 The ribbon cutting ceremony to announce the opening of our 3160 building took place on Thursday, November 9. Commissioners Bethell, Cameron and Willis, and Chief Administrative Officer, Jan Fritz, were all on-hand to celebrate. The ceremony was followed by refreshments (provided by Fresh Start Market), and guided tours of the building. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped to make the event a success!
Our next quarterly All Staff meeting takes place Monday, December 11 from 1-2pm.
This will be the first meeting in our 3160 Center Street building. The room can accommodate approximately 125 people and we hope you can join us in person!
There will be a discussion around the recent Employee Engagement Survey (EES). If you have any questions regarding the EES, you may email them HERE. If your question is discussed during the meeting, your name will not be attributed to it.
There will be a Teams meeting option. The link will be included in the meeting calendar invite. For those who are on vacation, or unable to attend in-person or virtually, a recording will be sent to all staff after the meeting.
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This holiday season, the City of Keizer is committed to waste reduction and bringing joy to others! The city is hosting its second annual Toy Swap in December.
If you, or someone you know, has a child that has outgrown or tired of a toy, consider donating it to the Toy Swap. We have collection bins at both 3160 and 3180 Center Street buildings and in suites A and B at Silverton Road. Donations of clean and gently used toys or games will be collected at HHS through December 6. Our donations will be available to families at the Toy Swap.
Interested in attending the Toy Swap? The event is FREE and takes place Sunday, December 10 from 10am to Noon at the Keizer City Hall (930 Chemawa Road NE). Last year, more than 150 participants and 500 gently-used toys were rehomed!
Items not accepted for the Toy Swap include: broken items, items with missing parts, bikes or scooters, items with possible cutting, choking or lead hazards, clothing, and car seats, strollers or play yards. Click HERE for more information about the Swap.
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LINKS (Learn, Involve Yourself, Nurture Yourself and Others, Know Your Resources, and Sustain Your Wellness) is a five-month campaign that will provide mental health tips, information and helpful hints. December's theme is Know Your Resources.
December brings in the holidays, but the season's shorter days and less sunlight can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can cause fatigue, anxiety, and loss of interest in normal activities.
Click HERE to watch a video about SAD and be sure to share this resource with your friends and family.
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It's hard to believe that December 5 will be the last Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) meeting of 2023! During the meeting the SPC will be focused on reviewing a draft version of the Employee Engagement Survey (EES) data.
The SPC will examine the initial data that the EES has generated and begin to work on prioritizing three recommendations which will be presented to the Executive Team for implementing an action plan.
As we wrap up this year and head into 2024, there is a lot of appreciation and gratitude for all of you who have served on one of the committees. Your support of the work that the committees are tasked with is what has allowed them to move forward towards meeting theirs goals and objectives. Please consider serving on one of the committees next year. Look for more information in our January update!
Do you have questions about the Strategic Plan? Contact our Strategic Planning Coordinator, Joe James.
In November, I/DD's Children's Team hosted a Living in Community event for their monolingual Spanish speaking community.
The topic this session was "Time in Transition" and provided families and individuals with information about their child's transition changes with I/DD services, and what to expect as their child becomes an adult. Great work!
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 The Health Promotion & Prevention Services team recently hosted a Youth Engagement Planning Summit. The event was for anyone who works with youth ages 12-24. Summit attendees explored youth data, discussed community needs, and left with actionable ideas and resources. Kudos to HHS Youth Development Prevention Specialist, Macie Reynolds, for organizing and hosting this popular event!
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Marion County employees are once again participating in Project JOY, a fundraiser to collect gifts and donations for children in our County's foster care system. This year, biological and adoptive children of foster families will also be included.
Donations of new, unwrapped toys are being collected through December 8. Donations of hygiene items and diapers are also included in this year's drive. If you'd like to participate, or for more information, click HERE. |
The University of Oregon Athletics Department is inviting healthcare workers from across the region to their Healthcare Appreciation Day.
Enjoy discounted ticket rates for the Oregon Men's Basketball vs Utah game on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at 4pm. For tickets, click HERE.
Or, watch Oregon Women's Basketball take on UCLA on Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 2pm. Click HERE for tickets.
Both games take place at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene.
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Grab the family and check out these free light displays throughout Marion County!
1. Riverfront Park - 200 Water Street NE, Salem -The park will host it's annual tree lighting on Friday, December 8 at 7pm. Following that, you can visit the lights nightly through December 31.
2. Powerland Heritage Park - 3995 Brooklake Rd, NE, Salem - Check out their free holiday drive-through, Holiday Sparkles at Powerland, during the first three weekends of December from 5 to 8pm.
3. Keizer's neighborhood Miracle of Lights Display - Keizer's Gubser neighborhood has been displaying holiday lights for the last 30 years! There is no cost to attend, but you are asked to bring canned food donations for the Marion-Polk Food Share. The Miracle of Lights takes place December 2-26 from 6 to 10pm. Start at the corner of Lockhaven and 14th Avenue in Keizer.
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Say hello to Rocco, this month's staff pick of the litter. This adorable bundle of fluff is two-years-old and calls I/DD Services Coordinator, Diana Rodriguez "mom."
Rocco joined Diana's family when they lost their 10-year-old dog. Diana tells us that Rocco "fills our hearts with so much joy and love."
Besides being cute and extremely photogenic, Rocco also has a sparkling personality. Some of his favorite things include, laying out by the pool, car rides, long walks, and of course, pup cups from Dutch Bros or Starbucks.
Want to see your pet featured in an upcoming HAPPENINGS newsletter? Send a photo and description (likes, dislikes, hobbies) of your pet HERE.
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