Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children
Jeffrey Fetzko, ACSW, LSW, CFRE
Vol. 5, No. 15, July 26, 2007
The Executive Director's News is published every two weeks, and is specifically written for the employees, board of trustees and friends of the Somerset Home. This issue and past issues are available on our web site at http://www.somersethome.org/main/pages/employee_newsletter.htm.
New Brahma House Policy Manual, TLP Policy Manual, Case Management Policy Manual
This week we are finalizing and distributing three new manuals, two revised policy manuals (Brahma House and TLP) and one completely new manual (Case Management).
The Brahma House and TLP manual have been streamlined, (reduced to half their former size) focusing on the most important information. During the next few weeks all existing program staff will be asked to attend training programs on the new manuals and all newly hired staff will start out with the new manual.
I would like to thank Alex Ciccone, Marshall Christie, Anne Bradley Sosis and Krystle Vanderbeek for their many hours of hard work on this project. I personally reviewed ten drafts of the Brahma House manual and saw the final product reduced from 300 to 150 pages.
The manual is much more user friendly and I believe that training with it will be an enjoyable experience for both new and veteran staff alike. The new "focus on fundamentals" approach will provide improved services to the youth in our care while inspiring confidence and continuity among all staff.
The case management manual will highlight the important tasks of the case management and clinical staff function in the agency and also provide additional insight into cross-program integration. This is the first draft of this manual although there were elements of these program components contained in each of the program manuals.
Group Home Test
How well do you know the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Manual of Standards for Group Homes? That is what our new test for program directors, residential services coordinators and case managers will ask next week we will administer our first group home standards test. All staff are expected to pass the test which will be administered quarterly.
I was very impressed to hear that study groups were formed in preparation for this exam. Good Luck to all of our exam participants!
Executive Director's Newsletter Goes E-Only
This is the first issue of the Executive Director's Newsletter delivered as "electronic only". For years, in addition to the email delivery, we have printed and attached the newsletter to the pay stubs. Since almost everyone has an email address we can simply email the newsletter and perhaps save a few trees as well. If you know someone who isn't getting one and would like to get the newsletter please forward their email address to me.
New Street Light on Whitney
This may seem like a small thing but this street light is really an important improvement for our Whitney House program. Early on, there were concerns raised by kids and staff that it was potentially dangerous to walk between Passages and Whitney House at night. There were also reports from neighbors that non-familiar cars were parking at the end of the dead end street at night.
After discussing the conditions at Whitney Court with local township administrators and law enforcemenT, we are very happy to report that a new street light was installed last week. Many thanks to our Bridgewater Township officials! They couldn't have been more supportive of our request.
We are very pleased to have this mini-project accomplished!
Pathways Program - New Minivan!
As part of a year end initiative by the NJ Department of Children and Families, Pathways has received a new van which will be used for housing and employment searches. The 2007 Dodge Caravan seats seven and will be ideal for trips where only one or two youth need to be transported.
As always, thank you all for your continued hard work on behalf of our youth.
