Special Announcement and Celebration!

All CHS staff are invited to attend a
celebration and special announcement
for national recognition of workforce
development in South Dakota.

SAVE THE DATE!
Wednesday, April 12 • 2:30 pm
SFCH Loving School Gym

STAND for GOOD: Wear Your T-shirt!

There will be many opportunities for photos at our special event on Wednesday. You are encouraged to wear your STAND for GOOD t-shirt or other CHS logo wear that day!

NO Parking Day; Shuttle Service Available

Due to the special event on April 12, there will be no parking in the SFCH campus lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Employees may park in the St. Theresa Catholic Church lot at 901 N. Tahoe (east of SFCH on East Madison Street).

A shuttle service will take staff to and from campus. For pickup, please call Brad Hansen at 605-677-8353. Thank you for your cooperation and making this a good experience for our guests and Board Members.

ASK THE CEO:

You Asked. We Answer.

A new question was submitted to Ask The CEO on the GOOD WORKS portal:

Is there a reason that we as a trauma-informed workplace do not offer bereavement pay or sick pay? Having to use PTO that we save up for planned vacation time for unplanned losses/sickness takes away from vacation time that is supposed to be used for self-care.

As part of a trauma-informed agency that emphasizes the importance of self-care, shouldn’t it be our responsibility to make sure our employees have all the time they need to recover from significant events as well as being able to take normal time off?

Thank you for sending along your question. First and foremost, I agree that we should always provide people the time to deal with significant life events.

Your question is timely. Paid bereavement leave is one of a handful of policies that will be added to the Portal by July 1, 2023. We have already added VTO, front loaded PTO and tuition reimbursement.

CHS does not have a sick pay policy as sick time is incorporated into each employee’s total PTO accrual and PTO bank. Please know we regularly review and evaluate policies, benefits and work environment. I am deeply committed to self-care, work-life balance and being a trauma-informed agency.

–Michelle Lavallee, CEO

• • •

Deanna Larson Hired As Interim COO

Deanna Larson has been hired as Interim COO beginning Tuesday, April 11. Deanna will serve in this position for the next six months, filling the vacancy left by Karl Jegeris, while we determine next steps.

Deanna currently serves as a CHS Board Member and brings a wealth of experience to us, first as SVP of Quality for Avera and then as CEO for Avera eCare. Deanna will be located in Jody Carpenter’s office.

Please join us in giving Deanna a warm welcome!

• • •

Easter Bunny Deliveries At SFCH

Each year at CHS, our donors make Easter a special holiday for the kids and staff. View photos of the fun activities here!

A team from KAJ Hospitality delivered 90 Easter baskets for our residential and day school kids. Heidi Gravett led a team of seven staff and two kids to assemble the baskets.

A volunteer team from Scheels also hosted an Easter party for our kids, and created 91 Easter baskets.