Training Opportunity

Adult Services holds a training opportunity at the Group Home on Fridays at 10:30 am.  For the next few weeks we are showing a video called Navigating the World of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Waiver staff are invited to attend.

TB Skin Tests Administered by Staff Nurse

As many of you already know, our local Health Department no longer administers TB skin tests for our Waiver employees.  Luckily this service is now performed by our staff nurse, Shannon.  Several of you will be receiving notices in your next pay check that your TB skin test is due for renewal.  You many contact Shannon here at the Center to schedule a new screening at no cost to you.  If you have already renewed your test elsewhere or through other employment you should submit a copy of your latest screening to Steve in Human Resources as soon as possible.

Whenever renewal time comes around folks seem to confuse the process and make phone calls to Angela or Darrell to discuss their screenings and renewal schedule.  Please understand that neither Angela nor Darrell can update your HR records for you.  You must contact Steve in Human Resources to update your records.

Thank you for helping us meet our many requirements--your cooperation helps make every challenge easier!

Regular Deadlines Apply For Labor Day

Although the Civitan Center will be closed on September 2nd in observance of Labor Day, all regular deadlines for Waiver paperwork will apply.  Timesheets will be collected as usual at the 10:00 am deadline for Community staff and 9:00 am for Group Home staff.  Timesheets received after the deadlines will be applied to the next payroll cycle.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday.  Thanks again for all you do for our clients and their families.

Client Signatures on Mileage Forms

It has come to our attention that many Waiver employees--specifically those that work at the Group Home--are under the impression that clients must sign every single signature line on your mileage forms.  This is not necessary.  It is only necessary for clients to sign off next to your ending mileage (and not every single line in between).  For example, if you have five mileage entries on your mileage form you only need five signatures--one for every instance of ending mileage.  That's it!

Please do not insist that your client spend time signing every single line; only next to your ending mileage. This will save both you and your client lots of time and prevent frustrating the clients who typically become agitated by signing paperwork every week.

Time Reporting Policy

Several questions have been presented regarding the Waiver Time Reporting Policy that all employees were required to sign last pay day.  This is not a new policy.  The policy has been in force for well over a year now.  Nothing has changed; we simply had not put the policy in writing before now.  However, it was a good time to reinforce the policy since many of you did not attend the annual retreat this year and/or many of you were not hired at that time.

Thanks again for your attention to helping us with the tedious task of time reporting.  We know it can be a pain but it is vitally important to keeping our clients' Waiver plans fully funded.

Have a great week!  

Messages From Our Executive Director

Good Morning Everyone,

I wanted to take a minute to pass along some gentle reminders to all of our staff.  Before I do so, let me thank you first for an amazing summer.  We have not had near the chaos that normally abounds this year and I truly appreciate all of you working so hard to keep things running as smoothly as possible. 

As we near the end of the summer I am starting to notice that we are beginning to slide in a few areas ever so slightly.  So, these are the reminders I have for you.

Please do not get lax about open doors.  I have had to walk down to the end of the hall several times in the last couple of weeks to shut the door after someone has propped it open.  I know that it could be clients doing this, but we are all going to have to work together to make sure ALL doors and windows are shut.  Not only does it run up cooling costs but it also lets in little critters that just don’t need to be in the building. 

Also, please make sure that lights are being turned off when no one is in a room.  This is happening in both classroom and office spaces.  Most of us are sharing office space and classroom space and in some instances there is a constant flow of traffic.  However, if you are the only one in your office / class and you need to leave, please turn off the lights.  The one exception I can think of is mine and Mareissa’s office.  We have to leave ours on because it is on the same switch as the copier in the hallway.  You would be surprised at how many people will stand around hitting wrong buttons on the copier and wasting paper rather than taking time to find the light switch that is hidden behind the refrigerator, so we try to leave it on during the day.

Finally, please take a minute to review the attached copy of our dress code.  This is one I am guilty of myself.  When I decided yesterday to send this note out, Steve actually pointed out that I was the one breaking the rules.  So, we are all human and need this reminder.  Please remember that while yes, it is hot summer time and we all want to be cool and comfortable, we still need to dress appropriately.  The policy is quite clear on what is okay and what is not.  As I tell people in orientation, if you have a question regarding the appropriateness of your attire, ask your supervisor.  It really is that simple.  This also means that if your supervisor suggests you stop wearing a certain item, etc, you have been warned.  I promise that I will do a better job of setting the example as well.  

Business Casual Dress Policy

It is important for all employees to convey a professional image for Civitan Services. To project this image towards all clients, visitors and guests, Civitan Services has implemented the following dress code policy. This policy applies to all personnel employed by Civitan Services.

Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, chest, stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual environment.

Slacks, Pants and Suit Pants

Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include, sweatpants, exercise pants, short shorts, short skorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as what people would wear for exercising and biking.

Skirts, Dresses and Skirted Suits

Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh, mini-skirts, sun dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate work attire.

Shirts, Tops, Blouses and Jackets

Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes athletic tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; strapless tops; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.

Civitan T-shirts and T-shirts supporting high school or collegiate sports teams may be worn by Pre School and Adult Staff during the week and by all staff on Fridays. 

No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you are uncertain about acceptable, professional business casual attire, please ask your supervisor or the Human Resources department.