health care and possible career opportunities.
"This experience was both humbling and empowering for me, as I was reminded of WHY this work is important as well as WHY I have been divinely placed here at the Health Department," said Berry. "And for that, I am grateful.”
Sheriff's Office
Kozminski Basketball Highlights
The 2023 Robert Kozminski Charity Basketball game proceeds went to support two of our own - Sergeant Tim Erhardt’s daughter Rhiannon and Grand Rapids Police Department Dispatcher Amanda Shields who are both battling breast cancer. This year was a great turnout and our community helped raise nearly $14,000! Thank you to our local business partners who donated raffle items and the community who supported this event.
Take the Plunge For a Good Cause
Members of the Sheriff’s Office participated in the Polar Plunge at LMCU Ballpark and raised $11,700 for Special Olympics Michigan! The Sheriff’s Office has been partnering with Special Olympics Michigan for over eight years and participates in several fundraising events throughout the year. Nice job team!
Wellness News & Events
Workplace Differences: A Matter of Style Webinar
Everyone has a different style of learning, working, and communicating, and one style is not necessarily better than another - just different. In this session, participants will discover, their personal learning/communication style, how their own style affects learning and communication for everyone in the workplace, how understanding and considering the learning and communication styles of others can prevent tension, misunderstanding and stress in the workplace, and how to maximize your own personal style.
Exercise, first and foremost, shouldn’t be something we dread doing or a means to drop a quick 10 pounds. Did you start a new fitness routine this year? Yes, it can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. There are so many benefits to physical activity such as a healthy weight, stronger bones, better sleep, and decreased stress and anxiety, to name a few. You may be looking for tips or motivation to continue your journey. We’ve got you covered! Click hereto read the article.
Wellness Offerings
The following webinars are available to all employees and family members:
2.23.2023 | 12:00 p.m. The Art and Well-Being Connection with Shazia Siddiqi and the Drop 5 Virtual Weight-loss Community
3.01.2023 | 12:00p.m. Eight-Minute Meditation: Observing the Breath for Relaxation
3.02.2023 | 12:00 p.m. Personalize Your Sleep Hygiene and the Drop 5 Virtual Weight-loss Community
3.08.2023 | 12:00 p.m. Seven-Minute Meditation: Mindfulness of the Senses
3.09.2023 | 12:00 p.m. Dr. Dayna LePlatte Discusses Caregiver Self-care Tips to Avoid Burnout and the Drop 5 Virtual Weight-loss Community
We need your help in creating the employee newsletter as well as the weekly Administrator's Digest. Please send your supervisor approved content to communications@kentcountymi.gov.
Employee newsletter submissions due the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Administrator's Digest submissions due every Thursday.
