Vol. 2, No. 8, April 8, 2004
The executive director news is published specifically for the employees of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues of this newsletter are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
Health Insurance Update
On April 1, 2004 our health insurance plan will switch from Oxford to Horizon. We did not get the new insurance cards as expected by April 1, 2004 due to excessive red tape. However, you should have received a letter with your policy number and group number which you can use until the cards arrive this week. We expect your cards to be delivered no later than today and apologize for any inconvenience. Please contact Gary Kreutzer if you have any questions about coverage or if you experience any problems with the new health insurance program at 908-526-6605.
We are evaluating the possibility of upgrading the dental insurance plan. We have found a carrier that has developed a special pricing program for one of the best dental programs available and we are hopeful that we can make the transition to the new plan this spring. This special pricing allows us to provide additional benefits for approximately the same premium. The market for health/dental insurance products is always changing and we continuously evaluate all of our insurance plans and pricing in an effort to maximize benefits and control costs.
As you may know, the Board of Trustees has authorized the purchase of the first of two five-bed programs for the My Place Transitional Living program. This is a very exciting time in the development of our agency. We are very excited to expand services to meet the need of older youth who were former clients of the child welfare system not quite ready to assume full adult responsibility.
What's an Executive Coach? You may be asked to be interviewed by an executive coach during the next few weeks or find an executive coach sitting in on a meeting. Associate executive director Anne Bradley Sosis, program director Alex Ciccone and myself have all taken on executive coaches who will be working with us through the Spring.
The interviews are all part of what is called "360 Feedback". Here is how it works: The coach meets with 10-12 individuals who have contact with the executive and develops an analysis which is shared with the executive. All interviews are kept confidential and information communicated back to the executive is not attributed to any specific person. The data collection is supplemented by observations and concludes with 3-5 sessions of discussion of the findings and possible strategies to improve effectiveness.
This has been a very productive and exciting process and I want to thank all of you who have participated and contributed to the success of this effort.
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
Sincerely,