2002 National N.E.W. Annual Conference - Little Rock, AR
Workshop PresentersOpening Keynoter - Jerry Friedman
Executive Director of the American Public Human Services Association
Welfare Reform: NEW Skills, NEW Pride, NEW DirectionsJerry’s keynote recognized the importance for those in the eligibility field to “mine” new skills, take pride in what we do and ponder the new directions welfare reform can take us all in service to both our clients and ourselves.
American Public Human Services Association
810 First St. NE, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20002
(202) 682-0100
jfriedman@aspha.org
Closing Keynoter - Dr. Nancy Humphreys
Professor, University of Connecticut School of Social Work
A Forty Year RetrospectiveNancy Humphreys began her professional career in California in the field of eligibility work. Raised and educated in California, she received her MSW from the University of Southern California in 1963 and her DSW/PhD from the University of California, Loss Angeles. Nancy is past president of the National Association of Social Workers, the former Dean of the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and former Director of Social Work at Michigan State University.
University of Connecticut School of Social Work
1798 Asylum Ave.
West Hartford, CT 06117
Nancy.humphreys@uconn.edu
2002 CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS & PRESENTERS
Juggling the Challenges of the N.E.W. Century
How many times a day is the word “juggle” used in everyday conversation at human service agencies across the country? An Eligibility Worker is asked daily to juggle caseloads, juggle priorities, juggle the numbers and juggle schedules. Policies are tossed back and forth by legislators, administrators, and advocates, and when the new policy is passed to the Eligibility Worker, he/she must be ready to perform without a drop! This workshop will provide participants a “hands on” opportunity to recognize, explore and enhance their natural “juggling” talents, identify existing partners and connections to these new partners, learn the art of “letting go” as a means of dealing with stress and acquire an automatic license to play and make the work place more fun.Ann Marie Ott
Public & Professional Communications Specialist
Bureau of Healthcare Eligibility
1 W Wilson St, Room 365
Madison, WI 53707
608-261-6858
otta@dhfs.state.wi.us
&
David Groth
Coeur d' Alene, Idaho
grothfam@televar.com
208-667-4694
Waves of Respect
Respectful work place – what does it mean? What does it look like? How can only one person make a difference? Come ride the Wave of Respect and learn what makes an acceptable work place, how attitude affects the work place, how to turn a morale buster into a morale booster, how to show respect over the “wires” AND strategies for taking care of yourself and how you, too, can become a memorable contributor. It starts with YOU; YOU can be the pebble, when thrown into the pond causes waves to ripple across the water. You CAN make a difference.Debbie Simpkins
HSS Training Instructor
San Bernardino County, CA
Performance, Education and Resource Center
(909) 388-4263 (work)
dsimpkins@hss.sbcounty.gov
Establishing and Maintaining Effective Helping Relationships
This would be the first of a two phase or sequential workshop. This first workshop considers the helping relationship. The presenter will offer information and provide experiences and activities that will increase or enhance the eligibility worker’s ability to develop and maintain effective helping relationships. Participants will examine components of this type of relationship, focus on use of self, and review the roles of personal vs. professional values and belief systems as they impact successful engagement or connection with a range of clients. AND“Assessment: Strategies, Tools and Techniques”
This is the second phase of the two sequential workshops. In this second workshop, participants will engage in activities and discussions that assist with conducting effective and useful assessments. The emphasis will be on proper question formation and “asking”, types and purposes of assessments, presentation of self, attending and listening with the “third ear”, and so much more….Ms. Sylvia Gafford-Alexander
25 Sigourney St. /Hartford, CT 06106
Work (860) 424-5058 or home (860) 633-3365.
FUNdamentals in Technical Training
Training is fundamental no matter what your job description. This workshop will show you how to put the FUN in fundamental. Learn how to create an atmosphere of enjoyment, how adults learn, and how to laugh down the barriers to learning through the use of ice breakers, games and training toys. These concepts can be used in any length or type of training. This workshop is ideal for trainers, lead workers, supervisors--anyone involved with the teaching of technical material.
