The Workplace November 2022

Trips to Pactola

Submitted by Sheri Perkins

The Learning Institute at Range Road had a fabulous October!  Trips to Pactola Lake were the perfect way to take advantage of the lovely temps and beautiful surroundings that autumn in the Black Hills provides.

Support the Learn ing Institute ! Book Driv e

Please join us in building the future and expanding the library at The Learning Institute.

pport the Learning Institute!

Any and all books accepted. A variety of reading level s and topics are desired, in an effort to meet the needs and interests of those served. Any books not specifically utilized by The Learning Institute library will be traded, or sold for trade credit, with community partners, in exchange for additional library materials.

Bingo at Range Road Bingo at Range Road was THE place to be in October! Such a great opportunity for fun, to see friends, and to win a prize.  Come on over and join us Wednesday mornings from 9am-10am at the Learning Institute!

ook Drive

Donation contact/location:

Support the Learn ing Institute ! Book Driv e

Leslie Pond, RSC Craiig Bakeer, Plant Street

Day Services Book Drive

We’re starting a book drive for the Learning Institute. If you are cleaning out your bookshelves, please consider bringing us the books you don’t want anymore.

n us in building the future and expanding the library at The Learning Institute.

Danette Schille, Range Road

Please join us in building the future and expanding the library at The Learning Institute.

ooks accepted. A variety of reading levels and topics are desired, in an meet the needs and interests of those served. Any books not specifically The Learning Institute library will be traded, or sold for trade credit, community partners, in exchange for additional library materials.

Donation contact/location:

Leslie Pond, RSC

Craiig Baker, Plant Street

Any and all books accepted. A variety of reading level s and topics are desired, in an effort to meet the needs and interests of those served. Any books not specifically utilized by The Learning Institute library will be traded, or sold for trade credit, with community partners, in exchange for additional library materials.

Danette Schille, Range Road

Donation contact/location:

Leslie Pond, RSC

Craig Baker, Plant Street

Danette Schille, Range Road

For more information, please contact:

Amy Speidel, Director of Learning Institute, aspeidel@bhws.com, 605-718-8654

For more information, please contact:

eidel, Director of Learning Institute, aspeidel@bhws.com, 605 718 8654

Craig Baker, Learning Institute Plant Street Supervisor, cbaker@bhws.com, 605-718-8334

Learning Institute

Street Supervisor, cbaker@bhws.com, 605-718-8334

NEW SIGN UP LINKS for The Learning Institute

Learning Institute CLOSED November 24th and 25th

•• Plant Street ••

Marvelous, Meticulous Manicures - Mondays @ 12/Sensory Room

Rough hands? In need of a trim? We will even splash some color on your nails, if you so desire.

Library - Mondays @ 9

We will be visiting the library. If you want to meet us there, just let us know!

Game Time - Tuesdays @ 12/Library

Join us for a variety of games, laughter, and fun.

Dog Companionship - Wednesdays @ 1/Art Center Come visit with Raina, our furry friend from the Pet Partners program.

Book Share - M, T, W, TH, F @ 2/BHW Library Come hear a short, engaging read-aloud story.

Quick Cooking Plant Street - M, T, W, TH, F @ 9 “Kitchen time with Mary Ellen” is what’s on the menu.

Lego Club - Wednesdays @ 1/BHW Art Center

Join us in our activities room (library) for Lego mania. You will create designs, build objects, and sometimes manipulate or play a game with the Legos.

Karaoke - Tuesdays @ 1 & Thursdays @ 9/Music room Do you enjoy music and singing?

Bingo - Thursdays @ 1/BHW Library

Feeling lucky? Come join us for a variety of Bingo games and win a prize!

Be Thrifty - Fridays @ 9/Library

Do you like shopping for thrift buys? Come to Plant Street's Activity Room for your turn at collecting items or creating fun objects out of "junk."

Swimming - Thursdays @ 9am & Fridays @ 12:00/Rec Swim Center

Join us at the Rec Center for a dip in the pool. (Must have your own swimsuit and towel.)

Arts/Crafts Creations - Fridays @ 9/Art Center

Like to be creative? Come express yourself through art.

Open Art Studio - M, T, W @ 9 /& M, T, TH @ 12 Come use our arts & craft supplies to express yourself. Our open studio is your open studio.

Coffee Chat - M, T, W, TH & F at 8:30 /Library

Enjoy conversation and coffee.

•• Range Road ••

Quick Cooking - M & F @ 10 & T, TH @ 1/Kitchen

The group will learn the following: safety in the kitchen, proper hygiene when cooking, reading recipes, microwave/oven and stove cooking, measuring, creating and tasting!

