Board of Child Care All Staff November 2023 Core Value Award Winners

Imani N—Empathy
Youth Care Professional, Baltimore

Here is what her nomination said:

Imani has shown great empathy towards one of our complex youths. Imani can listen and respond to youth in crisis. Imani uses her TCI skills when dealing with complex youth she has been able to de-escalate many crises in the unit and out in the community. She has been one of the youth's favorite staff as she can understand and listen to Youth, no matter the conversation. She continues to show other staff the correct way to respond to crises and how to communicate effectively with Youth.

Congratulations, Imani, and thank you!

Alexandra G—Safety
Therapist, Strawbridge School

Here is what her nomination said:

Alexandra consistently demonstrates safety as a mindset. Recently, she demonstrated this by going above and beyond to emulate this trait while working with a youth in her care. She was able to quickly respond to a child in crisis calmly and efficiently to help de-escalate. When the child became physically aggressive and rapidly switched between escalated and baseline the school-based team made the difficult decision to emergency petition for hospitalization. Alexandra determined it was best for the youth's emotional and mental health to accompany him to the hospital and wait with him during the intake process, which lasted several hours after her scheduled workday ended, even when it became known the parents were unwilling/unable to go to the hospital. She remained with the child and continued to practice safe de-escalation strategies during this time, not knowing how long it would last or if the additional family would be able to relieve her to support the youth.

Thank you, Alexandra, and congratulations!

Garry K—Relationships
Facilities Supervisor, Mechanicsburg

Here is what his nomination said:

Garry is our maintenance director, but he is much more than that to the people he interacts with daily. As he drives up our lane each morning, the kids waiting for the bus say "Here comes Mr. Garry" and they all wait for him to pass as they wave. He always responds with a grin and a wave. Anytime he is in a unit, one can always count on him having plenty of "helpers". From breaking down boxes to carrying supplies, all of the kids are eager to help Mr. Garry. He unfailingly responds to any inquiry with "Sure, no problem, I can do that". He's just an example of an all-around "good guy"

Congratulations, Garry, and thank you!

Anthony “Curtis” H—Impact
Youth Care Professional, Denton

Here is what his nomination said:

Mr. Curtis has been with us only a short while, but he has made such a positive impact on all of the youth and staff. His quiet giving demeanor adds up to the youth starting their day right, as they wake for school. Mr. Curtis works overnight but has taken on the dreaded task of grocery shopping weekly for the cottage and also feeds the youth and staff lovingly made homemade meals a couple of times a week. He has also volunteered to prep our Thanksgiving dinner. Mr. Curtis makes a point to get to know everyone and is very respectful of others. He wants to do everything the way it is supposed to be done and also volunteers to help others. Making dinners that he is not required to do or even offering to drop off the mail on his way home. He has been a joy to have on our team.

Thank you Mr Curtis, and  Congratulations!

Teamwork Always:

Here at BCC, teamwork is a major contribution to the success of our organization. For our 'Teamwork Always' moment today, I would like to recognize the Program Team in Baltimore. In early October Stacey Newman and Austin Pannell, after running out of options, approached Carlos about a possible collaboration with the purpose of temporarily transporting a TFC youth back and forth, between his aunt’s house located in Baltimore and his school, located in Waldorf. The team immediately identified that the biggest obstacle to overcome was the identification of staff members willing to go above and beyond expectations and commit to a task that would have them both arrive and leave work significantly earlier and later than scheduled. To make the assignment even less attractive for staff to volunteer was a lengthy drive, in traffic, both ways. However, even with the great challenges faced, we all agreed to forge a transportation plan and initiate a search for volunteers within the Campus Supports ranks. It was not long before we had a roster of volunteers who answered the call to help our TFC youth with his transportation needs. The commitment to go and beyond expectations exhibited by this team, for our youth across programming, is the reason I believe they are deserving of recognition in the way of receiving the Team Work Always Award. Thank you to Chanise Wise, Marlina Lee, Isiah Brister, Austin Pannel, Stacey Newman, Janay Moore, Quintae Tinnin and Carlos Grajeda for your collaboration.

SAFETY as a mindset—We value life, spirit, and health above all else and take action to maintain the safety of our workplaces, programs, and services through a trauma responsive lens. We are personally accountable for our own safety and collectively responsible for the mental, emotional, and physical safety of our community.

Foster RELATIONSHIPS within our community—Openness and honesty with all stakeholders make for both the best program outcomes and team culture. Inclusive practices are the building blocks for trust. We create space for conversations that grow transparency about our decisions, promises, and understanding of one another.

Listen and respond with EMPATHY—Empathy will guide our programming and culture at all levels. A supportive work and program environment means valuing the voices of all people, ensuring equitable representation, and growing a desire to know and understand others. We recognize that with empathy we will better understand what type of care and encouragement to provide.

IMPACT drives lasting change—We seek to make lasting change in the lives of those we work with by providing services that are inclusive, measurable, and durable. We maximize our impact by investing in staff and board development. Feedback presents opportunity for action, which enhances and strengthens our programs and their outcomes.