Our Sincere Apology to Mr. SLONE

In our last issue of The Workplace, we applauded

Mr. Darrell Slone for his accomplishment of being

chosen to be a part of the Leadership Rapid City

class of 2019.

Unfortunately, we misspelled Darrell’s name. We

are sorry for this error, and we would like to

celebrate Mr. Slone again for his accomplishment.

NEW Behavior Health Program

Sept. 1 – The new Behavior Health Program is

officially in its beginning phases. Now supporting

two people at our West Omaha apartments,

Behavior Health Technicians were hired to provide

daily support needed by people in the program.

Lead by Leah Drummond and Mallory Darling, a

new training curriculum developed by the Resource

& Support Department was implemented in order to

best support those who receive services from this

program.

Program development has been underway for ten

months, on September 1. Following this first phase,

more people that fit the admission criteria will be

served in the future. The Behavioral Health

Program is thrilled to be able to provide support to

our first two people in need, and are looking

forward to the future growth and opportunity of the

program.

Finders Keepers

Did you know that when you refer a friend to work

at Black Hills Works, you can benefit?

For qualified referrals, you will receive an initial

bonus when your referral signs on, and another after

that person is with Black Hills Works for six

months. If two referring employees are listed, the

bonus is split.

Initially 6 months Total:

1st referral $200 $100 $300

2nd referral $200 $200 $400

3rd referral $200 $300 $500

4th referral Same as 3rd referral, here on out.

This referral program is open to all employees. At

our winter party, employed staff who have referred

employees and who have been with us for at least

six months, will be eligible for a drawing of $100,

with six winners of that drawing. Your name will go

into the hat for each qualified referral (both the

employee and referral must still be employed at the

time of the drawing).

A-Team Announcements: Quarter Three

Sept. 9th – The A-Team Black Hills had their third

quarter "Patriot's Day Recognition" event!

The members

of the group

had a

wonderful time

sharing and

expressing

their personal patriotism as active American citizens

with our special guests, Post 22's American Legion

Riders. The Riders represented members of many

different service branches, military eras, the

Auxiliary and home-front family members. Each of

them shared personal tributes as to why they still

serve this nation we all love. The Riders also shared

a very moving flag-folding ceremony, presenting

the flag to the A-Team Black Hills to display at

October 2019

future events. The Riders left the event in

formation, their bikes roaring and flags waving.

Rapid City Attorney Brandy Rhead, representing

Disability Rights South Dakota, also spoke and

shared great participation prizes.

A-Team members presented some beautiful painted

rocks as thank you’s to the guests.

Special thanks to self-advocate A-Team Black Hills

members for attending; to the A-Team Leaders,

especially Lisa Merchen and our staff facilitators; to

BakeWorks for the wonderful food; to our talented

artists from Plant Street for the great posters and

beautiful painted rocks; thanks to Cindy Whitmore

for taking pictures; and to Black Hills Works for

once again providing the venue to hold the

gathering. Other special shout-outs to are due to

Northern Hills

Training

Center's A-

Team

representative

and to the Sturgis Black Hills Special Service A-

Team representatives for attending.

A Change in Your 401(k)

Black Hills Works 401(k) will have a new

investment option for participants. As of October

23, funds will be transferred from Franklin Mutual

Quest to American Funds Global Balanced.

No action by participants will need to be taken.

Current funds will be transferred automatically and

will be coordinated with Fringe Benefits and other

mutual fund families. All future contributions will

be directed from your existing fund into this

replacement fund.

This transfer, as specified, is optional and if you do

not approve of the switch, access your account

before October 23 when the plan is implemented.

To access your account, go to www.fbdmn.com, or

call 877-410-9984 and enter the “Provider Number”

(4323). Or call Marie Greenfield-Sahli in

accounting for more information.

Quality Support Specialists Rejoice!

Sept. 18 – Our amazing Quality Support Specialist

team members attended a team building event at

Murphy’s Pub & Grill to celebrate the work that

they had all done in coordination with new

requirements from the State of South Dakota.