Dog Companionship - Mondays @ 1/Social Skills Center

Come visit with Raina, our furry friend from the Pet Partners program

Bible Study - Monday @ 9/Social Skills Center

This class is designed to educate people about the bible. Participants will study scriptures and have conversations about what they have read/listened to. They will talk about what the scriptures mean to them and how they can utilize them in their life.

Science Class - Wednesdays @ 2pm/Science Center

Participants will learn a variety of science by hands on experiments and research!

Bingo - Wednesdays @ 9/Social Skills Center

Join us for an old-fashioned game of BINGO!

Gym Walking - Wednesdays @ 12:30/Gym

Those shoes are made for walkin.’ Join us for laps in the gym!

Geography Class - Wednesdays @ 1/Social Skills Center

In each class we will learn about a different US state or country! We will learn information about various locations, such as symbols, flags, maps, state capitals, songs, birds, flowers, trees, tourist activities, the economy and much, much more.

Current Events-M-F @ 8:30/Social Skills Center

Come learn about local, state and national news! Read the paper and watch the news-open discussions!

DYI Projects - Thursdays @ 1/Social Skills Center

Enjoy making DIY Projects? Come join us for a variety of experiences using your hands and mind to create!

Chair Yoga - Tuesdays @ 9/Fitness Center

Great low impact class that can be done in a sitting position! Class will be adapted for all levels!

Traditional Yoga - Thursdays @ 10am/Fitness Center

Great low impact yoga for all ages! Class is taught by a volunteer!

Music Appreciation - Thursdays @ 9am/Social Skills Center

Join us in learning about music of the previous decades! Each class will focus on a different era and specific artists!

Book Club - Mondays @ 1/ Social Skills Center

Participants will get together to read or listen to a specific book being read! Group discussion will follow each reading!

Film Festival Friday - Fridays @ 1/ Social Skills Center

Join us for various films being shown each Friday in November!

Trivia Class - Mondays @ 11/Social Skills Center

Come play a quizzing game involving facts about a specific topic! Participants will be asked trivia questions (via books, YouTube, internet, etc.) Games may be played in a large group, individually or small teams

Adult Gel Pen Art - Wednesdays @ 10/Social Skills Center

Use your creativity to make Gel Drawings/Art

Global “Goodies" - Tuesdays @ 10/Social Skills Center

Enjoy unique candies and snacks from around the world!

Hiking Club - Thursdays @ 9/Meet in Fitness Center

Enjoy the outdoors and nature? Enjoy hiking? We will be doing various Black Hills Hikes! Be prepared with proper shoes, water bottle, attire and sunscreen. WEATHER PERMITTING-in inclement weather, we will be researching various hikes around the world.

History Class - Mondays @ 2pm/Science Center

Participants will learn a variety of history by hands on activities and research!

Weather Class - Tuesdays @ 2pm/Science Center

Participants will learn about weather by hands on activities and research!

Holiday Class - Thursdays @ 2pm/Science Center

Participants will learn about whacky holidays and upcoming holidays! Classes will be both hands on and research based!

Flutter Productions Classes •• at Range Road ••

Introduction to PlaywritingTuesdays @ 10/Flutter Productions

Introduction to DesignTuesdays @ 11/Flutter Productions

Introduction to ActingTuesdays @ 1/Flutter Productions

Dance ClassTuesdays @ 2/Flutter Productions

Once-a-Month Ukulele ClassWednesday Nov 2nd @ 12:30/Flutter Productions

Just the Two of Us - Two-person band playing various musical instruments and singing songs for any group to enjoy!

Nov 4th @ 9:30/PLANT

SCAC Holiday Cards

Don’t forget to get your one of a kind holiday cards, made by people supported! Stop by the Suzie Cappa Art Center to get yours today!

Heather Pickering Takes on a New Adventure

Submitted by Diane Flahaven Neu

Heather Pickering, Flutter Productions Artistic Director, has accepted a position with the USD College of Fine Arts Advisory Board. Heather says, “I’m excited to be in a position where we can bring disability awareness into the arts for the next generation." Heather, we congratulate you on your board membership opportunity!

Storm Forecast

A HUGE thank you to everyone that came out to support the BH Polar Plunge at Black Hills Harley Davidson on October 8th!

Congratulations to Chris Bultena from the ITS Team on receiving the best costume award. He jumped with the "Where's Waldo" ITS team. Rick Torgerson from the Parkview team jumped with the "Cat in the Hat" and Sy Neff, Lisa Warren, and David Tanner from the CSS/RSC team jumped with the "Pool Party."

