FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWS, & IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION

A Message from Al Gilbert, President & CEO:

Every morning, as soon as I open my eyes, I continue the moment of praise and thanksgiving that began when I closed my eyes in sleep only a few hours earlier. It is my recognition of the joy, blessings, and possibilities that each day brings. My feeling of gratefulness is enhanced by the fact that I share this adventure of life in the community of family and friends, both at home and at work. I am thankful for the gift of each new day.

Dr. Yohana Quiroz, Chief Operations Officer:



As we gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, we are filled with gratitude and humility for the incredible team we have here at Felton. This year has been a testament to our collective strength, resilience, and unwavering dedication.

Each and every one of you has played an invaluable role in our successes, contributing your skills, passion, life experience, and commitment to our shared and bold goals. Your hard work, passion, and perseverance have not gone unnoticed. It's through your collective efforts that we've been able to overcome challenges, adapt to change, innovate, and continue to move forward, achieving milestones and reaching unprecedented new heights as one of the oldest and most established organizations in the Bay Area, now serving 8 counties and over 80,000 clients.

This Thanksgiving holiday, we want to express our deepest appreciation for your unwavering dedication. Your relentless efforts and exceptional work ethic have been the cornerstone of our achievements. Your contributions—big and small—make a significant difference and are the reason behind our continued success.

Please take this time to rest, enjoy the company of loved ones, and revel in the joy of this holiday. You deserve it.

Once again, thank you for all that you do, we're deeply thankful to have such an incredible work family.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Thanksgiving filled with warmth, joy, and cherished moments.

Marvin Davis, Chief Financial & Operations Officer:

“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one's time and energy to helping others without expecting anything in return.” – Nelson Mandela

Reflecting on 2023, I am reminded of the tragedies all over the world that left all of us feeling somber and despondent. From a young athlete suffering from a cardiac arrest at a nationally televised sporting event, floods ravaging our state, to the senseless massacre of innocent people in Ukraine and the Middle East.

It’s easy to focus on the negative and let the heart and mind get consumed with the pain that we see and the helplessness that we feel for not being able to take action. In these moments it is important to be thankful for the adversity, resilience and strength of humanity and people all over the world.

I am grateful and thankful for doing my part, no matter how small in making an impact in things that may not directly influence me but are impacting society all around us.

I am thankful for staff and your continued dedication to our clients and families. Your continued support to the work that we do every day makes a lasting difference in the lives of so many. Even though our help is minuscule in comparison to the catastrophes taking place far away, I feel thankful, grateful and blessed for the work of so many at Felton that is helping our community every day.

Grateful for my family, my children, my friends and colleagues for their continued support as we continue to this journey together.

Liz Dalmacio-Julien, Chief People Officer:

As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude and wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving!

This year has presented its fair share of challenges, and yet, you have continued to demonstrate unwavering dedication, resilience, and a commitment to our shared goals. Your hard work, passion, and determination have been the driving force behind our success, and I find myself continuously inspired by your efforts.

Thanksgiving is not only a time to indulge in a delightful feast and cherish moments with loved ones, but also an occasion to pause, reflect and express our gratitude. It is a moment to count our blessings and appreciate the strength of a united team.

Together, we have successfully navigated through uncertain times, adapted to new ways of working, and supported one another through it all. Your unwavering commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive work environment has made our organization stronger, even in the face of adversity.

I am thankful for each and every one of you, not just for your dedication to your work, but also for your compassion, empathy, and support towards one another. Your efforts, no matter how big or small, contribute to creating a workplace culture that we can all be proud of.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to take some time to relax, rejuvenate, and celebrate the blessings in your life. Whether you plan to spend the holiday with family and friends or enjoy some well-deserved downtime alone, I hope you find joy and peace during this Thanksgiving season. Please remember to practice self-care, cherish the moments that matter, and return with renewed energy to continue making a positive impact in our organization.

Once again, I extend my warmest wishes for a memorable and joyful Thanksgiving celebration. Thank you for all that you do.

November Birthdays

November Work Anniversaries

Mark Your Calendars! December Birthdays and Anniversaries

December Celebrations

Brandon Favorite

Case Manager, Older Adult Service Team (OAST)

Pronouns: He/Him

Background

My early experiences growing up in a large family, full of vibrant personalities, taught me how important it was for every individual in our community to feel a sense of belonging. During my childhood, my grandmother (Mrs. Evans A.K.A the mother of every church she has ever been the member of) taught me to always be kind to people who were struggling with addiction and mental health problems. Throughout my time with her, I observed her serving her community in a variety of ways. It is amazing how something as simple as providing food to a stranger can create a bond and help someone heal. This is why it is no surprise that I would follow in her footsteps and adhere to the same principles. My excitement was heightened when I discovered that case management was a career aligned with my family's core mission to support and serve people who are deserving of love and support.

