DCSD Insider Report Page 1 Issue X

The DCSD Insider Report

December 2016

Quarterly Newsletter

Delinquency & Court Services Division (DCSD) presents….

Issue X

Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)

Food For Thought...

Happy Holidays

to the

Entire DCSD Team!

THANK YOU

for all your hard work this year!!!

We Celebrated

with a Successful

Gift Exchange!!

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”

-Winston Churchill

DCSD Insider Report Page 2 Issue X

In This Issue Food for Thought

2016 Celebrations

Announcements &

News

Program Updates

Unity Club Updates

Inspiration

The DCSD Insider’s

Club

Champion’s Club

Birthdays

Anniversaries

Announcements &

News

Values in Action

Committee Updates

Mark Mertens DCSD Administrator

~ Announcements and News ~

CALLING ALL INTERESTED!!!

Do YOU have

Newsletter or Unity Club

Contributions???

DCSD would like to establish a

Newsletter Committee to carry

out the Newsletter tasks, in-

cluding deciding what goes into

each issue.

If you are interested in be-

coming a part of bringing the

DCSD Insider Report to life

every quarter OR have ide-

as for department events,

please contact

De Shell Parker via email at

DeShell.Parker@milwaukee

countywi.gov

Remember…

The Unity Club is Always

Accepting Donations! See

Theresa Randall if you’re in-

terested in giving.

Upcoming Event:

Winter Celebration

Friday, January 13th @

Abigails’s on Burleigh 6-10PM

Purchase Your Tickets

NOW!! 15$ Each/ 2 for 25$

See any

Unity Club Member

Program Updates

Probation Review Update The probation review remains underway.

Surveying is currently taking place, please

check your email for the survey link. All of

your feedback and participation is greatly

appreciated! A subsequent site visit will

take place January 4th & 5th, 2017. Stay

tuned for more updates…

Targeted Monitoring Programs Our Targeted Monitoring Program has been

modified. We will no longer have the separation

of program areas, such as Serious Chronic Of-

fender Program (SCOP), Firearms (FA) and

Burglary/Auto Monitoring (B/AMP). We will

now have one program titled Intensive Moni-

toring Program (IMP) with all of the same

services available. There will be one referral,

with the option to indicate whether a Firearms

review is necessary. All youth needs will be

assessed as a part of the referral intake process

and intensity of necessary services will be de-

termined and administered according to need.

Our Milwaukee County Accountability Pro-

gram (MCAP) will remain the same—

distinct from IMP.

Client Satisfaction Process The Quality Assurance (QA) Department is

working on developing a standardized case

practice model that focuses on the case assign-

ment and case closing aspects of case work. It

will include steps and practices for both case

assignment and case closure, but most im-

portantly it will create a mechanism for our cli-

ents to give us feedback on the services that we

provide with a client satisfaction survey. De-

velopment of the Case Practice Protocol has

been a collaborative effort between the Continu-

ous Quality Improvement plan for the division ,

the NIATx Star QI project and the Case Pro-

cessing Workgroup input.

Detention Center Updates Our Detention Center Youth face some

unique challenges and are “SENDING

SOME LOVE” for the holidays. Take a

look at the website to learn more… http://

www.ceeas.org/sending-some-love/

Unity Club Surveys will

be coming soon…

Take a moment to fill

them out—Give your in-

put and tell us what

events you want to see in

2017...

DCSD Insider Report Page 3 Issue X

Unity Club Celebrations!

We celebrated our Holiday Potluck & Gift Exchange on December 8th…

We held our Chili and Bake Off on November 4th...

We Showed Up!!

We Showed LOVE!!!

YUM!!!

COLD Cider

HOT Cider Judging Food

is

Hard Work!!

DCSD Insider Report Page 4 Issue X

~ Inspiration ~ A Note from our Leader...

I’d like to start a dialog about the things that inspire, motivate, and shape who we are as professionals and as

members of this division. I bet that each of you have had this experience: You meet someone new and they ask

you what you do for a living. When you tell them, they respond back with something like "it takes a special

person to do what you do.” Or, “you must be very patient and passionate about youth." Of course, they are

right. But, that doesn't begin to describe the reasons that many of us get into this type of work. Inspiration and

commitment can come from many sources.

Memorializing Tom Wanta, Former Administrator of DCSD…

Tom Wanta’s example of courage and perseverance in the face of adversity will stay

with me for the rest of my life. Through his vision and leadership, he was the driving

force that brought effective, evidence-based practices to our division. I had the privi-

lege of working with Tom on various state Juvenile Justice initiatives over the years.

