This week, I mark my first year as director of Hamilton County Job and Family Services. It has been a busy year, to say the least. But also a very fulfilling one.
I’m proud of many things we accomplished this past year. Chief among them: the finalization of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion plan and our commitment to continuing this important work and engaging all employees in it.
Other bright spots from 2022:
- Distributing $40 million in ERAP assistance to the community and receiving a Google award for it;
- Earning a workforce retention grant from the state to try to address workforce shortages in child welfare;
- Successfully implementing a Youth Employment Program;
- Continuing to encourage work/life balance by allowing most employees to work at least part-time from home.
I started offering office hours for employees to meet with me one-on-one to talk. Our Equity Culture statement calls for trusting and respecting employees, genuine and supportive relationships and intentional, transparent communication and action at all levels of the organization. That will continue to guide me through my second year in this job and after.
