LEARN ABOUT IT—AND HOW ALEXANDRIA IS RESPONDING

Continued on page 4

2 Director’s Corner

3 One Location Update

5 Opioid Treatment Program Earns Sixth Accreditation

6 Celebrating Adop-tions in Alexandria

7 WIC Satellite Clinic Opens at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave

8 Community En-gagement Provides Targeted Services

9 Teen Pregnancy Drops to Record Low in Alexandria

10 DCHS Highlights

13 Hello Goodbye

15 News You Can Use

C nnectTHE NEWS YOU NEED | THE PEOPLE YOU WORK WITH

N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES

Incidences of opioid addiction, overdoses and deaths are rising to epidemic proportions across the U.S., affecting all ages, ethnicities, income levels and communities.

According to the CDC, more than 33,000 people died due to opioid overdoes in 2015, with an average of over 90 people dying every day. In October 2017, the White House declared the opioid crisis a National Public Health Emergency. The year before, Virginia State Health Com-missioner Marissa Levine declared the epidemic a public health emer-gency in Virginia.

Locally, Alexandria has seen an increase in the number of people requesting help for opioid addiction as well as a concerning number of opioid overdoses. So far this year, City staff have responded to 55 suspected

opioid crisis

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Director’s C rner

DCHS Director Kate Garvey

Thank you again to all employees who participated in the 2017 myVoice! Engage-ment Survey this fall. Here you will see more about the findings, as well as progress made on staff recommenda-tions made through our 2013 Employee Engagement survey.

In DCHS, 323 employees responded to the 2017 survey, or 53% of eligible employees. The response rate gives us a good starting point, providing

An update on the 2013 and 2017 Engagement Surveys...

DCHS has moved a few steps forward in seeking out a location for a consolidated site to house the majority of our services along with those of the Health Department and Neighborhood Health.

Last month, a dozen indi-viduals from the three depart-ments and the Department of General Services (DGS) toured five buildings in Alexandria’s West End with Consultant Savills Studley. Some of the buildings were currently oc-cupied with plans of company relocation while others were vacant.

“Overall,” says DCHS Direc-tor of Operations Sharon Vaughan-Roach, “the consen-

... and the Consolidated Siteaccess to services. Currently, DCHS services and programs are located in seven major loca-tions across the City.

Keep up with news and information about the potential for acquiring one DCHS location at alexnet.alexandriava.gov/DCHS—and keep an eye out for upcoming opportunities to be involved and contribute your input!

Both charts provide impor-tant information about our strengths and areas where more work is needed. The work that we have been doing since the previous engagement survey has included:

increased communication and sharing about the work of the members of our organization strengthening peer recognition improving the quality and timeliness of performance

planning and evaluations, increased transparency on decision-making Leadership Team activities and addressing issues of civility and climate in the organization The myVoice! Engagement

tool provides some sugges-tions for ways to impact the areas of challenge. Our lowest ratings relate to recognition, understanding the rationale for decisions and seeing ourselves in the future plans of the city.

78% 72% 75%

67%

55% 47%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

I understand howmy job helps theCity of Alexandria

My job allows meto utilize my

strengths

I find my jobinteresting and

challening

I know I candepend on the

other members ofmy team

The senior leadersof the City of

Alexandriademonstrate

integrity

I trust our seniorleaders to lead theCity of Alexandriainto future success

% E

xpre

ssin

g Fa

vora

bilit

y

Favorability Responses - DCHS Compared to City source: 2017 myVoice! Engagement Survey

DCHS % City %

56% 54%

35% 33%

48%

36% 46% 44%

0%

20%

40%

60%

My opinions seem to countat work

If I contribute to the City ofAlexandria's success, I know

I will be recognized

The senior leaders of theCity of Alexandria value

people as their mostimportant resource

I see professional growthand career development

opportunities for myself inthe City of Alexandria

% E

xpre

ssin

g Fa

vora

bilit

y

Statement (2017 version) - 2013 questions were slightly different

DCHS Employee Favorability Over Time source: 2013 DCHS Employee Engagemnet Survey; 2017 myVoice! Engagement Survey 2013 2017

some basis for summarizing employee engagement.

The first chart below compares DCHS responses in which over 50% of respondents expressed favorability (agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement in the survey) com-pared to all City respondents.

While responses expressing favorability are similar, DCHS responses were generally more favorable than the all City respondents. The greatest

differences existed in under-standing how my job helps the City and trusting leadership to lead the City into success; DCHS responses were six and eight percentage points more favorable, respectively. City em-ployees as a whole, however, found their jobs to be more interesting and challenging and expressed greater dependabil-ity on other team members, by three and one percentage point(s), respectively.

