The Source | Issue 1 | August 2019

AUGUST 2019 | ISSUE 1 Prince George's County Department of Social Services THE SOURCE The official newsletter of the Prince George's County Department of Social Services AFFIRM TEAM CELEBRATES PRIDE MONTH AT DSS By Amena Johnson Ed.D. Throughout the month of June, the AFFIRM team hung Pride Flags in the lobby of 925 and hosted several Pride events including rainbow picture day, pronouns day, and an ally celebration. AFFIRM is a program for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth and their caregivers. AFFIRM focuses on helping youth improve coping skills and provides peer support. It helps parents and caregivers celebrate, honor and validate a range of LGBTQ identities and experiences and recognize the impact of discrimination and phobia on the well-being of youth. As the department recognized Pride Month, the AFFIRM team encouraged everyone to embrace our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends, and colleagues who are part of the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ Pride Month is just one way we can remember the struggles and honor the achievements of the TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S LGBTQ community, including the LGBTQ employees within our agency and INSIDE: the families we serve. Maryland Market Money The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services is committed Comes to Prince George's County to fostering an environment free from discrimination, where equal employment opportunities are available to all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression. We are committed to recruiting Social Workers Have and retaining employees who are representative of the county’s diverse S.W.A.G. population to help ensure that we, as a human services agency, are able to PA2E Offers Path to better understand and provide for the many customers we serve. Entrepreneurship

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR Welcome to the newly designed Prince George's County Department of Social Services Newsletter - your source of information for all things taking place within our agency and throughout our community. At the start of 2019 we had a major shift in service delivery due to the Federal Government Shutdown, requiring a lot of hard work in a short period of time. In the Spring, we participated in the mass care planning for the Woodside Village Senior Apartments fire, assisting over 70 displaced residents. During the Summer, our agency was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for our work to enhance efforts and well-being for LGBTQ youth and families. There are so many great things that our agency has done and I'm excited to share them with you on our new platform. I invite you to read through the newsletter and learn about the new initiatives and programs throughout the agency and what is to come in the new fiscal year. Gloria Brown Burnett Director OUR JOBS ARE NOT TO JUDGE. OUR JOBS ARE NOT TO FIGURE OUT IF SOMEONE DESERVES SOMETHING. OUR JOBS ARE TO LIFT THE FALLEN, TO RESTORE THE BROKEN AND TO HEAL THE HURTING.

MARYLAND MARKET MONEY MAKES ITS WAY TO PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY By Ryan Pinkney When we think of wellness and self-care, \"Increasing purchasing power of our farmers markets aren’t necessarily the first residents with nutrition benefits means things that come to mind, right? Well, now they will have greater access to healthy they should be! The Prince George’s County fruits and vegetables for their families\" Department of Social Services (PGCDSS) has - Gloria Brown Burnett, Director teamed up with the Maryland Farmers Association and Maryland Market Money The department has made great efforts (MMM) to provide fresh, healthy, and local to educate staff and the residents about food to families on a budget. Anyone currently this new program. With the fall season receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance steadily approaching, it is imperative that Program (SNAP) or Women, Infants and we remove economic barriers for the food- Children (WIC) benefits can visit one of the insecure shoppers and increase access to participating markets and receive free market healthier food options while the farmers money. Yes, free! markets are open. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program Participating farmers markets are: Riverdale Farmers Market, (FMNP) works by matching up to $10 of free Cheverly Community Market, Greenbelt Farmers Market, and the market money when using your benefits card new Capital Market located in Capital Heights. For more at a participating farmers market. information, visit www.marylandfma.org. For the month of August, the Prince George’s County Executive and County Council increased funding, allowing shoppers at these four markets using SNAP/EBT will get $2 in MMM for every SNAP dollar spent, up to $20 in MMM per customer per week. Shoppers using FMNP benefits will receive $2 for every FMNP dollar spent, up to double the value of their entire FMNP checkbook.

