This year’s All Staff Inservice Day was held on Monday, August 5 at Botanica, Wichita Gardens. The day is set aside to gather employees, celebrate successes, honor staff milestones and cast a vision for Rainbows’ future. Board Chair, Janeen Hughes helped welcome employees as they arrived.
The theme for this year’s event was centered on the Guiding Principle of: Demonstrate leadership in our industry. It integrates well with our Strategic Focus Area to Promote Talent Development by attracting, retaining, and supporting world-class talent.
Leadership is defined as a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more coherent and cohesive. A good leader is one who is always three steps ahead of the others. She looks out for the people before herself. ”I see several individuals with these characteristics in the room today,” said Deb Voth, President.
One area of leadership at Rainbows is Technology. The myEvolv client data base system that allows for easier access to data on a child over their lifetime of services is a huge step in technology. Rainbows is the very first Netsmart customer to implement the myEvolv Anywhere system that allows a therapist to input data at the in-home visit and have it automatically downloaded when connected to wifi.
Soon to come will be the myHealthPointe parent portal that will provide new communication options for families to access appointments, documents and reports, plus communicate with therapists, case managers and other staff.
Deb shared progress on the Strategic Plan and the Voice of the Employee survey results including: above industry benchmark ratings on Company Pride, staff thinking highly of Rainbows’ services as well as recommending Rainbows a place to work.
We celebrated with the Development team on raising more than $1.2 million for operations and exceeding this year’s fundraising goal.
A significant number of corporate volunteers have made several projects possible at all 3 Rainbows’ locations over the past year. There are more projects and volunteer groups in the works.
Vice President of Human Resources Gay Kimble challenged all staff to see how they are leaders in their present position contributing to the Rainbows’ mission. Both Alice Boutz, Mental Health Specialist, and Dr. Patrick Washington, Audiologist, shared their view of leadership in their roles.
Taking the opportunity to be a leader for United Way of the Plains, Rainbows kicked off our Employee campaign, educated staff on the importance of contributions, and drew among givers for prizes.
Board Member, Michelle Lohmeier, Strategic Advisor to Spirit AeroSystems, shared several leadership examples throughout her career in military aerospace. She cited Relationship Building as Key, Diplomacy not Defensiveness, and Transparency Trumps Emotion as leadership qualities that made a difference in her experiences. She encouraged everyone to lead from within and not be limited by other’s expectations.
Employees who have been at Rainbows for one year were honored with their 1 year pin. Those who have served 5 years received their 5 year clocks. Five-year award recipients were Andrew Walston, Accountant, Finance Department; Kristin McCleerey, Speech Language Pathologist with CBETS; Kelly Welch, Speech Language Pathologist, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services; Katherine Bally, Speech Language Pathologist, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services; Amy Williams, Speech Language Pathologist with CBETS; Tammy Gream, Social Worker, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services; Angela Kessler, Vice President of Development; Cyndie Silmon, Mental Health Specialist; Olga Valenciana, Family Case Manager, Sedgwick County Infant/Toddler Services; and Stefanie Loubert, Lead Teacher, Kids’ Point Early Care and Education.
Two employees have reached the 10 year mark and will be included in 10:15+ Club activities: Kathy Van Zelfden, Mental Health Services and Calley Kinchion, Family Support Services.
Peggy Burns was recognized as the 2018 Prism Award recipient.
The afternoon training was provided by Dr. Jennifer Francois with Kansas State University on Math Literacy for Young Children.
