These are the most recent questions asked using the online "Ask the CEO" form on the Good Works Portal.

We hope the compiled Q&A information is useful to all staff.

I'm interested to hear feedback from individuals in CHS U and how it is going. Multiple people in our agency have made it clear they do not care for the course. It is also difficult for direct care staff when a large group of individuals are taken away from their work to attend the classes. On multiple occasions there are not enough computers for supervisors to attend the sessions, resulting in other staff members being "kicked out" of their work space which is used to meet client needs. Is this something that is being looked into?

Thank you for your question about CHS U. After receiving your note, I reached out to residential and Children’s Inn leadership to gather additional information. They indicated there are indeed challenges involving computer use as well as finding a balance between CHS U and workload/schedules. 

Ideally, CHS U would be in person, but due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, it was necessary to transition to Zoom, which puts a strain on computer availability. We remain hopeful that we will be able to return to in-person classes in year two, which will provide for an improved culture-building experience. Until then, we will continue to work on the issue of computer use so as to not inconvenience staff.

Additionally, on November 19, the committee which oversees CHS U will discuss a satisfaction survey to determine what attendees like best and what they might want to change. It’s important for us to know how we can maximize this experience for all, and we are more than willing to make adjustments to collectively meet the needs of all participants.   

Many of us are concerned with all the staff turnover at administration and the housing units. We know you are too. Many of us feel that CHS is falling apart, and that we need more answers and information about what is going on with the agency. There continues to be a disconnect between what Direct Care staff feel is going on around CHS and what the leadership team maybe thinks what is going on around CHS. It would be nice to get some ideas and thoughts from those of us not on the Leadership Teams. We live CHS every day with the direct care of the children and have some great ideas to make CHS even better, but we often feel that once we voice our thoughts, nothing else happens or moves forward for change.

Thank you for expressing your concerns. Please know that our focus solidly remains on our mission with an intentional effort to increase transparency and open up lines of communication. We are in a transitionary period for CHS and effective change always takes time. This year in particular has been difficult with many added and unforeseen stressors. But we are better together, and we are working hard to ensure we address current concerns.

You are absolutely correct that turnover continues to be one of our biggest challenges. We have many programs in the works to help address turnover, such as a market salary survey, review of our total compensation and rewards packages, and more. I anticipate that we will be announcing the details of each of these programs to staff by year end.

I also agree that some of the best ideas do indeed come from direct care staff. And I value the feedback from direct care staff very much. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I felt the many one-on-one meetings I had with staff gave me significant understanding of the concerns. I realize there may also be new or additional challenges that still need to be addressed. I will be working with leaders to determine the best way for me to meet with direct care staff more consistently, while not disrupting current workloads. In the meantime, please know that my door is always open, and I am more than happy to continue having one-on-one meetings with all staff. Please continue sharing your ideas. We want and need to hear them!

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