One Step Closer to Becoming HHS

HHS Leadership met in late May for a mission, vision and guiding principles planning session. The session went over the top responses from the full-team survey to develop the new mission, vision and guiding principles for the combined HHS agency.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of this team of passionate, smart and dedicated public servants,” Said Director Garcia.

The Executive Team will come together for another working session June 20 to go over all feedback to date and compose a final draft of the mission, vision and guiding principles to be shared with the full HHS team.

Gov. Reynolds Signs DHS Bills into Law

Late last month Governor Reynolds signed two bills into law that are of significance to DHS.

HF2252 is a bill for an act under DHS including childcare assistance, child and family services, foster care, adoption and the dependent adult abuse information registry. 

HF2507 further establishes the State of Iowa as a leader in implementing the federal Family First Prevention Services Act. Implementation of Family First in Iowa has successfully resulted in significantly fewer children entering foster care, more children in family-based settings with relatives or fictive kin, and fewer children and youth placed in congregate care settings.  The legislation takes significant steps in aligning Iowa's child welfare system with Family First, as well as additional measures to ensure the best interests of the child are prioritized.

Iowa Aftercare Services Network (IASN) Satisfaction Survey Provides Positive Feedback

The Iowa Aftercare Services Program is a DHS contracted statewide service that provides case management and financial support to individuals age 18-23 who have aged out of foster care. The Youth Policy Institute of Iowa, under contract with the Iowa Aftercare Contractor, YSS, administered an online satisfaction survey of Iowa Aftercare Services Program participants across the state. Survey results are used to monitor the contract and to improve the program.

In March and early April 2022, 320 active Aftercare participants across the state completed the online, confidential survey, and these are among the results:

300 youth said Aftercare is “helpful” or “Very Helpful”.

205 youth said the pandemic funds were “Very Helpful”.

281 youth said their advocate helps them connect with people and resources.

275 youth said their advocate helps them feel hopeful about their future.

Many of the youth said positive things about their Self Sufficiency Advocate and about how the program helps them. Below is a response from one of the participants;

“Being a single mom before my daughter was here was something I didn't plan on having to go through but in the end its always worth it. I just want to take the time to really genuinely say I appreciate my [Aftercare] worker as she always reminds me that I'm a good mommy, I didn't have the best life myself as a kid. I was in and out of foster care being months old to aging out but she always makes me feel good about myself whether I'm broke and have nothing, I know I can do it and I will always push myself to figure it out no matter what, thank you to aftercare!”

DHS has contracted for the Iowa Aftercare Service Program since 2002 and believes it is a necessary part of the foster care system. “Some youth may be on their own, but they are not alone,” said Doug Wolfe, Foster Care Transition Program Manager. “Young people today face all sorts of challenges as they enter adulthood. The support youth receive from Iowa Aftercare shows every youth who has aged out of Iowa foster care that someone is on their side.”

More aftercare results can be found at https://iowaaftercare.org/program-results/.

Microsoft Teams: Cool Features!

Did you know there is a default linked to Microsoft Teams that allows your availability to be shown? With this default, peers can automatically see if you are away, currently in a meeting or available. You can also manually set and customize this status to show you're available or have a personal message. You can set this up by just logging into Teams.

Teams is also a great platform for instant messaging, so you can send a quick message versus email.

Briefs

DHS Featured Jobs

DHS is now hiring for the following featured jobs. Browse all open DHS positions here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/iowa and filter by agency or location.

Deputy Superintendent 

DHS is seeking a Deputy Superintendent to join the team at the State Training School (STS) in Eldora. This position will work with the Institutional Superintendent to provide leadership and management to a team of direct care, administrative and clinical professionals, and will be responsible to represent the facility and the department with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, the legislature, juvenile justice, law enforcement and policy makers. The Deputy Superintendent in conjunction with the Institutional Superintendent provides direction and oversight to the entire facility. This position is responsible for facility operations, staffing, budget, assisting with licensing/accreditation compliance, safety and well-being of all students and staff, etc. This is a full-time opportunity. Position closes June 19.