The second chart summa-rizes responses where fewer than 50% of DCHS respondents expressed favorability in 2017, and we have compared these against the DCHS 2013 Employ-ee Engagement survey.

Opinions at work and recognition for work done were viewed less favorably in 2017, both falling below 50%. Responses to employees are management’s most valued as-sets and professional develop-ment in the City both gained favorability (11 points each) but remain below 50%. This signals that although there have been improvements in some areas, employees still do not feel nearly as valued as they should. This is important feedback, and it is worth noting that this is not isolated to DCHS, as City employees overall rated each of these four categories lower than DCHS employees in 2017.

sus of the tour was that two buildings appeared to meet the business needs of a co-location facility that provided sufficient parking, easy transportation for staff and clients, cafeteria or snack bar amenities, day care possibilities and loading dock areas, and separate entrances as needed for varied client population service and emer-gency services.”

In addition to the locations toured, DGS is also soliciting Request for Proposals from building owners who want to bid on providing sites to the City. The review of the propos-als is slated for this month.

Once the facility is selected, staff will have the opportu-

nity to provide input and be involved in the project manage-ment for space configuration. DGS is also working on hiring an architect, who will work with DCHS staff to design the working space for the new facil-ity along the City’s workplace guidelines, which are available under Single DCHS Location at alexnet.alexandriava.gov/DCHS.

Since the merger of the City’s social and behavioral health services into one depart-ment in 2010, one location has been the most frequently iden-tified factor by staff at all levels across the Department when it comes to improving employee communication and collabo-ration and increasing client

Some of the suggestions offered to impact those areas include:

creating real time reward and feedback opportunities making employee recogni-tion part of every meeting agenda carrying out a “pre-mortem” to identify pitfalls prior to moving forward with a plan strengthening how City Lead-ership plans and communica-tion are passed on holding regular forums where plans from leadership

are sharedIn January and February we

will have the opportunity to review the data and possible strategies to impact the unfa-vorable areas in more detail. We will be asking for your par-ticipation in efforts to under-stand the causes and create solutions to our engagement challenges. We thank you once again for your involvement in this process and your ongo-ing commitment to the city’s residents.

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OPIOID OVERDOSE & SAFETY

More about..

OPIOID CRISIS — CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

opioid overdoses, 9 of whom have died,* adding to the 44 who died from 2012 to 2016.

From Del Ray to Old Town to the West End, the conse-quences of opioid misuse and addiction are being felt by people throughout the com-munity. Those impacted range from persons with addiction and their children and families to their neighborhoods and schools, as well as to their em-ployers and the many City and other professionals preforming their work in Alexandria.

City staff are working together to respond to the crisis through the Opioid

Work Group (OWG). Formed in 2015, the Work Group is comprised of representatives from a range of city ser-vices including DCHS, the Fire Department, Police Depart-ment, Sheriff’s Office, Public Schools, Probation and Parole, Substance Abuse and Preven-tion Coalition of Alexandria, Inova Alexandria Hospital, the Alexandria Commonwealth’s Attorney Office and the Health Department.

The OWG has worked to collect and share data, understand the scope of the problem and design strategies to address the crisis.

In July 2017, the OWG drafted an initial list of priori-ties to address opioid misuse and overdose deaths in the city. Mirroring the President’s

Commission on Combatting Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis plan, this initial plan is holistic, system-wide and focuses on five key areas:

Opioid addiction prevention Opioid addiction treatment Overdose response and recovery Diversion of people with ad-diction into treatment Supply reduction and law enforcement strategiesOne of the challenges fac-

ing the workgroup in combat-ing the rising overdose trend is educating the public about the complexities of the epidemic.

Opioids are a class of drugs used to reduce pain. They in-clude prescriptions like oxyco-done, hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl as well as illegal opioids like heroin.

The CDC reports that heroin use has increased since 2000. The rate of heroin-related deaths has quadrupled, with almost 13,000 deaths in 2015.

But, according to the CDC, the driving force behind the increase in overdose deaths is actually prescription opioids, which account for nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths. Opioids are highly addictive, with two million Americans in 2014 abusing or dependent on prescription opioids.

The rising misuse of pre-scription opioids is changing the demographics of drug misuse and abuse. Some stud-ies have found that those who misuse prescription opioids tend to be more steadily employed, healthy and con-nected to social institutions like marriage and religion than heroin users, who are tend to be more socioeconomically disadvantaged, disconnected from social institutions and

less healthy. According to Time, most people who misuse prescription opioids say they originally turned to them to relieve pain; 60% continue to misuse them without a prescription, with 40% getting the drugs from friends and relatives.

Every day, more than 1,000 people are treated in emer-gency rooms across the coun-try for misusing the drugs. In Alexandria last year, the Health Department reports the num-ber of residents treated for opioid overdoses in regional hospitals rose to 105, up from 88 in 2015.

