January 2022 Staff Recognitions

Please join us in congratulating the January Recognition Recipients!

Rise to the Extra Mile Recognition

The Rise to the Extra Mile Recognition is given to highly motivated individuals who go that extra mile in their job. Rise to the Extra Mile honorees get to park in a designated parking space at the RISE administration office.

Please join us in congratulating Dennis Brooks, Hedgerow House Senior Counselor, as the January Rise to the Extra Mile honoree!  As Julianne Thomas, Hedgerow House Program Director, and Nicole Smarro, Hedgerow House Supervisor, stated, “Dennis rocked!”

Dennis single handedly ran the Hedgerow House the last few weeks of December while both program leadership and various staff members were not available to be onsite at the program. He covered multiple shifts, worked many extra hours, and kept everything running efficiently and smoothly!

Thank you Dennis!

Rise to the Occasion Recognition

The Rise to the Occasion Recognition is given to individuals who see a need within the agency and go above and beyond to fill that need.

Please join us in congratulating Rain House Staff members – Jackie Knowles, Katrina Sherman, Deana Gardner, Kayana Webster, and Kyara Pavelchak – as the January Rise to the Occasion Recognition recipients.  They all have worked hard to keep Rain House running smoothing and efficiently while the program was short staffed.

They all often worked alone for long hours, managing the daily responsibilities a Community Residence presents without help or assistance.  In addition to the to managing their regular client caseloads, they each took on all aspects of client management for other residents outside of their respective caseloads as the need arose.  They all helped foster a consistent communication amongst program staff which allowed each subsequent staff and any relief staff to be current about the state of the house for the residents to remain safe and supported.

Jackie, Katrina, Deana, Kayana, and Kyara have continued to provide compassionate care to the Rain House residents despite the challenges the past year presented due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent staffing shortage. They each continue to demonstrate the work ethic, insight, and adaptability exemplified in the RISE ethos.

Staff on the RISE

Staff on the Rise is an employee recognition program which recognizes staff who possess an exemplary work ethic, excel on the job, are team players, and are an inspiration to others.

Please join us in congratulating Lindsey Cook, the recipient of the January Staff on the Rise recognition! Lindsey, joined the Youth Care Management team in January 2020 and was promoted to the Senior Youth Care Management position in the Springs of 2021. Read more about Lindsey and her contributions to RISE in the Staff on the RISE Blog.