2019 Employee Recognition Awards - Human Services

Kathy has served as a Senior Social Worker with Family & Children's Services for many years, and recently showed her dedication to going the extra mile for foster youth to ensure their well-being. Several years ago, Kathy worked with a foster child, and continued to serve as a positive adult connection with this young person though the years. Last fall, this young adult had a severe emergency while living several hundred miles away from this community. Kathy partnered with the current Social Worker as well as a former foster parent to support this young adult to return to the community and access needed services. Kathy's partnership and understanding of the circumstances that this young person was facing made the critical difference in ensuring they successfully transitioned into a more stable situation.

Whitney is a Senior Social Worker in the Human Services Department, and is the project lead of Home Safe, a program to prevent homelessness among victims of elder and dependent adult abuse who were referred to Adult Protective Services. The Home Safe program tackles one of the most difficult and complex social issues facing our county, homelessness, by identifying those at risk of housing loss and connecting them with financial assistance and providers who can support their long-term housing needs. Whitney has exhibited critical leadership throughout this project, supporting Adult Protective Services to implement new innovative solutions, resulting in more seniors and dependent adults remaining housed.

As the Human Services Department’s Organizational Development Manager, Jennifer has worked tirelessly to design and implement the department’s Mentorship Program. Entering its third cycle in March of this year, this program provides opportunities to develop cross program collaboration, increase opportunities for professional growth and contributes to positive staff morale. Jennifer's passion for this program is evident in the detailed development of the program’s structure and plan, as well as her recruitment of mentors and mentees. In addition, she uses a continuous process improvement model to ensure that the program is working well and is always seeking input and feedback. Jennifer has successfully implemented an innovative idea that will positively impact the Human Services Department’s workforce for many years to come.