The CDC also reports that there is a strong link between prescription opioid use and rising heroin use, with three out of four new users report-ing they took prescription opioids prior to using heroin. Those who misuse prescription opioids often turn to heroin because it is readily available and cheap. Because heroin is now being mixed with syn-thetic opioids like Fentanyl and Carfentanil, the potential for overdose is even more likely.

The OWG is working to make this kind of information available to the public in a variety of ways. Over the past year, members of the work-group participated in a series of Alexandria Times articles exploring the opioid crisis and its affects in the city (alextimes.com/category/local/opioids-in-alexandria). The group is also planning a local town hall in the coming months, coordi-nating public health warnings to inform the public when a spike in overdoses occurs and developing materials to raise awareness of opioid safety and symptoms of an overdose (see

More About Opioid Overdose & Safety on this page).

In addition to educating the public, the workgroup is taking steps to prevent opioid addiction and developing ser-vices to intervene quickly with persons who have overdosed, linking them with treatment to recover from their addiction.

For example, in 2015 Inova Alexandria Hospital started reducing the use of Dilaudid, a frequently used opioid with high dependency risk, and saw the drug’s abuse decrease dra-matically. The Police Narcotics Unit is focusing on stopping drug trafficking organizations as opposed to a focus on ar-resting individuals with addic-tions, and police officers carry cards listing phone numbers and websites of the City’s sub-stance use treatment services. (Read about these and other efforts in the Alexandria Time’s Opioids series.)

In addition, the Health Department offers the REVIVE! Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education program in the city. The hour and a half training teaches how to recognize symp-toms and respond to an opioid overdose by administering Nalaxone (Narcan), a safe and effective medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Par-ticipants receive a free medical kit and Narcan upon completion of training. The free training is open to everyone, and anyone who assists a person in need is protected from liability by the Good Samaritan Law.

The City also recently pro-vided temporary funding for the Opioid Treatment Program, which uses evidence-based substance abuse treatment to help adults reclaim their lives from heroin and other opioid

RECOGNIZING AN OPIOID OVERDOSE (CDC)Recognizing an opioid overdose can be difficult. If you aren’t sure, it is best to treat the situation like an overdose—you could save a life. It is important that you don’t leave the person alone and make sure you call 911 or seek medical care for the indi-vidual. Signs may include any of the following:

Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils” Falling asleep or loss of consciousness Slow, shallow breathing Choking or gurgling sounds Limp body Pale, blue, or cold skin

OPIOID PRESCRIPTION STORAGE & DISPOSALStore medications out of reach of children in a safe place—

preferably locked—to prevent other family members or visitors from taking them.

Dispose of unwanted or unused pills, liquids or other medica-tion in a local “take back” or mail back program or medication drop box at a police station, DEA-authorized collection site or pharmacy. You can find local pharmacies participating as drop-off points and locations to pick up free drug disposal kits at alexrenew.com/DrugDisposal.

The Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) received its sixth consecutive three-year CARF accredita-tion. CARF, the International Commission on Ac-creditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, completed a rigorous survey of the program on October 3 and 4.

Through the City’s Depart-ment of Community and Human Services, the OTP helps people manage their addiction to heroin and/or other opiates by engaging in evidence based therapy services in combination with physician prescribed and monitored Methadone or Buprenorphine (Subox-one). These medications do not produce a “high” and minimize the symptoms of withdrawal. Clients participate in regular counseling sessions and are required to abstain from illegal drugs and alcohol while on the path to recovery. The result is that individuals are able to create or regain productive and fulfilling lives.

The award of a CARF accreditation signals

the OTP’s commitment to continually improving ser-vices, encouraging stakeholder feedback and serv-ing the community. Clients can be confident that the OTP strives to offer the highest quality services,

and the public - including taxpayers, other funders and referral agencies- can be

assured the OTP is accountable. Among the many strengths

noted by CARF were a clinical team that demonstrates a holistic approach to persons served; collaboration with city agencies including hos-pitals and the Police, Fire and Health departments; ad-

dressing deep rooted stigma thereby increasing acceptance

of these services in the city; and development of a successful peer

support team for clients in recovery.The Opioid Treatment Program is featured in

a best practices video sponsored by SAMHSA. The video also helps to reduce the stigma as-sociated with this therapy and reminds viewers that methadone treatment is the gold standard for opioid addiction.

OTP Earns Sixth Accreditation

Opioids are highly addictive, with

two million Americans in 2014 abusing or

dependent on prescription opioids.

*This is real-time, raw data; official cause of death data is managed by the State Medical Ex-aminer and full calendar year data will not be released until 2018.