ENGAGING OUR FATHERS By Derek Flake Research has shown that father support groups can improve the quality of father-child relationships. However, getting fathers to participate in these support groups can be challenging. The Prince George's County Department of Social Services has recently launched an initiative that will teach staff best practices for engaging fathers who are currently receiving child welfare services. Active and engaged fathers help reduce incidents of child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. They also improve the academic success and health outcomes for children. Government agencies unfortunately bear the untrue stigma that they are unfriendly to fathers. This is not true. This program strives to reaffirm that our agency is supportive of fathers in their effort to develop positive father-child relationships. For more information about the Fatherhood work group contact Derek Flake at, [email protected]. The visual below provides a snap shot of the building blocks and goal surrounding our efforts. FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE GOAL: ESTABLISH BUILD PROMOTE Increase and Prince George's Community Father Improve Services County Fatherhood Support for for Fathers Fatherhood via Engagement Workgroup Public Events INCREASE TRAINING DEVELOP/ Program Provide Technical INTEGRATE Father Engagement participation Assistance for throughout the fathers and Services workgroups county

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT EFFORTS IN PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY A HUGE SUCCESS By Shari Curtis Prince George’s County Health Access is critical in the elimination of health Connect, a program of the Department of disparities. It provides a way for people to Social Services (DSS), has successfully have more positive outcomes, particularly exceeded initial state projections and goals those who face the greatest social, economic, in the implementation of the Affordable and health challenges”, says Dr. Askew. Care Act (ACA), significantly reducing the number of uninsured residents in the One of eight (8) Connector Entities across county through Maryland Health the State, Prince George’s County Health Connection (the state’s insurance Connect, has played an essential role in this marketplace). success since the program began in 2013. Since then, navigators provided enrollment Dr. George Askew, Deputy Chief assistance to over 100,000 residents, with Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Health, outreach and education to tens of thousands Human Services, and Education, brought more. The Prince George’s Health Connect greetings to a packed room of state and program regularly exceeds annual targets for county agency leadership, health enrollment. Navigators have enrolled more providers, non-profit organizations, residents in July 2018-May 2019, than any insurance carriers, insurance navigators, other year since the program started. and consumer advocates, at Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE) Regional Over 200,000 County residents are enrolled Forum, acknowledging the partnership’s in Medicaid or the Maryland Children’s Health efforts. The forum provided an overview Program (MCHP), an increase of 40% since the of successful enrollment efforts in Prince ACA implementation began. An additional George’s County and across the State, over 22,600 residents are enrolled into Qualified the past six years. Health Plans (QHPs), the private coverage offered through the exchange, with subsidies “The ACA makes it possible for so many for low-income families. more people to have access to care.

PGCDSS AFFIRM PROGRAM RECOGNIZED IN HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN (HRC) FOUNDATION REPORT The Prince George’s County Department of Social Services(PGCDSS) is proud to announce that it has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation in its All Children - All Families 2019 Report Celebrating Everyday Change-Makers for the department’s work to enhance efforts to achieve safety, permanency and well-being for LGBTQ youth and families. The 2019 All Children - All Families report highlighted the work of PGCDSS and other child welfare agencies across the country to improve the services provided to the LGBTQ community, including children in foster care and prospective foster and adoptive parents. Nakiya Lynch, a PGCDSS foster care youth, is featured as part of the All Children – All Families video documentary. Be sure to watch the video currently playing in our waiting areas, and on all County monitors. PGCDSS’ AFFIRM program is one of only a few child welfare programs in the country, and first of its kind in the State of Maryland dedicated solely to supporting LGBTQ youth and their families. Its implementation is part of the LGBTQ2S Quality Improvement Center, a groundbreaking national effort to build new evidence-based strategies for improving services for LGBTQ youth and families. AFFIRM works with young people in the foster care system whose families have trouble accepting their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, or who experience bullying in school or other forms of abuse. The program gives youth coping skills and teaches parents and caregivers how to validate and support their children’s LGBTQ identities and experience. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP (PA2E) OFFERS PATH TO BUSINESS OWNERSHIP Aspiring entrepreneurs currently receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Supplement benefits can now participate in a program designed to provide business development training, tools and techniques to those who dream of owning a business. The Public Assistance 2 Entrepreneurship Program (PA2E) is a partnership between Prince George’s County Department of Social Services (PGCDSS), the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the University of Maryland Small Business Development Center. Launched in April, the program offers eight sessions designed to help participants understand and build their credit, learn about marketing strategies, and develop a business plan. The primary goal is to provide entrepreneurship training for participants with ideas and talent, who are in pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams of starting a small business. The program yielded a 100% completion rate for its inaugural 18 participants. Two participants have started businesses and eight more are in the process of launching their businesses.