He was a humble but extraordinary person whose passion for helping youth and fami-

lies touched by the juvenile justice system was always evident, even on days when his

health challenges must have made it very difficult even to do the most basic things

most of us take for granted. He was incredibly brave and always kind and giving of

his time. I am honored to have known and worked with him. He has left big shoes to

fill here in Milwaukee County, and I will always be grateful for the part he played in

my selection as his successor and his trust in me to continue to carry the work forward.

He will be greatly missed.

Anyone interested in contributing toward a plaque in Tom’s honor to be placed in DCSD should give your contribution to Veronica Burks.

Who Inspired Me?... While there were a lot of things that shaped the path that led me to this line of work, my Uncle Dan was my big-

gest inspiration. I always had a special bond with Dan, who is eleven years older than me. Growing up in the

'60's, I was deeply affected by the civil rights struggles of the time, the Vietnam War, the political unrest, vio-

lence, and the assassinations of Dr. King and Robert Kennedy. And, like all families, mine had its share of diffi-

culties back then. Dan always had a way of helping me understand my feelings about all the things that I felt so

strongly about, but couldn't articulate as a kid.

Dan enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam when I was nine years old. He faithfully sent me

letters, complete with his drawings and newspaper clippings from "Stars and Stripes". I recall my mother telling

me the news the first time Dan was wounded. He was hit by a large piece of shrapnel from a shell that exploded

overhead. In spite of serious injuries to his shoulder and back, he was soon sent back to his unit after a stay at

the Battalion Aide station. A few weeks later we received more bad news. His unit was hit by a mortar round. I

remember how I worried when the letters stopped coming. Eventually we found out that only he and one other

soldier in the area survived. While Dan recovered from very serious injuries, bits of shrapnel continue to move

around and cause him problems to this day.

When he returned to the states, Dan went to college and became a social worker, eventually getting his MSW

from the University of Milwaukee. And, while it was not a conscious decision, I know that had a great influ-

ence on me. My life would have been a lot different had Dan not made it back from Vietnam.

Dan has always been very private about his war experiences. A few years ago

Dan shared a picture with me of himself at the Battalion Aide station. He is

surrounded by small Vietnamese children. One boy is sitting on his knee and

another is wearing Dan's cap. I can't even begin to tell you the feelings that pic-

ture evoked from me. Dan was always my mentor, and it was heartening to see

him giving of himself to children far away in a troubled land, helping them to

understand and cope with it all.

What inspires you? I'd love to hear your story...

DCSD Insider Report Page 5 Issue X

Welcome to… The DCSD Insiders Club The Insiders Champions League

Interested in being a

DCSD CHAMPION? Speak with your supervisor about the special skill set you have to offer or and

how you feel it would be beneficial to becoming a DCSD CHAMPION.

We encourage leadership and peer learning at DCSD.

Have Questions??? Ask A Champion!

YASI CHAMPIONS

Rodney Block, Jayne Fuller, Danette Parr, Tana Jeter, Anthony Zingale,

Glenn Larson, Robert Wollner, Tiesha Marcus, Rachael Specht and Pamlea

Watkins

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING

CHAMPIONS

Mark Erickson, Jenifer Forkes and Anthony Zingale

URINE COLLECTION TECHNICIAN

CHAMPIONS

Glenn Coleman & Mustafa Sabree

UNITY CLUB CHAMPIONS

Theresa Randall, McArthur LeFlore, Ve-ronica Burks, Danyelle Brock, Andrea Johnson, Danette Parr, Danique Sey-