Why I Joined Felton

I was impressed by Felton's commitment to excellence in providing mental health care management services to Black and Brown communities. It's amazing to me that Felton is committed to providing the most current training and techniques, in addition to aligning perfectly with my values and expertise as a case manager. As a member of the LGBT community, I strongly believe that everyone deserves unique and individualized support. Felton's mission of innovation and cultural sensitivity really touched my heart. Having the opportunity to work on a team that prioritizes not only the well-being of their clients, but also the growth and development of their employees, is very exciting to me.

Why I Love Working at Felton

It's the people for me. I can tell each person here is carefully selected based on their intelligence, their experience, and their positive attitude. It is truly amazing to see the level of camaraderie in the Senior division. Felton Institute had a profound impact on my professional and personal life. In fact, I had a wonderful time celebrating my favorite holiday (Halloween) with the crew.

My Work and Personal Values

My personal values and my work values are centered on the desire for continuous learning and developing my gifts and talents to serve my community. I believe in a work/life balance that fuels me to face challenges head on and overcome hurdles and professional roadblocks.

Advice for Others

Eat. Pray. Love. Trust me, it’s a thing lol.

Fun Stuff About Me

Some fun facts about me. I'm a character and a half, full of personality and wisdom that I've gained over my years. I love to travel, play dominoes, and watch Hallmark movies during the Christmas holiday season. I also enjoy discussions about self-care methods.

De-escalation: How You can Help Defuse Potentially Violent Situations

The Great Shakeout Success: Emergency Earthquake Drill 



The Great Shake Out event on October 19th at 10:19am was a success! We appreciate those who participated!

Felton's dedicated educators joined millions of educators and students worldwide to participate in a crucial earthquake drill. In the face of uncertainties, our amazing teachers go above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Their commitment and dedication to keeping our young minds safe is truly commendable. The dedication of the CYFTAY Division participating in the Emergency Response Drill is a positive step towards ensuring the safety and well-being of our agency, community, clients, and beyond.

It's vital to continue focusing on health and safety awareness, as preparedness is key in dealing with potential emergencies. Well done to all who participated! 

CYFTAY participated in the Great Shakeout

Save the Date for Felton’s Annual Holiday Party – December 8^th, 2023

**PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE TO 6 PM**

The theme of the event is a Black and White Affair, but no one will be turned away if they are not wearing black or white. This is not a mandatory black-tie event.

More details to come!

Save the Date! Annual Holiday Party

Let’s Get Cooking for Thanksgiving!

Whether you are the vegetable chopper or master chef of your household, here are some recipes that you may want to try for Thanksgiving dinner!

Check out these delicious recipes!

Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Sweet and Tangy Roasted Pumpkin Salad

Pecan Pie Brownies

Citrus-Brined Roast Turkey

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Law and Ethics in Mental Health Practice: Part 2

Upcoming Training Date:

Friday, November 17, 2023,

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Felton Staff Price: FREE! ($125 value)

Location:

ZOOM Teleconferencing

Intended Audience:

Social workers, case managers, and other mental/ behavioral health professionals, substance abuse counselors, all other health care professionals, and educators. 

Downloadable Course Description PDF

COURSE REGISTRATION:

Felton Institute employees can view and register for any Felton Behavioral Health training series courses for free online.

Columbia Sportswear Discounts

Benefits Open Enrollment 2024

Felton HR Office Hours – Live January 2024

The soft launch of HR Office Hours has begun! Visits are hosted at various sites once a month, where employees can use that time to speak one-on-one with our CPO or Senior HR Managers to address HR concerns or questions.

This past October, the HR team visited the following locations/divisions:

·     1500 Franklin St – Adult

·     2730 Bryant St – CYF

·     24301 Southland Dr – Justice Services

·     6221 Geary Blvd – Early Psychosis

Starting January 2024, keep an eye out for a set schedule so you know when to see a friendly HR team member at your location. Please note that depending on the division, you will see a specific representative from our team:

·     Adult Division – Liz Dalmacio (CPO) and Jaimee Alonzo (HR Project Manager)

·     CYFTAY Division and Bayview Programs – Shontae Bowles (Sr. HR Manager)

·     Administration and Early Psychosis Divisions – Rachita Dodeja (Sr. HR Manager)

·     Justice Services and Senior Services – Gala Martin (Sr. HR Manager)

Look forward to our November visits at these locations:

·     CYF & Bayview

·     Early Psychosis – San Mateo

Interested in having HR visit your site? Use the form to request a visit:

https://forms.office.com/r/gFuUPWZMzZ

Plan ahead for APEC

Downloadable Intranet Job Openings

Designed by Felton's Communications Department

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