A detailed job description is available here.

Resident Treatment Worker

Woodward Resource Center (WRC) is seeking Resident Treatment Workers (RTWs) to join our Team. This job is located in Woodward, Iowa. Woodward is 35 minutes away from Ames and 34 minutes to Des Moines. No specific Education or Experience is Required! Starting pay is $17.24 per hour. In addition, there is a shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift. All Resident Treatment Workers (RTWs) are required to be available to work mandatory extra hours to meet Individual care standards. This is a full-time opportunity. Position closes June 23. 

A detailed job description is available here.

Psychiatric Security Specialist

The Psychiatric Security Specialist provides direct-care services of both a security and treatment nature at the Civil Commitment Unit For Sexual Offenders (CCUSO), located on the campus of the Cherokee Mental Health Institute in Cherokee, Iowa. Routine duties of the Psychiatric Security Specialist job include, but are not limited to: day to day supervision of various patient activities at the CCUSO facility, facilitation of psycho-educational group activities, documentation of patient behaviors, operation of the master control center, and escort and supervision of patients on medical trips outside the facility. This is a full-time opportunity. Position closes June 14. 

A detailed description is available here. 

Tell Us Why You Love Working For DHS

The work we do is important and deeply rewarding. As we recruit to build our team, we’ll highlight #TeamDHS members in a social media campaign – #IAmDHS. Posts for this campaign feature quotes on what we do and what we love most about our work. If you'd like to be featured, email Danielle Tesch at [email protected].

Follow DHS, Share Open Positions on LinkedIn

DHS is now active on LinkedIn, an online professional network with 756 million members in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. DHS will be using the platform to boost our recruitment efforts by sharing job opportunities and more.

Follow us on LinkedIn and bookmark or add the following link as a favorite in your browser: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iowadhs.

For inquiries on sharing a DHS job listing or related information on LinkedIn, reach out to Danielle Tesch at [email protected]. 

Years of Service

Thank You for Your Service:

5 years of service

Heather Murphy, State Training School

Veronica Lindley, Des Moines CSRU

Bradley Simon, Polk County River Place

Erin Sherrets, Independence MHI

Elizabeth Shonka, Independence MHI

Jesse Mcmillim, Woodward Resource Center

10 years of service

David Hutzell, Woodward Resource Center

Denise Barnes, Linn Co DHS/CSRU

Sharon Everts, Linn Co DHS/CSRU

Teresa Ruth, Glenwood Resource Center

David Wilcox, Woodward Resource Center

Kimberlee Jager, Woodbury Co DHS

Julie Pitzen, Black Hawk Co DHS

Jordan Ruhr, Glenwood Resource Center

15 years of service

Nicole Ruth, CSRU/Waterloo Regional Office

Amy Ryan, Glenwood Resource Center

Miranda Sheldahl, Woodward Resource Center

Seth Last, State Training School

Paul Horner, Scott County DHS

Jeremy Wuebker, Woodward Resource Center

Kelsey Sizemore, Buchanan Co DHS

Samantha Medland, North Lee County DHS

Melissa Kerr, Polk County Domicile

Amanda Nash, Mason City CSRU

Diane Heng, Glenwood Resource Center

Jane Loew, Cass County Courthouse

20 years of service

Susan Rowe, Woodward Resource Center

25 years of service

Sarah Demmel, Johnson Co DHS

Peggy Tonarelli, Clinton Co DHS

Jeffrey Nardini, Woodward Resource Center

35 years of service

Lanny Nihart, Hoover Building 

Kelly King, Independence MHI

Avis Tripilas, Hoover Building

Deanna Mccord, Spencer CSRU

Kathryn Jensen, Independence MHI

40 years of service

Catherine Vanbuer, Clinton Co DHS

Diane Gomez, Scott Co DHS