The 2023 Polar Plunge date is set for October 28 at Black Hills Harley Davidson! Mark your calendars and join the fun!

Bowling Season Wrap Up

Congratulations to all the athletes who participated in the Black Hills Area Bowling Tournament at Meadowood Bowling Alley on October 14. This was our first bowling tournament since 2019! The tournament was a HUGE success with lots of awards and smiling faces!

November 10th we will celebrate and wrap up our bowling season with awards and pizza during athletes’ normally scheduled bowling times/bowling alleys.

Up next...BASKETBALL!

Signups will be sent out to ISC/FLL in November. We could use another coach or two to run basketball practices. If you are interested please let Amy Pipke know.

Please remember when signing people up for Special Olympics sports, athletes are required to have a Special Olympics physical, transportation, and a support person at practices and events.

Tidal Wave Makes a Wave of a Difference!

Thank you to everyone who had their car washed on Tidal Wave’s Charity Day on September 16. Over $1,000 was raised to support Black Hills Works’ mission and programming. Thank you!

A very special thank you to the people supported that helped out that day: Rick, Alex, Kimberly, Tommy, Josh, Carmen, Joleen, and Paul! Thank you to Kae and Dan for joining us and helping out too!

That’s a Wrap!

A tremendous thank you to everyone who was involved in the Foundation’s Annual Recognition Gala on October 21 and 22 – whether through volunteering, speaking, attending, or donating. The two evenings were wonderful celebrations not only for Richelle, Shane, Shannon, and Adam, but for everyone in attendance. A special thank you to BHW staff members Dianne Hartson and Ian Keller for speaking about why you love working at BHW, and to the people supported who volunteered on the panels both nights! We loved hearing from Dan and Bianca Boll, Josh’s parents, and Buster and Nancy Peterson, Darcy's parents. Both evenings were inspiring and touching, and an excellent way to share who and what BHW is all about with our local community.

The honorees’ videos will be shared on social media throughout November, so keep an eye out!

November Volunteer Spotlight: Lynn Nelson

Lynn Nelson has been volunteering with Black Hills Works for many, many years and through a variety of ways. For several years, Lynn volunteered at the Suzie Cappa Art Center and helped with Art Nights and other special events. Lynn thoroughly enjoyed being part of the art center and could often be heard saying, “It is a great way to fill your cup!”

Lynn volunteers with Flutter Productions as well, primarily assisting with the productions. She is happy to help set up and tear down the stage, and is always willing to pitch in wherever she can.

Over the last couple of years, Lynn has volunteered at the Foundation helping with the Putt-N-Pub and Annual Recognition Gala fundraising events. For the PNP, Lynn puts together and decorates the amazing raffle packages. As part of the Gala Planning committee, Lynn has helped us plan the decorations for the event and was instrumental in securing donations from Jolly Lane to enhance the beauty of the venue. She works hard to help set up and tear down when the gala is over and ensure that people feel welcomed.

Due to her consistent commitment to Black Hills Works, Lynn was honored at the 2015 Annual Recognition Gala as the Volunteer of the Year!

Thank you, Lynn, for sharing your talents and time with all of us, to ensure the mission of Black Hills Works is achieved. You are an inspiration to all of us!

November sponsors

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting Black Hills Works!

Hillard Wealth Solutions Group

Fundraising Activities

We love your enthusiasm and desire to hold individual fundraising activities to support the work you are doing, such as Facebook fundraisers, Pizza Ranch fundraising nights, etc.

But we have a favor to ask:

Before you do any fundraising activities or events, please contact the Foundation office first. Throughout the year we are doing different campaigns and activities to support the work you do, so we want to make sure your efforts are successful and don’t create conflicts with the work we are already doing.

Please contact Carrie Moser at x6207 with any questions or ideas. Again, thank you for all you do!

by Kevin Bybee

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again in 2023.

Central Kitchen is Open for Business

Submitted by Kevin Uchytil

We are excited and ready to start the sale of meals prepared at the Central Kitchen to our staff and people supported!

Starting November 1, we will be open for business. We are offering great value and convenience that on will help save the day when you’re too busy to make dinner! Also, on Friday November 4 (the first Soup Friday) we will be sampling the Chili that will be offered-so come give it a try.

To start, we will be only able to take cash and checks for payment at the front desk. But we are hoping to take credit card payments soon and will let you know when that option is available. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Laura, Don, or myself.