ALL STAFF 2019 –DSS IS ON THE MOVE By Ryan Pinkney Every other year DSS staff members come Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for together to briefly reflect on the past, celebrate Health, Human Services and Education, Dr. accomplishments, and chart a course for the George Askew, also joined the discussion, giving future. With PGCDSS having a reputation of insight on the future of the agency, answering being a pioneer in innovative services, this year’s questions submitted by staff, and sharing theme was suitable for what is to come-DSS welcoming remarks from the County Executive’s Moving Forward: Same Team, One Vision, New Office. Goals. The Department of Social Services strives to provide quality service at every interaction Since the last All Staff meeting in 2017, staff while working as a team to continually improve members have made many accomplishments. the lives of Prince George’s County residents and This year, we took the opportunity to tip our staff. hats to those who excelled in providing quality customer service, motivated and encouraged For two days (June 11-12), the members of the others without second thought, and those who PGCDSS Leadership Team took a deep dive during have served the members of our community for a panel discussion, moderated by Special Assistant more than thirty years. to the Director, Derek Flake in efforts to prepare the staff for the new web-based platform that will After learning about all that has taken place soon be introduced to the agency, known as throughout the agency and what is to come, one MDThink. This system will ultimately change the can most certainly say DSS is Moving Forward. way daily business is conducted throughout each of the divisions. They also discussed several initiatives taking place in each division such as; Wellness Wednesdays – spearheaded by the Child, Adult, and Family Services division, this initiative promotes self-care for social workers, encouraging health, wellness, and a stress free work environment. Quality Assurance and Compliance is implementing the Data Academy which will give staff an opportunity to learn the back-end of frequently used data systems in hopes of helping staff better understand the data they submit. The Community Services Division even has plans to introduce a new tech tool that will help them better serve the homeless population.

ALL STAFF 2019 AWARD RECIPIENTS Years of Service Recipients - 30 Years or More: Kevin Alban, Donna Armstrong, Pamela Chandler, Wanda Clarke, Margaret “Peggy” O’Connor, Moshood Odubeko, Tonnette Parks, Michele Peniston, Renee Ensor Pope, Doris Stephens, Larry Stone, Noreen Swann, Gregory Taylor, and Diane Wilder. Excellence in Customer Service Award Recipients: Alexis Booker, Deneen Gaskin, Alice M. Gregory, Jean Best, John Summerlot, Rose Arrington, Rosalyn Johnson, Kazys Alemenas , Carrie Brown, Belinda Johnson, and Cassandra Tutt. Executive Assistant to the Director, Na’Pre Anderson was also recognized as the recipient of the DHS Customer Service Excellence Award. P.A.V.E.R. Award Recipients The Paver Awards recognizes women who exemplify character traits that the agency believes are key to a stellar customer experience. P.A.V.E.R. stands for Positive, Ambitious, Visionary, Empowering, and Resilient. 2019 P.A.V.E.R.S. Donna Armstrong, Alexis Booker, Pamela Chandler, Yvette Crawley, Tanesha Gibson, Qianna Gidron, Sherrie Miller, Lanisha New, Oluwakemi Ogunrekun, DeLania Ware, and Zoe Woodbridge. 2018 P.A.V.E.R.S. Gwendolyn Alston, Na’Pre Anderson, Shirley Jacobs, Kafi Abdul Bari, Dana Brown, Lana Collier, Stacy Embrack, Glodian Hammett, Wadzanai Karanja, Mayra Ruiz, Terri Samuels, Joann Turner, and Stella Wood.