mour, Iesha Sprewell, Bill Holton and De Shell Parker

AODA/FAS CHAMPIONS

Anthony Zingale and Rachael Specht

JPM CHAMPIONS

Anthony Penman, Chris Leonhardt, Dave Meuren, Deona Simmons, Iesha

Sprewell, Jermesha West, Matthew Gar-rett, Karen Gilliam, Kathy Smith, Lynn

Lewis, Miguel Barillas, Mike Hodge, Rob Wollner and Rodney Block

January

De Shell Parker 3

February

Rick Wojciechowski 1 Rachael Specht 1

Luciana Gonzalez 3 Bridgette Nathan 17

Mark Erickson 19

March

Mark Mertens 1 Lynn Kussrow 3 Glenn Larson 3

Mustafa Sabree 3 Robert Wollner 3

Karen Gilliam 8 Laurie Grayson 20

January

Diane Bates Danyelle Brock Karen Gilliam

Samaria Morris Patricia Rogers

Danique Seymour

February

Matthew Garrett Crystal Griggs

Aaron Janasiak McArthur Leflore

Jaleesa Lucas Michel Quezada Virlinda Sloan Rachael Specht Amber Stoker

Cindy Wolf

March

Miguel Barillas Andrea Johnson Janice Martinez

Anthony Penman

SERVICE YEARS

BIRTHDAYS

DCSD Insider Report Page 6 Issue X

~ Announcements and News ~

Our Values IN ACTION

Excellence In Action: HSW Miguel Barillas — Shout out to Miguel Barillas for his outstanding work on the stand in

Waukesha County. Because Miguel articulated the history of the case for Milwaukee County so very clearly and succinctly; it

eliminated the need to rehash testimony on the stand from others. Way to demonstrate Excellence and Partnership, Miguel!

Partnership In Action: HSW Jayne Fuller and Community Provider Sierra Cronkite — A special shout out to

Sierra Cronkite of Southwest Key because of the dedication and commitment demonstrated toward one of HSW Jayne Fuller’s

cases. HSW Fuller is grateful for the rapport developed between the youth and Sierra, the support services offered – as the

youth even met with Sierra while on missing status! HSW Fuller said it best noting that if the youth gets “nothing more out of

this experience, the youth formed a trusting relationship” with someone. Great job to the Sierra, HSW Fuller and the team!

As a part of the Department of Health and Human Services' Values In Action Program, this section of the

Newsletter was formerly titled the Sunshine Report and will now be officially re-titled Values in Action.

We will continue to share positive stories, however each story highlighted will be highlighted as living out

the DHHS Values. Do you have trouble remembering all the DHHS values?

Try using the acronym PRIDE! P. Partnership, R. Respect, I. Integrity, Dignity & Honesty, D. Diversity & E. Excellence

COMMITTEE UPDATES As you know, we have several committees continuously working to improve not only our conditions of employment but the

efficiency of our operations as well. These committees are…

The Trust and Communications Workgroup, previously facilitated by Jennifer Forkes with the purpose of main-

taining the SMART goals developed by the group. While the group has gone through an evolution, it remains an area of

focus based on this year’s employee survey feedback. The new facilitators are Bill Holton and Teri Palmer-Stanback and

the members include Mark Erickson, Melissa Monsoor, Shawana Lawrence, Andrea Johnson, Cindy Wolf, Jayne Fuller,

Brittany Cullin, Rob Wollner and Mike Hodge.

The Detention Center Trust & Communication Workgroup has also been identified by the Detention Center as an

area of focus via this year’s employee survey feedback. The 2015 workgroup members included C. Elizondo, C. Robin-

son, R. Coleman, A. Olzewski, T. Wilborn, H. Turner, D. Vega, C. Cotton, T. Roberson (facilitator), R. Salinas

(facilitator). Stay tuned for the members and updates for this year…

The Performance Evaluation & Recognition Committee, facilitated by William (Bill) Holton and Iesha Sprewell –

with members Rachael Specht, Lynn Kussrow, Anthony Zingale, Bridgette Nathan and Verlynuette Lewis, will be soon

coming to a close. The committee has submitted ideas to improve the overall employee performance evaluation process for

all DCSD staff and is working on the incorporating the feedback and finalizing the priorities. The committees’ last com-

mitment is to work on methods for consistent staff recognition within the division.

The Case Processing Committee, facilitated by Sara Woitel and Tiesha Marcus has a modified focus of creating a

case transfer process, with tools and practices to ensure consistency. The committee members include Tana Jeter, MacAr-

thur LeFlore, Jayne Fuller, Bill Holton, Wendy Moraza, Danette Parr and Jennifer Forkes.

The DCSD Teamwork Workgroup is a new group that emerged from the 2016 Employee Survey suggesting that

there was more that could be done to bring the Detention Center and Community Services divisions of the department to-

gether. The members of this group include Andrea Lewis, Teri Palmer Stanbeck, Carmelia Harris, Veronica Burks, Lynn

Kussrow, Lynn Lewis, Mark Erickson, Crystal Griggs, Craig Robinson, Jonie Magner, Sammie Hosey and Rosalind Cole-

man. The facilitators are Veronica Burks, Lyunn Kussrow and Craig Robinson, who will undergo facilitator training and

work toward a common goal over the course of the year in 2017.