David's Corner

This week’s Friday Note is written by LCSNW CFO Karyn Huffman, in response to the shooting this week in Boulder, Colo. David Yet again.    I imagine for some, two more mass shootings draw us into an old story or memory. Eighteen more innocent people killed by two young men with powerful guns. Six days apart. Separated by 1,422 miles of hills, rivers, trees, plains, and fields. We know the all-too-familiar rituals, this time playing out in Atlanta and Boulder. Media trucks and reporters packed like tumbleweeds jammed into a fence, waiting for the wind to shift and blow them toward the next news story. Flower bouquets, candles, crosses, teddy bears, and photos build a small mountain on the sidewalk. The fences bear witness to grief.  Not again. We quietly utter or shout, “Not again.” We search for answers. We grieve. We look for justice on behalf of the victims, families, and communities. Some want lawmakers to act. Some respond with greater self-protection. Others are more...

  LCSNW Team, Anti-Asian hate crimes have risen globally in the wake of the pandemic, and especially in the U.S. This is completely unacceptable. I know you are heartbroken and horrified to see another tragic shooting, this time a hate crime against Asian Americans. The loss of life is tragic and what makes it even more painful is that every day we see the effects of racism, violence, mental illness, and trauma on the people we serve.   There is real fear in the Asian American and Pacific-Island communities right now. I want to say to the families of the victims: My heart and prayers are with you.  Like most of you, I feel helpless when these acts occur. However, we can’t remain silent.   So I say this to all of you: Keep doing what you are doing. Keep reaching out to people who need support. Keep spreading hope, compassion and love. The world and our country need you.   I also hope that you lean on each other. Reach out to HR, our EAP, or someone you trust if y...

This week we held a two-day virtual strategy meeting where your leaders at the director-level and above discussed our agency’s performance and goals. A lot of preparation and thought goes into the discussions as we look back and look forward. Here are just a few of the items that we discussed: District and Department Directors provided snapshots of the service needs around the region. Some programs are meeting/exceeding goals; others are finding unique ways to provide services in this new environment. Development is inviting donors to join our centennial celebrations.  The DEI Council extended the deadline to apply to be on the Council to March 19. We need underrepresented people to help us build our DEI strategy.  DecisionWise will conduct another employee survey this year (#3 of 3). Your feedback matters and we use it to improve LCSNW for everyone. We’re working with recruiters to fill the Chief HR Officer position. We learned more about building change competency so that we...

March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD). People around the world will lift their voices in support of creating opportunities, promoting equality, and celebrating the achievements of women in all walks of life.  This year’s IWD theme is #ChooseToChallenge. And like the organization clearly states: a challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change. As an organization, LCSNW is committed to supporting women through our services, connecting them to health, justice and hope that has the potential to change their story for the better. I’ve been fortunate to have a number of women mentor and impact me:   My mom, a fearless music teacher who taught me the love of art and music, Roxanne Davis, my favorite teacher, who had a genuine and heartfelt belief in my potential, Jane, my wife, who taught me about true partnership, Joy, my daughter, a young woman demonstrating her own strength and voice, and Susan Dreyfus, the retiring CEO of Alliance for Stronger Families,...

Happy Friday,   This is going to be a VERY short Friday Note with 2 points, and a short poem. 1) Have a great weekend!!! 2) Next Friday Note will be the launch of the official process for expanding the DEI committee with a focus on "local" voices.   Winter is the Best Time by David Budbill   (Shared by Elliot Stockstad)  Winter is the best time. to find out who you are. Quiet, contemplation time, away from the rushing world, to see that inner landscape that place hidden within. David Health, Justice and Hope

February is Black History Month. It seems like a good time to talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognize the adversity and racism people of color have to overcome every day.   I believe in diversity and inclusion--that when we create a workplace culture that enables everyone to bring their full potential, we get the innovation and collaboration needed to understand and help others reach their full potential. I believe diversity and inclusion is required to provide culturally-appropriate and responsive services to the communities we serve; that DEI is the gateway to achieving our mission. I met with the DEI Committee this week and we revisited the Committee’s vision and mission.    DEI Vision:   All levels of the LCSNW workforce will represent the diversity of the communities we serve.  Leadership will foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and safe culture for all employees.  The agency-wide LCSNW environment will promote equity and ...

In the final part of the Start, Stop, Continue exercise, we take a look at Continue: What We're Doing Well.   In a lot of our communities, we're getting good at providing integrated care.   Sometimes, providers focus on one condition or one treatment. But we know that health is complex. Addressing mental health, for instance, without considering physical health issues, overlooks a person's overall well-being.   We’ve had enough experience with integrated care to know that it can be a really effective way to improve the health of people and communities. Different LCSNW offices may have different approaches to integrated care, but they have this in common: they design all stages of service delivery around what's best for the person. Let's continue thinking about a person's whole health and working with different groups involved in that person's care so that, from their perspective, the services delivered are consistent and coordinated.   Inland Northwest Dist...