...the driving force behind the increase in overdose deaths is actually prescription opioids, which account for nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths.

addiction. The program uses the nationally-recognized best practice approach of Medica-tion Assisted Treatment (MAT), which combines behavioral therapy and medications to treat substance use disorders. The program faced staffing challenges in recent years and as a result, was unable to work with a number of people who requested treatment. The in-crease in temporary funding will help ensure that the program is fully staffed and prepared to treat Alexandrians who struggle with this deadly addiction.

While the epidemic contin-ues to present many chal-lenges, the workgroup repre-sentatives and City programs and services are working to improve the safety and well-being of all City residents.

IMAGES BY TOPNTP26 AND DRAGANA_GORDIC / FREEPIK

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WIC SATELLITE LOCATIONS

More about..Alexandria Health Department 4480 King Street, 2nd FloorMonday-Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.Thursday: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Friday: 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Department of Community and Human Services2525 Mt. Vernon AvenueMonday-Tuesday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Thursday: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Neighborhood Health 2 East Glebe RoadWednesday & Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Casey Health Center 1200 N. Howard Street, Suite 105Monday-Wednesday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Thursday: 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Friday: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, the City of Alexandria and DCHS marked National Adoption Day at the Alexandria Juvenile and Do-mestic Relations Court, where families, judges and DCHS staff celebrated the finalization of 14 adoptions over the last year and three additional children whose adoptions will be final-ized by the end of the calendar year.

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the more than 110,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting to find per-manent, loving families. The annual event brings together policymakers, practitioners and advocates to finalize adop-tions and celebrate adoptive families.

According to the organiza-

tion’s website, National Adop-tion Day has helped nearly 65,000 children move from foster care to a forever family. National Adoption Day began in 2000 with seven cities in which courtrooms opened on the Saturday before Thanks-giving to finalize adoptions. Today, more than 400 cities across the country—including Alexandria—dedicate a day during November to finalize hundreds and hundreds of adoptions.

In Alexandria, the Honor-able Constance Frogale and Honorable Uley Damiani pro-vided opening remarks, took pictures with the families and colored with the children at the activities tables.

Families enjoyed a brunch catered by Bittersweet and received individualized gift bags containing family movies and books directly related to each child or youth’s needs and a framed picture of the day’s event.

Chief of Child Welfare Greta Rosenzweig and DCHS Director Kate Garvey closed the pro-gram, expressing their sincere thankfulness to those who are expanding their families through adoption.

Currently there are 91

children/youth in foster care through the City of Alexandria and 47 have a goal of adoption.

Adoption provides children with stability and permanency when their biological fami-lies are unable to do so, and Family Services is committed to permanency planning and achieving the goal of adoption for all children in foster care who have not been returned to their parent or prior cus-todian. The majority of these children are older, members of minority races, have siblings with whom they need to be placed or have physical, mental and/or emotional dis-abilities.

Adoptive parents can be married or single, own or rent an apartment or home and have children already. At least one of the adoptive parents must be 25 years of age and everyone wanting to adopt must be willing to disclose financial information, com-plete the home study process and participate in a series of interviews conducted both in the home and in DCHS offices.

If you are interested in adopting a child or becom-ing a resource parent, call the Resource Home Recruiter at 703.746.5858.

The WIC program offers supplemental foods, nutri-tion education and health care referrals for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Clients may apply for WIC if they are working or unem-ployed.

WIC recipients receive elec-tronic cards to purchase food at participating retail markets each month to supplement their diets. Currently, WIC provides clients with choices and culturally appropriate food packages that include items like infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, tortillas, whole-wheat bread, brown rice, beans, fish, tofu and a variety of fruits and vegetables as well as soy-based beverages and baby foods.

According to the FDA, WIC is one of the nation’s most successful and cost-effective nutrition intervention pro-grams. Collective findings of studies, reviews and reports

demonstrate that the program is cost effective in the protec-tion or improvement of the health and nutritional status of clients, including improving birth outcomes and savings in health care costs, diet and diet-related outcomes, infant feeding practices and cognitive development. For example, A series of reports published by the USDA found that prenatal WIC participation for low-income Medicaid women resulted in fewer premature births, fewer infant deaths and savings in health care costs within the first 60 days after birth.

With the opening of the Mount Vernon site, Alexandria Health Department now offers four clinics throughout Alexan-dria (see sidebar). All services are by appointment only; clients can call 703.746.4998 to make an appointment at any of the four sites.

Celebrating Adoptions in AlexandriaEvent coincides with National Adoption Day

One of the families celebrating the finalization of adoptions at the National Adoption Day festivities in Alexandria.

