Employment Services Annual Recognition Ceremony

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

On November 5, 2015, Placer County’s Employment Services Program held its first annual Recognition Ceremony. The event was created in partnership between Economic Development and Human Services to recognize CalWORKs recipients and businesses who hired them over the course of the year. CalWORKs is a public assistance program that gives cash aid and services to eligible needy California families. The event’s Planning Committee enlisted the help of Employment Services program staff to serve on subcommittees to plan the event. Staff were invited to attend a “strengths finder” training as an engagement activity to identify their individual strengths and to contribute to the planning efforts by joining a subcommittee where their strengths could be utilized. The result was an increase in employee engagement and a better understanding of individual contributions in Human Services. The greatest benefit, however, was the event itself which has continued into its third year to recognize the successes of CalWORKs customers and the businesses who have hired them. The event continues as an annual employee engagement activity that inspires employees and reminds them of their impact on the lives of those they serve by providing them with an opportunity to celebrate their customers’ journeys into self-sufficiency.