On March 31,

Community Support

Providers (CSP)

were mandated by

the South Dakota

Division of

Developmental

Disabilities to

implement the use of

Therap, a web-based

program to collect

and share

information about

persons supported, that is accessible to other

entities.

Our QSSs were vital in this transition, updating

Data Forms, uploading documents, and creating and

maintaining ISP programs, based off goals and

supports listed in a person’s ISP Plan. Our QSS

team put in many hours in this transition, in addition

to their normal workload. This celebration was

well-deserved!

Directors Take a New Direction

Recently, Black Hills Works has expanded our

Residential Service Director team to involve six

supervisors: Becky Trainer-Carlson, Ian Kellar,

Laura Gibson, Douglas Sorensen, Tina Sorenson-

Stevens, and Alison Stoeckmann.

With this transition, Frontline Leader Brookley

Garman wanted to give a shout out to Laura Gibson

Pictured, Left to Right: Ian Ke llar, Diane F lahaven-Neu, Pam Nelson, Amy Jobgen, Kr iss Kuroiwa, Erin Neal, Robin DeBoer, Sarah Salazar Nicole Thompson, Mal lory Buxton, Lisa Batteen, Kat Riewe, Apr il Moore, Shelby Wentz, Barb Larsen, Leah Drummond, Anna Heinr ich, Calv in Gall imore, Heidi Clark, Kelly Delker & Brad Saathoff. Not Pictured: Jacki Schoenrock, Michelle Aman

for making the process smooth. Brookley, and all of

the other Frontline Leaders are excited to learn how

to work best with the change, and with their newly

appointed Directors, and how their Directors can

best work with them.

We are excited to see how this evolution will go

with our amazing housing teams!

United Day of Caring Adopts-a-Home

Sept. 5 – United Way organized and hosted the

“United Day of Caring,” which celebrates

volunteerism by assigning persons who sign up for

community projects

Vast Broadband took on the duty of completing

landscaping at our West Omaha apartments, the first

home from the Adopt-a-Home program which

launched in 2018. The program is designed to

enhance the nearly 30 homes that Black Hills

Works utilizes, making special accommodations,

assistive technologies, environmental upgrades and

other

enhancement

efforts to ensure

that the people

we support feel

comfortable,

capable and

confident in

their homes.

Thanks to the help of several generous donors, the

Foundation office was able to provide a covered

patio for the residents of the West Omaha

apartments so that they can enjoy picnics in their

new space, rain or shine!

Father-Son Duo Win Again!

David (pictured) and Dick

McConnell are the father-

son athletic team of this

decade. In early September,

the South Dakota Senior

Games took place in

Watertown, SD.

David and Dick both

participated. David, who is

supported by Black Hills

Works, is now the State

Champion in the 100 yd.

freestyle, 50 yd. backstroke, and 50 yd.

breaststroke! Dick and David have participated in

the Senior Games together for multiple years, and

David has won many titles in the competitions.

Congratulations, David and Dick, for your most

accomplishments!

