DCYF Digest April 6 Articles Include: COVID-19 Agency Talking Points, Social Work Staff Recognition and OCMO Updates

Last week, Asst. Secretary of Field Operations Kwesi Booker sent a thank you letter to field staff in recognition of National Social Work Month.

“It is clear that when it comes to kids in need, you are there for them in the front-lines, ready to go above and beyond,” said Booker.

Here are some positive stories from throughout the state that were highlighted in the letter:

• In Region 1, a family recognized their caseworker Kara Winkleman, who always took the time to be a source of encouragement for this first-time foster family.
• With the COVID-19 strain on offices to achieve fieldwork and the decrease in the intake rate, two Region 2 Intake workers, Julie Denny and Maria Perez, volunteered to be temporarily reassigned to assist three Region 2 offices with fieldwork. Program Supervisor Denise Hannon is facilitating a weekly morale/well-being booster for Region 2 staff to help cope with COVID-19 challenges.
• In Region 3, two Child Family Welfare Services (CFWS) supervisors took on their own caseloads to provide relief to their staff. As a result, the Mount Vernon teams experienced increased stability.
• In Region 4, a Judge at the Seattle Courthouse recognized Racheal O’Riordan’s well-written court report, which was factual and descriptive, rather than emotional and accusatory. In that same courtroom, a parent thanked Colleen Stark-Bell for seeing past what was written on paper about her – there wasn’t a dry eye by the time the hearing was over.
• In Region 5, a caseworker out of Puyallup was recognized by a foster parent who felt she “won the social worker lottery.” Also from Region 5, Alishia Agee-Cooper shared her story on the Courageous Change podcast, speaking about the experience of a caseworker and the reasons she is committed to being there for her clients. 
• In Region 6, a team of after-hours staff heroes – Ban Phan, Emily Gates, Torie Garrett, Troy Harris and Vanessa Prante - volunteered taking turns staying in a hotel with a youth who was potentially infected with COVID-19. Fortunately, the youth tested negative and our staff is healthy.

Booker also thanked clerical staff, who are safeguarding staff by sanitizing the work areas as caseworkers come in and out of the office from conducting fieldwork.

“These heroic acts go above the call of duty but they are not restricted to this month or this pandemic,” wrote Booker. “I am truly honored to be serving alongside such brave staff whose actions are an example of the agency’s mission, vision and values.”

DCYF is partnering with A Human Workplace Founder and CEO, Renee Smith, to bring Human Workplace Virtual Gatherings to our staff. These two-hour sessions, titled “Working Alone Together,” will launch the week of April 13.

The “Working Alone Together” Gathering Series is specially designed to help you process the human experience of this pandemic by connecting with others, talking through the experience and for some gatherings practicing some new skills. The goal is to increase resilience and well-being and to help move through the experience. Right now, taking care of ourselves and others is a priority so we can continue to do our work. Stay tuned for how you can register to participate in an upcoming session! 

Virtual Meeting Basics Learning Sessions

OCMO will be hosting three Virtual Meeting Basics learning sessions available for all staff. Please click here to register. These sessions will be held Tuesday, April 7; Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Learning session objectives:

• Learn best practices for virtual meeting facilitation.
• Explore ways to increase collaboration and meeting effectiveness in an online platform.

The first portion will be instructional then close with an interactive Q&A session for participants. This is NOT a tutorial on how to operate WebEx, Skype, etc. as those are plentiful on YouTube and on the host application websites.

Re-energizing DCYF’s Change Champion Network

OCMO has re-engaged DCYF Change Champion Network as a means to connect to create a network of people who have an interest in organizational change management and change leadership. If you wish to join the Change Champion Network (CCN), please email dcyf.ocmo@dcyf.wa.gov.

OCMO has started posting a weekly Blog on the Change Champion Network SharePoint site and is hosting weekly lunchtime check-ins every Wednesday. Come join us!

The DCYF Administrative 1.02.04 Combined Fund Drive Program policy is posted on the DCYF intranet. The policy is effective April 2, 2020. 

This policy establishes guidelines and requirements for participation in charitable giving through the Combined Fund Drive (CFD) for active and retired public employees. In addition, Combined Fund Drive volunteer and designee roles and responsibilities are defined.

For policy questions, please contact the DCYF Policy Team. 

Join NCWWI, the Capacity Building Center for States, and the Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development on April 8, 2020 for a discussion of how to use supervision to support the virtual child welfare workforce.

With some child welfare staff working from home, supervision is more important than ever to ensure continued quality service provision and to keep children safe and families together. How is supervision changing to respond to this new virtual world? What adjustments are being made? This webinar will offer expert guidance on virtual supervision and provide opportunities for participants to ask questions and exchange information. 

Due to the popularity of this session, a second offering has been added:

• Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 12 to 1:15 p.m.
• Friday, April 10, 2020 from 12 to 1:15 p.m.

Both sessions will be first come, first served. If you're unable to secure a spot in the Zoom event, you can also watch live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/workforceinstitute. This webinar will be recorded and available for those who are not able to participate.

Click the registration button below to attend one of the live sessions or to receive the recording when it is available. Your one registration is valid for either date.

Register Now

In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, all WFSE represented permanent employees may request consideration for transfer, voluntary demotion or elevation to a position in which they currently or have previously attained permanent status. All requests will be added to a list maintained by DCYF Human Resources. This list is referred to as the 4.3 Movement List.

These instructions and a link for employees to submit their email request is available on the DCYF HR intranet page under Resources.

Steps on how submit a request to be placed on the Movement list is available on the intranet on the Personnel/Human Resources page under Resources.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Health Care Authority (HCA) has extended the 2019 claim submission deadlines. Employees enrolled in a Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) or Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) in 2019 and have an unclaimed balance left, will receive direct communication from Navia about the extension.

The 2019 PEBB FSA and DCAP Claim Form is available on the Navia Benefit Solutions website. HCA is evaluating options to potentially allow changes in FSA and DCAP for the current 2020 plan year.

Read the full message

Washington state has taken decisive measures to respond to the ongoing threat of COVID-19. As we all do our part to stay home and stop the spread of the disease, it’s important to remember: the census is still happening and has not been postponed due to COVID-19. The U.S. Census Bureau has made some changes to help keep field workers safe and healthy, but you can still complete the census today, online or by phone.

Being counted in the census has a direct impact on our state’s ability to respond to disasters and public health threats like COVID-19, today and in the future. If you haven't already, take a few minutes to complete the census at 2020census.gov. 

More 2020 Census Resources:

• What To Look For in the Mail
• Language Support Resources