Amy Schouten (aschoute@doh.state.ut.us)
Carolyn Evans (caevans@doh.state.ut.us)
Trainers, Utah Department of Health, Bureau of Eligibility Services
288 N. 1460 W, Box 143107, SLC, UT 84114-2921
801-538 6098 or 801-538-6089
www.junglegroup.com/udoheol
The Administrative Fair Hearing Process: Preparation and Presentation
The administrative fair hearing process is mandated by federal and state regulations. The process should ensure that any individual aggrieved by an agency’s action is permitted the opportunity to contest that action in a fair and impartial manner. This workshop will examine the responsibility and authority of the administrative law judge and/or hearing official AND the Eligibility Worker (agency) during the appeal and hearing process. Several examples of suggested “best practices” will be discussed as well as the “bad practices” that should be avoided. Audience interaction, discussion and questions are a must for this workshop to be a success for all concerned.John L. Moody
Hearing and Legal Services Manager
Appeals and Fair Hearings Unit
Virginia Department of Social Services
Richmond, Virginia 23219
(804) 692- 1833 or jlm2@email1.dss.state.va.us
Overcoming Barriers to Learning: Strategies for Working with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effect
To begin improving the lifetime outcomes for individuals with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Fetal Alcohol Effect, we must assist in removing barriers to learning and accommodate the strengths, not the weaknesses of people afflicted with FAS/FAE. This session will focus on identifying the characteristics and causes of FAS/FAE as well as identifying self-sufficiency strategies for adults. Successful intervention for individuals with FAS/FAE will also be discussed. After attending this session, participants will be armed with several employment and job matching strategies for individuals with FAS/FAE.Amy K. Yardley, Training Manager,
Division of Public Assistance, State of Alaska.
(907)-269-7863.
Amy_Yardley@health.state.ak.us
Could YOU Be a Leader?
Are leaders born or created? Have you ever wanted to be a leader? What are the qualities of a good leader? Are managing and leading the same things? These and many more questions will be answered during this session. A review of the qualities of some of the great leaders of our time will be part of the fun. A short personality test will be given to help participants determine where they are in their leadership abilities and what they can work on to get to where they want to be. This is a fun filled interactive workshop, so sit back, relax and pass through a world of endless possibilities.Carin DeLeon, QA Supervisor
15089 Cedar Street
Hesperia, CA 92345
Work (760) 955-3690
cdeleon@dpss.co.san-bernardino.ca.us
Building a Better Team: The Eligibility Worker and Quality Control
Every Eligibility Professional wants to have cases that issue the correct benefits and QA has the expertise to help. Teamwork and communication between Eligibility Workers and QA is critical in improving and maintaining payment accuracy. How do you bring both together so you all work toward a common goal? Washington State cut its food stamp payment error rate by over 7% in one year because the Eligibility staff, QA, and Policy staff all worked together to make it happen. Find out how we did it, and learn ways you TOO can “build a better team.”Barbara Bucsko:
Office Chief, Office of Quality Assurance
Division of Employment & Assistance Programs
1009 College St. SE, MS 45410
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 413-3016
bucskbj@dshs.wa.govCarolyn Horlor:
Projects Coordinator, Office of Quality Assurance
Division of Employment & Assistance Programs
1009 College St. SE, MS 45410
Olympia, WA 98504
(360) 413-3039
horlocb@dshs.wa.gov
Computer Based Training (CBT) You can do it too – honest!
We have created computer based training courses for the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services. We are the technology experts, the content experts, and the graphic designers – Oh no, WE DID IT ALL – AND you can too! We found that learning only the very basics of a CBT authoring program combined with simple graphic design (clip art) and arming ourselves with knowledge of our agency’s programs enabled us to complete courses that have significant impact on our organization. These courses either address orienting new employees to our department or helping reduce a pesky food stamp error rate! We will show you how we did it. This workshop will demo these home grown courses, show what is available on the internet, provide a blueprint for how you can develop your own CBT AND there is even free stuff.Dicie Balash - Program Manager
University of Connecticut
25 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT 06106
work (860) 424-5561
dicie.balash@po.state.ct.us or DicieO@aol.com
&
Ned Grayeb, Program Director
Organizational and Skill Development
Connecticut Department of Social Services/
University of Connecticut School of Social Work
work (860) 424-5552
ned.grayeb@po.state.ct.us
Quality Customer Service Through Teamwork
This workshop will present an agency-wide team approach to quality customer service. It is built on the precept that good customer service is dependent upon both the “virtual team” of staff who serve the client at any given point of service AND the personal responsibility of each worker to individually give good service.Pamela Severs
Institute for Human Services
1706 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH 43203
614-251-6000 (preferred number is home office)
937-335-0640
jpsevers@aol.com*These are just a handful of the workshops offered at the 2002 Annual Training Conference; these presenters have given their permission to be featured on this website. For more information you may contact, Christeen M. Hanson, Chair of the Professional Development Committee.
