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Aug. 4, 2023 - Special issue
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Hello Self-Sufficiency Programs champions,
Over the past few months, I’ve been talking quite a bit about Self-Sufficiency Programs’ “Vision into Action.” Many of you probably have questions about what this Vision into Action means for your work, or how it connects to the other initiatives you’ve heard about and been asked to support. Knowing this, I’m excited to share that this special issue of the Bee in the Know newsletter is dedicated to the Vision into Action – sharing more details and making connections to the real work happening at our offices around Oregon.
Last month, I accepted the permanent role of director for Self-Sufficiency Programs. It’s been said that good leaders bring the weather. I look forward to working with our partners and all of you to set the climate for our anti-poverty efforts. From your insights, I know our forecast includes a focus on equity, customer service, and close partnership between SSP, Child Welfare and the Oregon Eligibility Partnership (OEP) – and between our local and central teams.
I’m excited to be taking on the permanent director role at such a key moment for SSP. With OEP honing our eligibility practices, SSP can really lean into what we do best – connecting with and supporting individuals and families across the state. Together, we get to decide who SSP is in this new era of human services work.
- New resources will get you thinking about what’s next for SSP.
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You’ll meet the team of staff moving the Vision into Action forward.
Claire Seguin (she/her/hers)
Director, Self-Sufficiency Programs
State Refugee Coordinator
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Ready to learn more? We've put together some helpful resources to get you started in the Vision into Action journey.
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Two-pager - A quick snapshot of Self-Sufficiency's Vision into Action
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Visual explainer - A longer document with more details and examples to help staff and leaders visualize what the Vision into Action looks like in the day to day
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Plus: More resources coming soon on the new Vision into Action OWL page! We'll share updates in future issues of Bee in the Know, but be sure to bookmark this page and return regularly to get the latest.
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You may be wondering who is helping develop the Vision into Action efforts. While this work is being led by the Self-Sufficiency Director's office, it is also supported by a workgroup of experienced and diverse Self-Sufficiency staff. The workgroup is led by Self-Sufficiency's Chief of Strategic Planning Patty Unfred and includes staff from all corners of the program and representing districts around the state.
Workgroup members
- Amber Murray, SSP Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
- Colleen Bradford, D3 Community Partnership Coordinator
- Dwight Palmer, OEMS Service Equity Manager for SSP
- Joanna Wright, SSP Director's Office, Process Improvement Analyst
- Mary Geelan, Family First (Joint SSP/CW initiative)
- Melissa Castilleja, D1 Engagement Specialist
- Miguel Angel Mendez, TANF Policy Lead Analyst
- Misha Mayers, SSP Community Engagement Coordinator
- Raina Mills, D15 Family Coach
- Ryan Groves, D11 Operations Manager
- Sonja Wilder, D5 Administrative Specialist
- Stephen March, D4 SNAP E&T Navigator
- Tiare Lapilio, D11 Tribal Family Coach
- Zayra Longoria, D5 Program Manager
The work
This workgroup reviews and provides feedback on materials and planning related to the Vision into Action and propels the work forward. Their goal? To create and implement a collaborative process to develop a Vision into Action Guide for SSP that provides the details to move us toward community well-being along with the measurement tools to keep us on the path of continuous improvement. The guide will help staff prioritize actions and connect the vision to SSP’s daily work. This is where the vision becomes real.
The why
Members of the Vision into Action workgroup bring their unique perspectives and experience to this project and will serve as liaisons to their fellow staff to get input. Explore some of the reasons why they are participating and what they hope to accomplish in their quotes below.
"I’m excited to engage in discussions across the state to question “what’s working and what’s not” so that we can improve services for the families that we work with... We need to continue to view and implement services with an equity and diversity lens... I want to be a voice in these discussions about what we see every day working with our families. I hope to be a liaison between this group and my co-workers to give them a voice in this process."
- Melissa Castilleja, D1 Engagement Specialist
"I'd love to make a positive difference for the people we serve and my colleagues."
- Stephen March, D4 SNAP E&T Navigator
"I'm so excited about the transformation that ODHS is navigating. I feel the Vision into Action is a key part of this transformation."
- Misha Mayers, Community Engagement Coordinator
"I want to make sure as many voices as possible are represented, to continue to help bridge the disconnect between central and local offices, and to help teams understand what SSP looks like without eligibility workers."
- Joanna Wright, Process Improvement Analyst
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APD and AAA staff are now receiving the twice monthly Self Sufficiency Programs all staff newsletter to share knowledge as we collaborate in serving individuals across Oregon. Not all of the content in the SSP newsletter will apply to your work and some stories may be relevant only to state employees. Links to the ODHS OWL can only be accessed when on an ODHS computer or logged into the ODHS network.
View this and previous editions of Bee in the Know on the SSP OWL page. If you have an item to include in an upcoming edition, email Vanessa Vanderzee. This email was sent to the all SSP staff distribution list.
Note: If you are telecommuting, OWL links will not open unless you have logged into the OWL website.
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