WIC Satellite Clinic Opens at 2525 Mount Vernon AvenueThe addition of the Mount Vernon site raises total to four clinics available in Alexandria

IMAGE BY ONLYYOUQJ / FREEPIK

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Star Award Nomination Form: survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/

DCHS-Star-Award-Nomination-Form

Super Star Nomination Form:survey.alexandriava.gov/s3/

DCHS-Superstar-Award-Nomination-Form

OCTOBER 2017SUPER STAR NOMINEES

Adult Services Group:Martha BoyerJackie Abbott

Saba GebrehiwetStephanie Puszka

Demetria ThompsonAlie Kamara

STAR AWARD NOMINEES

Ben TomaOctavius Fulton

NOVEMBER 2017

SUPER STAR NOMINEES

None

STAR AWARD NOMINEES

Danny DeJesusJulio Basurto

Connie SpeightKim Hurley

DCHS Star Awards

Imag

es b

y fre

epik

.com

Image by Jannoon028 / Freepik

Developmental Disability Services began serving six additional Alexandria adults through Community Engage-ment, a new Medicaid Waiver program that includes services at the Fennel-Sauls Vocational Center.

The program adds more targeted services for clients participating in the Develop-mental Disability Services’ day program for adults, which serves clients through place-ment in jobs, work crews, sheltered workshops and pre-vocational programs as well as assistance finding, funding and utilizing services such as speech, occupational and physical therapies.

Staffed by full time Direct Support Professionals Chrissy Campbell and Wykiki Alston,

the program provides a wide variety of opportunities for clients with developmental disabilities to facilitate and build relationships and natural supports in the community while utilizing the community as a learning environment.

For example, one individual in the program went to Safe-way to learn to purchase and manage money. While there, he introduced himself to the manager and now works at the store a few hours a week. An-other individual who did not like going out and preferred to stay in the building started vol-unteering weekly after being exposed to different commu-nity options.

Staff have also gone with clients to locations like the Alexandria Trade Center,

The teen pregnancy rate in Alexandria dropped in 2015 to the lowest rate documented in Health Department records, which go back to 1979.

On October 18, members of the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy gathered at Beatley Central Library for a presentation of the 2015 Alexandria teen pregnancy data from Dr. Tina Singh of the Health Department. Singh reported that there were 96 teen pregnancies reported in Alexandria in 2015, for a total rate of 18.6 per 1000 girls ages 10-19. This was the first time that the total number of pregnancies was under 100 and represents a 19% decrease from 2014.

The drop is part of a downward trend in teen pregnancy rates, especially since 2005, when Alexandria’s pregnancy rate was at 60 per 1,000 girls ages 10-19. In Virginia, the teen pregnancy rate has dropped from 26.5 in 2004 to 12 per 1,000 in 2015.

Sexual behavior has also declined, with 20.6% of students in grades 10 and 12 in Alexandria City Public Schools reporting being currently sexually active, down from 35% in 2011. Those reporting having ever had sex dropped from 49.9% in 2011 to 28.9% in 2016. There was also a drop in students reporting hav-ing had sexual intercourse prior to age 13, down from 10.3% in 2011 to 2.9% in 2016.

Key milestones in Alexandria that were followed by signifi-cant declines in the rates include the opening of the Adolescent Health Clinic in 1988, the founding of ACAP in 2000, the opening of the Teen Wellness Center at T.C. Williams in 2010 and the in-troduction of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives in 2014.

Community Engagement Provides Targeted ServicesMedicaid Waiver program serves individuals with developmental disabilities

Museum of Cars, zoos in Baltimore and DC, Library of Congress and exhibitions and museums in Washington, DC.

The program, which grew out of changes to the federal waiver system as part of a Department of Justice settle-ment, allows Developmental Disability Services to better serve clients in a variety of ways. For example, the pro-gram provides the opportunity for smaller groups with more individualized supports and training for skills and provides flexibility in service design, allowing clients to switch programs and attend other services as they choose.

While the program was created without additional resources and staffed by real-locating employees from the Adult Day Services Center, it was singled out during the recent CARF survey as provid-ing outstanding and high level services to clients.

Teen Pregnancy Rate Drops to Record Low

Clients from the Fennel-Sauls Vocational Center.

ACAP members listen to a report by Dr. Tina Singh of the Health Department.

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DCHS Highlights

ADSC HOSTS HALLOWEEN DANCE CONTEST

On October 31, the Adult Day Services Center hosted the Halloween King of Pop Dance Contest. ADSC offers services to seniors 55 years and older who may need assistance and who may not want to or cannot stay at home alone during the day.

Seniors from ADSC as well as Charles Houston Senior Center, St. Martin Porres, Vocational Department Services and Sun-rise Senior Living of McLean rose to the occasion, executing steps and moves emu-lating the pop music icon Michael Jackson.

The participants performed with high energy and brought to life songs like Thriller, ABC, Rock with Me and You Wan-na Be Starting Something. At the end of the contest, every center that competed received a trophy for group participation, and the seniors received trick or treat bags filled with goodies.