October 1: Brian Cho

October 2: Lorraine Flynn, Rhiannon Martin

October 4: Danette Schille

October 5: Douglas Neisz, Jennifer Williams

October 6: Annette Christman, Laurie Todd, Angela

Messmer

October 7: John Klingman, Porscha Grewell, Tina

Sorenson-Stevens

October 9: Julia Kelly

As we get closer to the Holidays, we have found that

many people give in-kind donations; non-monetary

gifts for the people we support can utilize. As these

donations come into your department, please keep

a record of what was given and by whom, and

forward to the Foundation office. If your

department needs donation receipts, please contact

the Foundation office. 😊

October 10: Randy Rounker, Hannah Francis

October 11: Shanna Krick

October 12: Trinity Delaney

October 13: Malinda Larson

October 14: Tanya Fritz, Emily Lescure, Hannah

Bressler

October 15: Lynn Carter, Kayley Neville, Dana

Luxem

October 17: Kristina Kuroiwa, Victoria Hagg

October 19: Joshua Miller, James Parrent

October 20: Tammie Quinn, Lisa Batteen, Laurie

Eisenbraun

October 21: Linda Pulse, Barbara Green, Savannah

Baldwin

October 22: Joe Lawrance

October 23: Shavon Littleton, Dallis Henrichs

October 24: Diane Ramirez

October 25: Kelli Oborny

October 26: Michelle Aman, Tiffany Vance

October 27: Emily Burdick, Gail Mai

October 28: Carly Worster

October 29: Veronica Carda, Linda Berry

October 30: Sydney Engesser

October 31: Nichole Suszynski

All staff members and people supported

receive discounted tickets to the Annual

Recognition Gala, $40 per ticket. This offer is

good for a maximum of two tickets for every

staff member, or person supported. To

purchase these tickets, please contact the

Foundation office at (605)718-6272.

Employment Anniversaries

Shaun Archer 23 years

Mike Brennan 26 years

Kimberly Ketelsen 15 years

Kim Helseth 35 years

Lea Haisch 28 years

Jean Jackson 39 years

Robin Madsen 20 years

Doug Meiron 39 years

Carla Julius 15 years

Debra Gipson 15 years

Lesli Pond 21 years

Sarah Salazar 18 years

Cheryl Hurley 22 years

Melanie Strauss 14 years

Kerry Yantes 20 years

Jane Bird 7 years

Shavon Littleton 2 years

Rodney Mason 4 years

Terry Wilson 29 years

Melissa Alexander 9 years

Lisa Batteen 29 years

Randy Sheppard 6 years

Antonio Nalls 7 years

Cassandra Waggner 1 year

Tressee Colhoff 5 years

Patricia Johnson 4 years

Ryan Charging Cloud 3 years

Kendsy Chilstrom 1 year

Danielle Clyde 3 years

Jin Washington 3 years

Deborah Penticoff 1 year

James Frasier 2 years

Joshua McElroy 2 years

Yolanda Coohen 2 years

Scott Lantz 1 years

Kaitlyn Wolber 1 year

Amanda Borchert 1 year

Angelique Weeks 1 year

Jesse Williams 1 year

Jacqueline Crisman 1 year

Christine Burton 1 year

Carl Dixon 43 years

Richard Hern 29 years

A Memorial to the Cappa Legacy

Sept. 13—The Suzie Cappa Art Center hosts a

monthly Art Night. The month of September,

however, was extra special. On September 13, we

celebrated the legacy of Suzie Cappa and her late

sister, Pam Cappa Lindquist, who passed away in

2018.

Pam, whose family and friends were attendance,

was remembered for her many contributions to the

Suzie Cappa Art

Center with a

commemorative

plaque.

Her plaque now

hangs on the

wall opposite

Suzie’s portrait

and artwork.

Every person who walks in the gallery, and forward

into the studio, will feel the love between two

sisters.

Commit to Get Fit Challenge

Residential recently completed a “Get Fit

Challenge.” With assistance from the nurse in the

Intensive Treatment Services program, participants

were challenged to lead a healthier lifestyle with

prizes for working out, taking the most steps, and

for drinking the least amount of sodas!

While this program is only in its first month, we

have had both small and large victories to celebrate,

with our winning participant losing 10 pounds!

Losing weight and making the change to be healthy

can be challenging, but the successes of the Get Fit

Challenge has expanded to other Frontline Leaders

in residential work areas, so that they may apply it

to their homes as well. The ITS program won the

Residential Services Traveling Trophy for the

success of this challenge!

Fall Special Olympic Events in Full Swing

Sept. 21 –

West River

Special

Olympic

teams had

bountiful

competition

the last few

weekends of

September.

The Black Hills Works adult team, The Storm,

participated in both Bocce Ball and Softball

tournaments over the last weekend of summer.

October is National Disability

Employment Awareness Month

The month of October marks 74 years of Congress

acknowledging the unique contributions that

individuals with disabilities can contribute to

businesses.