Black Hills Works Central Kitchen Employee Meal Offer

BHW Central Kitchen team has cooked up delicious meals for BHW Employees to purchase. Chef Don Frazier with his 40 plus years of cooking in partnership with Central Kitchen’s Manager Laura Smith and the great help from our Person Served team will be bringing you fabulous meals made from scratch. You simply choose the meal item and pay at the front desk and upon payment a receipt will be given to you. You will save this receipt to show proof of purchase to kitchen staff. Meals serve between two to four people, each container will always be frozen and approximately 2lbs, along with heating instructions. Limited quantities will be available, and may sell out fast. We will track the popularity of each meal and prepare accordingly in the future.

Choose

Pay

Each month we will have four items to choose from. For this month the items will be Chili, Lasagna, Chicken & Noodles and Pulled Pork (marinated, no BBQ sauce included).

Each meal will be $10.00. Pay for your chosen meal/meals at RSC Administration building via the front desk. The front desk will accept cash, check, debit and/or credit card.

Pick Up

Pick up your frozen entrees either on Tuesday’s or Friday’s each week between 1:00 – 3:00PM @ Central Kitchen. A receipt will be required to pick up.

Feedback is always welcome! Please contact Laura Smith, Don Frazier or Kevin Uchytil 605-718-8421

Now Hiring!

Submitted by Kelsey Egan

Are you or someone you know looking for a job and a new opportunity? Then we have an option for you, from community employment to group-supported work sites!

An Employment Interest Survey was conducted of 369 individuals, all who are people supported at BHW:

• 47% of the participants are currently employed, and •13% are interested in employment.

• Of those employed, 89% are satisfied with their current positions, and •16% are interested in expanding their employment experience.

Black Hills Works has several contracts at Ellsworth Air Force Base with many employment options currently open. The positions can be part-time or full-time and day or night shift. We will help you find the right job for you!

The Commissary is a military grocery store located on the Base. We are seeking individuals to stock shelves, work in the warehouse, and provide custodial services. The Mail Center is seeking a Mail Center Clerk whose duties include receiving, sorting, and delivering mail. If you're interested in food service, Raider Cafe is looking for cashiers and dishwashers.

Do you like to clean? We have that too! Custodial Services is seeking custodians at Ellsworth Air Force Base and in the community. Custodians do a variety of work, including restrooms, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, trash disposal, dusting, and sanitizing surfaces.

Reach out to the Employment Support Team to start your job search today!

Excellence in Service Award Winners!

Carla Streeter – Lacrosse Overall Winner

Dina Montero – CH Allen

Dallas Thompson – ITS Joe Lawrence – Edwards

Kimberly Ketelsen – CH Allen

Katie Zwetzig – ITS Matt Lawrence – St. Cloud

Marianna Robidouix – Parkview

Nicole Thompson – Community Homes

Rich Hern – ITS

Ricky Logan – Behavioral Health

Sheri Perkins – Learning Center

Sarah Spears – Johns Apartments

Carla was selected as Black Hills Works overall winner and will be recognized at the annual Simply the Best Conference in Mitchell. Her nomination will also be submitted to the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), which is our National Providers association for the chance to be selected as the South Dakota overall winner for Excellence in Service! Congratulations, Carla!

Focus on Safety

Submitted by Kevin Bybee

SAFETY TEAM MEMBERS

Congratulations to Katie FreemanHogan! The following is the email I received for this month's winner: "I was sitting at the stoplight and I observed Katie assisting a person supported off the bus and into Suzie Cappa. She not only safely used the lift to carefully lower the person off the bus, she also walked alongside the person to the door, and into the building. She walked alongside the person with their walker to ensure they were safely inside the building with patience, demonstrating all of the Powers of B. I was impressed with how careful she was when she lowered the person supported using the lift and the extra care she took to ensure the person made it into the building. Katie had no idea that I was sitting at the stoplight so it was refreshing to see how kind she was and how she demonstrated safe transportation practices! Great job, Katie!"

If you observe a fellow co-worker demonstrating good safety practices, please let myself know via an email, text, or phone call. Winners receive a "Safety Star" Yeti mug.

