Palm Beach County Youth Services Department's cross-divisional action teams delivered virtual presentations to the Leadership Team on April 27. The event began with opening remarks and a thank you to the teams by Director Tammy K. Fields. Following the welcome, teams presented on their action plans and the progress made to achieve their respective goals. Each team has accomplished the following:

The Sanctuary – Trauma Informed Team has made significant progress with the year one Sanctuary certification requirements including holding trainings and rolling out a communications plan to aid employees in their understanding of the Sanctuary Model's key components. They have developed a “Sanctuary Theme of the Month" schedule and worked with the department's Public Relations Specialist to finalize marketing collateral such as seven commitments and S.E.L.F. posters. Moving forward the team will continue its efforts to complete the necessary steps of certification within three years.

Seeds of Success, now in its second year as a team, has successfully completed three rounds of their “Employee of the Quarter" recognition program with their fourth nomination period currently under way, and are gearing up for their first “Employee of the Year" nomination period and selection process. The team, is also planning upcoming events including “Thank a Youth Worker Day," “Cultural Diversity Day," and the department's annual retreat.

The Youth Engagement Team hosted multiple community based agency presentations. Each presentation features one of the funded agencies to an audience of Youth Services employees. These serve as a way to identity resources that the youth and families served by the department may benefit from. As a result of the presentations, Dr. Laura Cruz referred one of her clients to an agency after hearing about the program. In the coming months, the team will host several “Breakfast and Dialogue," “Lunch and Learns,“ and “Dine and Dish" sessions. The team is also working on developing a youth employment panel to promote student internships.

In a much-needed effort, the Equity and Diversity Team produced an “I am Your Community" video featuring the entire team with their message of inclusion. The video has been shared on the department's website, across its social media channels and as a way to highlight how communities can get involved. Additionally, the team has drafted an inclusion statement as a way to normalize equity, diversity and inclusion and are seeking to have the statement incorporated throughout the department. To provide further open communication, the team is looking into creating an “oasis," which will provide employees a safe space to discuss and learn about equity, diversity and inclusion.

 “The work of these cross-divisional teams is amazing," said Tammy K. Fields, Youth Services Department director. “Employees at all levels and across all programs are working together and implementing creative ideas."

The Youth Services Department's cross-divisional teams will continue to hold bi-weekly virtual meetings allowing team members to work with their co-chairs to accomplish their goals and improve overall organizational performance. ​