ADSC thanks their activity staff; judges Debbie, Alice, Lucy and Diane; and volun-teers Joan, Jennifer, Luley and Adriane. The Center extends a special thanks to DJ Ed Shafer for providing the music for the event. ~Jackie McCord

PHOTO BY BRUCE MILTON

informative display, a buffet of homemade food and a raffle with prizes. When a dance demonstration was unexpectedly canceled, staff joined in a spontaneous dance circle around the room.

SHAHEEDIAN IS ELEARNER OF THE QUARTER

Management Analyst Ramin Shahee-dian was named the eLearner of the Quarter, an award that goes to the em-ployee who completes the most eLearning classes during the specified time period. Shaheedian completed 83 courses for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2017. Con-gratulations also go to DCHS staff member Afework Eshetu who was a runner up with 77 completed courses. To learn more about employee eLearning opportunities, visit AlexNet. ~AlexNews

BAUM ATTENDS SAPCA WORKSHOP

On October 18, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Acting Director Richard Baum visited JROTC students at T.C. Williams High School and participated in a workshop hosted by the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA).

The goal of the workshop was to iden-tify new activities for SAPCA to include in their strategic action plan to prevent sub-stance use among youth. Students were split into groups and brainstormed future initiatives both within T.C. Williams and in the community. SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax, Youth Development Team Leader Noraine Buttar and Acting SAPCA Coordinator Lau-ren Kiefert led the discussion surrounding alcohol, tobacco/electronic cigarettes, marijuana and prescription drugs/opioids. ~Noraine Buttar

CLIENTS MEET HOCKEY PLAYERS AT FOOD BANK

While volunteering at the Washington Capital Area Food Bank, clients from the Developmental Disabilities Vocational Program met players from the Washing-ton Capitals, who were also volunteering. The clients volunteer at the food bank twice a week where they box and sort various items, and make and seal boxes with food items.

“They enjoy volunteering at the food bank,” says Sonya Lee, a Direct Support Technician with Vocational Services. “This gives them an opportunity to integrate in the community with peers who do not have a developmental disability, and their participa-tion is valued by the staff at the food bank.”

STAFF CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE WITH LUNCHEON

Staff enjoyed food, music and time with their colleagues during the annual Hispanic Heritage Lunch on October 26.

The lunch is organized each year by the Hispanic Heritage Committee in conjunc-tion with National Hispanic Heritage Month, which recognizes the contribu-tions of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

This year’s festivities included an

LEGACY EVENT CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

On November 11, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate 32 years of Project Discovery and honor 2017 donors to the program.

Project Discovery is a college access and college preparatory program oper-ated by the Office of Youth Services. Based at T.C. Williams High School and the Minnie Howard Ninth Grade Center, the program prepares and motivates low income and first generation college-eligible students to access opportunities in higher education. Through workshops and trips to college campuses, Project Discovery provides vital information about how to set and achieve educa-tional goals.

This program is supported by a Project Discovery Advisory Board whose mission is to raise funds, promote com-munity involvement and foster positive public relations. Donations to the pro-gram support the workshops and college visits as well as book scholarships.

The event featured jazz vocalist Christie Dashiell and spoken word artist Sheryl Robertson.

IMAGE BY FREEPIK.COM

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Hello & GoodbyeNEW STAFFADRIAN CONTEE

Adrian Contee is a part-time cook with Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Services (formerly known as Detox).

SHIRELL KINGShirell King joined DCHS as

a residential counselor with Windsor Avenue Group Home.

RENEE MILLERRenee Miller joined DCHS

as a benefits specialist in the Center of Economic Support. Over a four year span, she pre-viously worked as a caseworker for the Prince George’s County Health Department, Charles County Department of Social Services and Prince George’s County Department of Social Services. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Commu-nication Studies from Morgan State University and has hopes of pursuing a MSW in the near future. She is from Suitland, Maryland, where she is the

mother of two handsome boys and one beautiful heavenly princess. She enjoys shopping, eating out and spending time with family. Miller is apprecia-tive and humble to be serving the residents of Alexandria.

ROWENA SPRIGGSRowena Spriggs joined

DCHS as a cook with Substance Abuse Residential Treatment Services (formerly known as Detox).

ANNE TAMONDONG

Anne Tamondong joined DCHS as a registered nurse with the Mental Health Center.

SANDRA TRIVERISandra Triveri joined DCHS

as the Therapist Supervisor the Preschool Prevention Team in the Early Childhood Division. She has a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she practiced in the mental health field as a child and family therapist for several

years before relocating to the United States in 2003. She is a Licensed Professional Coun-selor and worked as a bilin-gual youth and family mental health therapist for Arlington County’s Outpatient Mental Health Services for the past 14 years. She enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her family and friends. Triveri is excited and grate-ful to join this great program which serves Alexandria’s youngest residents in need.

