PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY WINS THREE AWARDS FROM NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES
I am Prince George's Proud to announce that three of our county government agencies received awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) during their 2019 Annual Conference and Exposition. The national awards program honors innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents. The recognized agencies are the Department of Corrections, the Department of the Environment and the Office of Community Relations.
The Department of Corrections’ Employee Support Unit earned a 2019 Achievement Award in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training category for its innovativeness and effectiveness. Correctional facilities across the country face similar issues with staff in regard to a higher risk for addiction, depression, anxiety, domestic violence and diabetes.
The Unit combats these issues by using a holistic approach to meet all the needs of every staff member with an onsite staff psychology coordinator, peer support, workshops and support groups. The program also engages family members of correctional employees, who often share their stress and bear the burden of difficult work hours. The Department hosts family tours throughout the year to give family members an opportunity to see the inner workings of the jail, as well as address their concerns.
The Department of the Environment received a 2019 Achievement Award for their program titled “Piloting Food Scrap Collection to Improve Organic Waste Recovery at the County Level” in the category of County Resiliency: Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability.
A recent Waste Characterization Report commissioned by the County, determined that 31.3% of the waste currently disposed at the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill was made up of food scraps and other compostable materials. The Prince George’s County Food Scrap Composting Pilot Program started in 2013 as a year-long pilot for 500 County households receiving residential curbside waste collection services and was developed to assist the County in its ongoing waste diversion and zero waste goals. The diverted materials are accepted and composted at the Prince George’s Organics Composting Facility, which is the largest municipal facility on the east coast. The food scraps are combined with the County’s collected yard trim and composted into a nutrient-rich landscape product called Leafgro®.
The Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations’ 311 on the Go! received a 2019 Achievement Award for Civic Engagement and Public Information. 311 on the Go! is designed to be the bridge that connects citizens, businesses, and visitors to County information and resources.
This program focuses on increasing citizen engagement and building a more informed public. This is accomplished by using various community outreach methods in unique and different ways. By partnering with other County government agencies and County Council representatives, we are working to equip residents with the tools and resources that will help improve their overall quality of life. Through efforts such as our “311 Day of Action” events, the Office of Community Relations brings County government to where our citizens live, shop and play. 311 on the Go! strives to advocate for the needs of all Prince George’s County residents and be the eyes, ears, and voice of Prince George’s County Government in the community.
We are working to make you proud, bringing efficient, effective and award winning government services that utilize innovativeness to further enhance the quality of life for all our citizens.
The Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations’ 311 on the Go! received a 2019 Achievement Award for Civic Engagement and Public Information. Pictured left to right, Jennifer Hawkins and Derrick Davis from the Office of Community Relations.
 The Department of Corrections’ Employee Support Unit earned a 2019 Achievement Award in the Personnel Management, Employment and Training category for its innovativeness and effectiveness. Pictured (left) Assistant Division Chief Yolonda Smedley, (middle) Staff Psychology Coordinator Ainisha Persaud, (right) Director Mary Lou McDonough, the Department of Corrections.
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