2023 PAYROLL SCHEDULE

of

Period

12/18/22 12/31/22

1/1/23 1/14/23

1/15/23 1/28/23

1/29/23 2/11/23

2/12/23 2/25/23

2/26/23 3/11/23

3/12/23 3/25/23

3/26/23 4/8/23

4/9/23 4/22/23

4/23/23 5/6/23

5/7/23 5/20/23

5/21/23 6/3/23

6/4/23 6/17/23

6/18/23 7/1/23

7/2/23 7/15/23

7/16/23 7/29/23

7/30/23 8/12/23

9/1/23 8/13/23 8/26/23

9/15/23 8/27/23 9/9/23

9/29/23 9/10/23 9/23/23

10/13/23 9/24/23 10/7/23

10/27/23 10/8/23 10/21/23

11/10/23 10/22/23 11/4/23

11/24/23 11/5/23 11/18/23

12/8/23 11/19/23 12/2/23

12/22/23 12/3/23 12/16/23 1/5/24 12/17/23 12/30/23

CEO Corner

Submitted by Brad Saathoff

What keeps Black Hills Works (BHW) relevant (Oxford dictionary: appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances; of contemporary interest) into the future? That’s a question I ask myself and others frequently. We have a long history as an organization going all the way back to 1958 when a small group of families got together and started services for their children in the basement of a West Boulevard home. Clearly, we are much different than that today. There has been an evolution of what BHW does and how we do it over this six plus decades. If we did not evolve and we were still providing services out of the basement of a private home, we would have become irrelevant and would no longer exist.

We also know through a large volume of data that the technological revolution has made for the pace of changes to everything in our society happen in a more rapid, nonstop way. We have been able to benefit from this to help keep our

work relevant in recent years. BHW was the first in the state to pilot remote supports starting in 2015 to better serve people in some homes for overnight support needs. This has been very successful. We currently have 11 locations where we use remote supports in some manner to help deliver supports. One of the good things that has come out of the last two and half years of the Public Health Emergency is that it has even further accelerated the technology possibilities that allow people to be supported remotely in their homes.

We are well into launching a pretty significant initiative that’s building off of this past remote supports success. We will be supporting more people with the help of remote supports by taking over the monitoring from our current partner who is located in Indiana. This will allow a vast array of new possibilities in how we can use this technology. Through detailed assessments of residents’ safety and support needs, we are able to develop a robust person-centered plan to use remote supports with even more people. It is now possible to support many people very well through parts of their entire day. Safety assurance can be met with remote supports so that their direct support staff can spend the most time possible on helping people with the most meaningful things in their day such as attainment of their personal goals.

We have also learned that support provided remotely very often is the most person-centered way to help people and much less invasive than having people physically present in their homes, bedrooms, kitchens, etc. Even though having equipment in people’s homes can be viewed as invasive if not done well, in many instances it resulted in less invasive supports than having a person physically around them constantly. Remote supports, when done well, usually also incorporate the use of environmental technologies to help people do more for themselves rather than having it done for them by a direct support staff. Examples would be technologies around self-medication administration, safe use of kitchen appliances technologies, personal hygiene devices and the list of possibilities is ever growing.

Engaging in these developments is one significant way that Black Hills Works will remain relevant today and well into the future. If you have ideas on how technology in any way could possibly help with making a positive impact for people we serve, reach out to our assistive technology team led by Tammy Murner and explore the vast possibilities that are available today and help with our evolution of how we deliver services so we remain relevant for decades to come.

People with Purpose

Submitted by Alexi Kieffer

We would like to take a moment to showcase one of the many people with purpose that we have serving our organization. Please take a moment to get to know more about Brookley Gjerest.

Why do you choose to work at BHW? I work at Black Hills Works because I feel as though we all have an obligation to help those who need our help. I am in alignment with the mission at Black Hills Works and it makes me proud to work for an organization that is serving a need in our community and making a difference.

What is something that you wish you would have known when you first started? When I first started I had no idea where this job would lead me. It is so much more than a job. I have had so many experiences and interactions that have challenged me as well as helped guide me on my career path and advancing my skill set. I am currently getting my degree in psychology to discover a deeper understanding of the human mind.

What is a moment that you are most proud of? It is hard to pick just one. The one that stands out the most in my mind was when I was able to support someone to access their community and be completely successful in doing so. It was great experience and one that I will not soon forget.

How do you build connections within your team? It is important to spend time to get to know people personally as well as focusing on how they feel supported and how they like to be appreciated. It is also important to seek out what support they need to make sure that they have a seat at the table and are in charge of their own personal and professional growth.

BROOKLEY GJERSET

Resource & Support Assistant Serving BHW since Feb 2014

REFERRAL INITIAL 6MO TOTAL

1st Referral $300 $200 $500

2nd Referral $400 $300 $700

3rd Referral $600 $400 $1000

4th Referral Same as 3rd (from here on out)

• The employee will receive this extra pay on his/her paycheck, and it will be subject to taxes and his/her 401k contribution.

• If two referring employees are listed, the bonus is split.

• Former employees - at least 6 months since he/ she left before a referring employee is eligible.

• The referring employee(s) will receive the extra pay on their next paycheck following 30 days from the employment start date of their referral/ new hire.

• Effective 12/12/2021

Business cards for the purpose of recruitment are available through HR Department.