MRUDULA VORUGANTI

Mrudula Voruganti joined DCHS as a management analyst with the Office of Community Services. She earned her Master’s degree in Data Analytics from George Mason University. She loves playing with data and interpreting the results based on data analysis and is excited to work in an organization that is working hard to serve the people of Alexandria.

MT. VERNON MINIONS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN

Anyone who’s walked past the first floor water cooler at 2525 Mount Vernon Ave. enough times has probably seen a large Mason jar full of candies and a bowl with tiny folded papers containing staff guesses for how many candies are in the jar.

For as far back as anyone at 2525 can remember, Dawnel White, recently retired CSA Coordinator, placed those jars for six to eight holidays a year. Employees took guesses, and on the posted day, Dawnel held what felt like an impromptu hallway party around the water cooler as she read out the numbers, gradually closing in on the winner while throwing out the “too highs” and “too lows.”

Staff roared with laughter at the competition, the methids used to guess the number, the messages on the “guess papers” and the way the process unfolded under Dawnel’s firm yet thoughtful lead-ership.

Employees could expect to partake of a table full of goodies, some homemade, that Dawnel herself provided, or lunches of pizza or tacos in a bag and ice cream sundaes in a bag.

Halloweens brought costume and cubicle decorating contests. At Christmas, ugly sweater and cubicle décor contests were included along with games and there were prizes for as many as 20 winners.

The events certainly required plan-ning on Dawnel’s part, yet the parties and activities seemed to just pop up in the hall where all were welcome.

In recent years, Dawnel dubbed these candy jar parties “Minion Celebrations”

because they were her expression of ap-preciation for all the work the “minions” at 2525 perform each day to support DCHS. She ensured she received no recognition for these parties—although now that she’s gone, we can write about it! Employees at 2525 will miss Dawnel and the connection, gratitude, motivation and fun she brought to the workplace. ~Jennifer Cohen

KICKBALL SEASON ENDS & BASKETBALL BEGINS

DCHS put together a team from multiple office locations for the Fall 2017 City Cup kickball season. The team included some returning players and as well as many new faces that brought Thursday nights to life.

While the team didn’t take home a tro-phy this year, they enjoyed the season.

“As we worked together to navigate the rules and work on team strategy,” reflected co-coaches Eva Statler and Savannah Hill, “we were able to build new relationships and identify each player’s strength. This year wasn’t about how many W’s we had, but about the memories we made. Watch out for us next year. We will come back stronger than ever with our eye on that trophy!”

If you are interested in joining the win-ter basketball team, email Justin.EuellMal-colm@alexandriava.gov.

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News You Can UsePREPARING FOR WINTER SNOW

Winter is upon us, so now is a good time to make sure you are informed regarding the City’s inclement weather policies.

City policy is that offices will be open for business dur-ing storms and snow emer-gencies. Generally, when getting into work is difficult due to snow and ice, the City alerts employees that a liberal leave policy is in ef-fect. Department heads, after ensuring that offices are ad-equately staffed, are able to approve requests for annual leave, compensatory leave or leave without pay if employ-ees are unable to come to work. Under a liberal leave situation, employees must contact their departments immediately after opening to request liberal leave.

Please note that when liberal leave is declared, emergency employees (those in jobs that are vital to public health, safety and welfare) are expected to report for work on time. Check with your supervisor if you are unsure whether you are an

emergency employee.There are times, however,

when the City will close some or all facilities, services or programs for specific periods of time due to inclement weather or emergency. Non-emergency employees are not to report to work, and full and part-time regular employees will be paid emergency leave pay for all regularly scheduled hours during the closure. All employees not scheduled to work or on approved leave are not eligible for emergency leave pay. Employees on an approved telecommuting agreement, and who were scheduled to work the day of the closure, must work or take leave and are not eligible for emergency leave pay, either.

During closures, regular full and part-time emergency em-ployees must report to work and will receive emergency leave pay for all time worked during the period of closure; temporary and seasonal emer-gency employees must report to work and are compensated

JOB CHANGEKerry Blount is a direct sup-

port professional At the Fennell-Sauls Vocational Day Program. Phil Caldwell assumed a new role as the Administrative Op-erations Officer for the Alexan-dria Community Services Board. Alia Fullwood is the Employ-ment and Training Supervisor at the Workforce Development Center. Lesa Gilbert was ap-pointed as the Alexandria Social Services Director. Jamal Graham is an IT support engineer II with Tech Services. Taren Lambert is the Family Services Specialist Supervisor with Child Welfare Services. Carol Layer was ap-pointed the Alexandria Com-munity Services Board Executive Director. Nichole Rohrer is the Mental Health Team Supervisor for the West End Wellness Cen-

ter, Supported Employment and TRAILS. Chris Washington is the Facility Operations Manager.