Every October, an annual awareness campaign

takes place. Its purpose is to educate the general

public about disability employment issues and

celebrate the contributions of America’s workers

with disabilities. The national theme for 2019 is

“The Right Talent, Right Now.”

People supported have a variety of jobs around the

community working at different enterprises such as

Regional Health, Suzie Cappa Art Center, Mount

Rushmore and Crazy Horse, and the Raider Café on

Ellsworth Air Force Base—we are consistently

trying to support and help our workforce grow in

the Black Hills community.

Welcome New Employees!

Sarah Adam Saint Cloud

Ashley Spear Edwards- C

Tena Osborne Sitka

Roger Olson Harney View

Peace Miller Choices

Marianna Robidoux Parkview

Jason Bonnet Commissary

Klayson Jager Learning Center

Alison Stoeckmann RSC

Paulina Shangreaux Allen

Lexie Cole Saint Cloud

Kevin Bybee RSC

Theresa Whitlock Allen

Philip Brown TBIRC

Scott Lemon Suzie Cappa Art Center

Carolina Muren Minnesota

Shyanne Sparks Minnesota

Erika Winchester Saint Cloud

Kianna Menon Choices

HIPAA Reminder & Tips

• Keep usernames and passwords secure.

• Never disclose passwords or share login

credentials

• Never leave portable devices or documents

unattended

• Do not dispose of Personal Health Information in

regular trash bins

• Never access Person Served information out of

curiosity

• Do not share Personal Health Information on

social media—this includes photos

• Report any and all potential HIPAA violations

Power of B Winners—September

Congratulations to this month’s Power of B

recipients: Jennifer Peterson, Kathy McNeary,

Amy Jobgen and Missy Konrad. Thank you all

for living out the principles of the Power of B in

your work.

Jennifer is being recognized for being extremely

helpful when Saint Cloud was short on their

Frontline Leader. He has been doing a lot of extra

work assisting her co-workers in the new therap

program, coming to fire drills after other staff had

left, and she keeps up with a lot of different

accounts for the people who live at the Saint Cloud

apartments.

Kathy was nominated by TWO of her peers at the

Saint Cloud apartments. She has gone above and

beyond helping her coworkers; coming four hours

before her scheduled shift to assist in helping a

gentleman to the ER who struggles with any kind of

doctors’ appointment, and refused to go with any of

the staff who was on shift. Kathy kept the

gentleman calm and cooperative during the

procedures, tests, and waiting, using problem

solving skills with the nurse to ensure that the

gentleman followed the instructed procedures. As

well, Kathy has filled in gaps in her home when is

needed, and will even come in, all the way from

Custer, on her vacation days to take care of the

people she supports.

Amy is being recognized for stepping up to help

with Special Olympics, getting athletes to

competitions and events. Amy helped organize the

bocce ball and softball tournament schedules, all

while managing her day-to-day caseload. Not only

does she help our athletes, Amy coaches her own

children’s sports teams after work.

Missy is being recognized for her life saving efforts

in the Hampton home. In August, staff observed a

person supported begin to choke on food. Missy

stayed calm and began to perform the Heimlich

maneuver. The person supported started turning

blue and not breathing, and 911 was notified. Missy

continued performing the Heimlich until the item

was partially dislodged and the person supported

was able to breathe on his own. Missy’s quick

actions likely helped avert a tragedy, saving a life.

Power of B

Nomination Form

Name of the staff person you’d like to recognize:

Title of the person you are recognizing:

Department of area they work in:

Check the “B” that applies with the example of the “B” they demonstrated.

For Being Respectful of Others

For Being Accountable

For Being Your Best (Their Best)

For Being Supportive Reason for the nomination: Please provide a detailed explanation with specific information on what you would

like to recognize this person for.

Your name and title: _____________________________

Your department or area: ___ __

Please send this form to Alexi Kieffer at RSC. Your nominee could be selected to receive the $50 prize and be

featured in The Workplace.

Feel free to make copies of this form for additional people you’d like to recognize. There will be up to 5 winners

selected each month to receive the Power of B prize and recognition. 9-6-16 Rev 5-30-18