EDAI Corner

Olympic National Park

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Recognizing Excellence in Our Workforce

Region 1 is excited to spotlight our new Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program Manager, Kara Barnes, who joined us in late September. Kara’s background is in mental health counselling working with adults and adolescents in outpatient settings. As with many of our APS investigators, Kara was experiencing a high caseload and was putting in long hours at the onset of the pandemic due to retention issues at the agency she worked. Kara found her stamina and motivation were also plummeting and she was beginning to experience burnout for the first time and wondered if she could make it another year in the social services field. Kara is still climbing her way out and relearning how to take care of herself but found her experience to be an unforgettable lesson that is informing her work in R1 – nothing can take the place of a person’s wellness. No job success, no amount of recognition or feelings of productivity at work will rescue a person if their physical and mental health decline.

Kara has been focused and eager from her first day with APS to provide interventions such as the Workday Wind Down that demonstrates time management and stress reduction skills. She has also started having conversations about burnout and compassion fatigue and working with employees individually to improve their productivity at work by taking intentional breaks during the workday and connecting them to mental health resources in their communities. Kara reminds us of the importance for those in the social services field to recognize that our capacity to serve the vulnerable populations is only as great as our capacity to take care of our own wellbeing.

Kara is honored to be sharing this message with the amazing folks in R1 APS, but we are the fortunate ones to have Kara’s experience and passion for helping our dedicated APS staff in Region 1.

Michael Ashby joined the Mt Vernon team stationed in Bellingham in October 2022. Mike came to APS with over 30 years of law enforcement experience including six years as a Chief of police for Nooksack. Mike has experience as a hostage negotiator, a master level defensive tactics instructor, a detective, and an instructor at the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC). Mike was chosen to travel to Sakhalin, Russia and teach at the Russian national academy, on an instructor exchange program.

Kara Barnes

is the Critical Incident Stress Management Program Manager for Region 1 in Washington’s Adult Protective Services

Michael Ashby

is an Investigator in Region 2’s Bellingham office in Washington’s Adult Protective Services

Denise Rammell

is a Social Health Program Consultant in Region 3’s Tumwater office in Washington’s Adult Protective Services

Mike sits on several law enforcement boards dedicated to improvement of police accountability. In 2021, with the help of legislators, he promoted payment for police body cameras in several police departments into the Washington State budget. Mike sat on the “Certification Panel” at the CJTC, which reviewed officers terminated from employment for possible de-certification from further law enforcement employment.

Mike is married and his wife is an attorney in Vancouver BC. Their son is in his final year of medical school at University of Washington. When asked how he feels about working at APS so far, he stated he enjoys the opportunity to give back, and continue in a helping profession. In his spare time, he collects antique Japanese swords, between the 12th and 16th century. He also enjoys nature walks with his wife.

Mike has been an excellent addition to the APS investigative team. We value his experience and expertise and can’t wait to get him out in the field! One of Denise Rammell’s many attributes is her passion for helping people, demonstrated by supporting Adult Protective Services for 15 years. Denise has never let her eye stray too far from the field and always finds an excuse to get out into the field to support the community and our agency by coaching new and senior staff. She’s no stranger to hard work and has taken on several projects this year to support APS in moving forward against the many challenges.

Currently leading the PCG project, with the support of the SHPC team, Denise has worked hard to maintain high-quality reviews and support the region’s goals. She is the first to advocate for vulnerable adults in our community and staff. Whether it is working long hours to support projects, supporting staff in the field, answering questions of new hires, or even carrying cases herself, Denise has worked very hard to support all areas of the region.

Denise has a theme song she reminds us of all of, “Don’t stop believing,” she carries this mantra and reminds us all to be compassionate and candid leaders as we work through complex issues.