HER STORY…IN HER WORDS: A DSS JOURNEY By Terri Samuels My introduction to the Department of Social Services (DSS) was as a recipient of Food Stamps and Temporary Cash Assistance. After 17 years as a staff accountant with a real estate development company in Washington, DC, I lost my job. At the time, I was a single mother of 2 teenagers -- one who was soon to age out for temporary cash assistance. My son is now 25 years old and a guidance counselor at KIPP Charter School in DC. My 23 year old daughter is a police officer with the DC Metropolitan Police Department. As a cash assistance recipient I was selected to WEX (Work Experience) Intern at the local district office (I now work in South County Office in Temple Hills). I interned for a year before the supervisor encouraged me to apply for a Family Investment Specialist I position. I worked in that unit for about 7 months until I I had major reservations due to my background and degree in accounting. Nonetheless, I was was promoted to Assistant Supervisor in September DETERMINED not to be on assistance for long. I took 2017. Life was good! I again decided to go back to a leap of faith and applied, all the while praying to my school hoping this would fill a void that was still Heavenly Father to show me FAVOR ---- and He did. missing. This time, pursuing another Masters Degree I was hired as a Family Investment Specialist I on in Health Services Administration, something I March 20, 2013. thought would be a good fit with my work life. While working as a Family Investment Specialist, I Everyday, life was normal, work, home, church, play, enrolled in Strayer University to pursue a Masters work, home, church, play until….WHAM I was Degree in Business Administration. I thought I would diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2018. I had start my own business and venture out. I obtained surgery in November 2018 and returned to work in my MBA in 2015. At the same time, I obtained the January 2019. I worked almost daily while position of Family Investment Specialist II… still undergoing radiation treatment beginning February looking to start that business. 2019 and successfully completing treatment in April Sitting in church one Sunday, I prayed silently asking 2019. I AM CANCER-FREE! God “Why am I working at Social Services? I don’t I've been an Assistant Supervisor now for 2 have degrees in this field!” He kindly put in my Spirit years with the Prince Georges County Department “You are a servant of ME, why not serve my of Social Services. My ultimate goal is to continue people???” My life changed from that day forward. helping, aiding and serving the residents of Prince Working steadily in the Landover office for 5 years, I George’s County with “Quality Service at Every gained acquaintances, mentors, spiritual brothers Interaction” – the great words of Director Gloria /sisters and good friends. I was then asked to come Brown Burnett. I am super happy to announce I back to the Temple Hills – South County Office to will complete the Master’s Degree Program in work in the Pyramid Unit (PRD) – reviewing cases for Health Services Administration next month. payment accuracies and errors. Sometimes things happen. My journey brought me to the Department of Social Services. Today, I am so blessed by the opportunity to serve, to grow, to inspire, and to give.

DSS SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE SWAG! By Lisa Robertson The Social Work Activity Group, aka S.W.A.G., was established in January for the purpose of creating activities and events that would be part of the 2019 Social Work Month at DSS. Social Work Month is observed annually in March. It recognizes the profession of social work and highlights the contributions social workers make to the community and the world. In an effort to show appreciation for the work our agency social workers do, the committee coordinated many activities for the month of March that celebrated and shined a spotlight on the commitment and dedication our workers have for children, adults and families in Prince George’s County. The committee members remain committed to working together towards the promotion, coordination and implementation of events and activities for social work month in 2020. Additionally, the committee will sponsor and play host to monthly events, leading up to March 2020 to keep staff engaged and excited about Social work month. Stay tuned for announcements of upcoming SWAG events. Founding members are: Warren Bell, Yvette Crawley, Stacy Embrack, Amorelle Hodge, Archelia Johnston, Emilia Ogbankwa, Lajuan Way, and co-chairs Shirley Jacobs and Lisa Robertson. HEALING HELPERS WANTED The Healing Helpers group is comprised of DSS staff who provide support, education, and resources to other staff members who may be dealing with Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) in the workplace. STS is an unpleasant emotional reaction that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another. To learn more about becoming a Healing Helper Champion please contact Child Protective Services (CPS) Bureau Chief, Zenobia Moore at [email protected]

EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY 2019 BRAIN BREAK Question: A man stands on one side of a river and his dog stands on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it? Answer: The river was frozen.