Our next All Staff meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 18 at 1pm. This will take place in the Rockaway Beach conference rooms at the 3160 building.
For those unable to attend in person, a Teams link is included in the calendar invite.
Everyone is urged to participate either in-person or on-line. The All Staff meetings are informative, provide important updates to Department programs or services, and are a great way to stay informed!
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Many of you participated in team level meetings where you were asked questions and provided input on the topic of transparency at MCHHS. This exercise is a direct result of our Employee Engagement Survey data where 48% of MCHHS staff felt that the Department valued transparency.
On February 14, your leadership team discussed common themes from this exercise. During the All Staff meeting on March 18, HHS Deputy Director, Katrina Griffith, will be providing an update on how the information gathered from this exercise will be used.
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March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month. Each year, approximately 2 million U.S. adults meet the criteria for a severe gambling problem. Did you know that gambling disorder is recognized as a mental health diagnosis? Here are some warning signs: thinking about gambling all the time, feeling the need to bet more money and more often, chasing your losses, or feeling like you can't control yourself.
The Oregon Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 for confidential service that is free to Oregon residents. Call 1-877-695-4648 or to speak to someone in Spanish, call 1-844-888-2537.
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March is also Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. The month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities face in their daily lives. This year's theme is "A World of Opportunities" and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities says their goal is to "build a community that's committed to creating a world where everyone can do well and succeed."
On March 6, The Board of Commissioners will be signing proclamations to recognize both Problem Gambling Awareness Month and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Marion County.
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Our 2024 Strategic Planning Kick-Off took place on January 31. The goal of the meeting was to bring committee members together to brainstorm potential activities and next steps from the analysis of the Employee Engagement Survey (EES) and other priority areas identified by our Executive Team.
There were 40 participants working in small groups that identified over 200 potential activities as possible next steps. We continue to work on fine-tuning the ideas, looking for common themes of the recommendations, as well as collaborating with committee members and Executive Team to develop committee workplans for 2024. We appreciate and value the open and honest participation and feedback!
Do you have questions about the Strategic Plan? Contact Joe James by clicking HERE.
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Our website was recently redesigned to make it easier to share information about our Department with the community.
You'll find a list of Programs and Services HERE. We've highlighted some of the more frequently visited pages, but if you click on the first link in each box, you'll get a complete list of services for that particular area.
When possible, we've added a brief description for each service. This is also a great tool for staff who may be new to HHS and want to learn more about what we do and who we serve!
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 Did you know the City of Salem offers a street mural painting program? Launched in 2022, the program encourages residents to paint large, decorative works of art on Salem streets. Most of the paintings thus far have been spearheaded by neighborhood associations and feature flowers, trees and geometric designs.
The city has created a Street Classification System Map to highlight which streets are "local" and eligible for painting. For a list of design criteria, application, or other information, click HERE to visit the City of Salem's website.
The Addictions Treatment Services team held their annual Mardi Gras celebration, which featured King cake. The cake, which is a cross between coffee cake and cinnamon rolls, is first served on January 6 and lasts through the eve of Mardi Gras.
Hidden somewhere inside the cake is a tiny, plastic baby. According to tradition, whoever finds the baby must either bring the next cake or throw a party.
Click HERE for a recipe to make your own King cake.
Has your team, Division or co-workers done anything fun or unique at work? We would love to share your ideas and photos. Send your pictures and a brief description HERE.
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Say hello to "Wanda" - our March Pick of the Litter. This adorable two-year-old belongs to IDD team member, Lacy Maritz (pictured at last year's staff picnic).
Some of Wanda's favorite things include peanut butter, the water hose and her pool. Wanda enjoys the simple things in life, including playing with her rope and a partially deflated basketball. However, don't come near her with balloons or the trash can with the automatic lid!
Lacy tells us that Wanda is part Husky, part Border Collie, and 100% good girl!
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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