Correction: The positions of Sala Adam and Wykiki Alston were incorrectly listed in the previous issue. They are full-time direct support professionals at the Fennell-Sauls Vocational Day Program.

RETIREMENTJulio Basurto, a caseworker

with Child Welfare Services, retired after 18 years with the City.

Edward Byer, an IT support engineer II, retired after 21 years with the City.

Beverly Cooper, a registered nurse supervisor with the Sub-stance Abuse Treatment Center, retired after 14 years with the City.

Elizabeth Dorton, a case-worker with the Office of Com-munity Services, retired after 37 years with the City.

Lib Gillam, Therapist Super-visor of the Preschool Preven-tion Team, retired after 14 years with the City.

Ronald Frazier, Director of the Office on Youth Services, retired after 30 years with the City.

Jaime Henao, a senior therapist with Substance Abuse Services, retired after 19 years with the City.

Glenda Johnson, an em-ployment & training specialist, retired after 13 years with the City.

Susan Mister, a direct sup-port technician with Develop-mental Disabilities Vocational Services, retired after 35 years with the City.

James “Chucky” Moore, a caseworker with Youth Devel-opment, retired after 37 years with the City.

Stephanie Morrow, a fam-ily services specialist II with Child Welfare Services, retired after 27 years with the City.

Krista Oberlander, a Family Services Specialist Supervisor with Child Welfare Services, retired after 30 years with the City.

Cheryl Padilla, a benefits program specialist, retired after 13 years with the City.

Lenwood Roberts, the Employment & Training Su-pervisor with the Workforce Development Center, retired after 43 years with the City.

Frank Trinch, a direct sup-port technician with Develop-mental Disabilities Vocational Services, retired after 31 years with the City.

Dawnel White, the CSA Coordinator, retired after 16 years with the City.

for all hours actually worked.The City will advise local

television and radio stations when operating on a liberal leave basis or closure. Most will carry City snow informa-tion beginning early, at 6 a.m. In addition, you can call the City’s 24-hour Emergency Ho-tline at 703.746.INFO (4636). You may also subscribe to eNews to receive email and text announcements (member.everbridge.net/in-dex/1332612387832027#/log-in) or check the City’s web site (www.alexandriava.gov) to see announcements on the City’s status. In the rare occurrence of a status conflict between a TV or radio announcement

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and the City’s announcement will prevail.

If you have any ques-tions about the City’s snow policy, please call the Human Resources Department at 703.746.3777. You can review the policies concerning liberal leave and emergency leave pay in the Administrative Regulations.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES INALEXANDRIA

In Alexandria, the festive season began with the annual City Tree Lighting on November 24 in Market Square. From the

Scottish Christmas Walk to annual Candlelight tours, Alexandria holds cherished holiday traditions and pres-ents festive activities. Learn about events, holiday safety tips, giving opportunities and more at alexandriava.gov/Holidays. Visit Alexandria also has a page listing events and things to do in Alexan-dria during the holiday sea-son, including special holiday menus at local restaurants, information about the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights and Christmas at Mount Ver-non (www.visitalexandriava.com/holidays). ~AlexNews

What is Connect?Connect seeks to inform DCHS em-ployees about initiatives, programs, services and changes within the Department. It also introduces staff to one another on a more personal level, recognizes employee and team accomplishments, and helps foster relationship between programs and employees across DCHS.

Have a story to share?We are always looking for news and story ideas. If you have an idea for content, email carmen.andres@alex-andriava.gov or call 5753.

See a Significant Error?To report significant errors in this newsletter, please email carmen.andres@alexandriava.gov.

Are you leaving the City?Don’t miss out on important news and alerts! Sign up for the Behavioral Health and Human Services subscription group on eNews to continue receiving Con-nect content. The City of Alexandria’s free eNews service lets you sign up to receive information on nearly 100 top-ics, including vital emergency alerts. Go to www.alexandriava.gov/ Communications for the link to sign up.

Want to know more about DCHS Programs?Check out our Department webpages at www.alexandriava.gov/DCHS or read summaries of our Centers and programs with these summaries published in Connect: Center for Adult Services, Center for Children and Fami-lies, Center for Economic Support and Center for Operations.

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CONFERENCE ROOM RELOCATED

The Admin Conference Room has been relocated to the office formerly belonging to retired Deputy Director Su-zanne Chis. The room is located on the second floor of 2525 Mount Vernon Ave, comfort-ably accommodates up to eight people and can be scheduled for meetings through Outlook. If the meeting room does not appear under your Calendar options, right click on “My Calendars,” mouse over “Add Calendar,” select “From Room List” and add “DCHS Admin Conference Room.”

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