Employee Newsletter DECEMBER 2019
In This Issue
New Employees
Beyond Self Care
Shout-Outs for Staff
SOS Opens Recovery Center in Hampton
Our CMO: Health Care Is a Human Right
Employee of the Month
#GivingToothsday & Spinning Generosity
Legendary Patient Experiences (Part 5/6)
Mark Your Calendar
Pass it On
Winter Storm Reminders
TIC Corner: The Four Agreements
 Work Anniversaries
Linking You Up
Welcome, New Employees
Call Center Associate @ Goodwin
Patient Advocate @ Goodwin
Payroll Finance Specialist @ Goodwin
Recovery Support Coordinator @ SOS
Shout Outs for Staff
Beyond Self Care
Staff from two Greater Seacoast Community Health teams – Cora Long and Ashley Wright from the Strafford County Public Health Network, and Margie Wachtel from our Trauma-Informed Care group – recently partnered to present a community forum that helped both groups fulfill their missions. About 75 community members who work with trauma survivors, including 15 from Greater Seacoast, came together to talk about systemic solutions to compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Peter Fifield, MLADC, LCMHC, pictured, facilitated the evening. Pete founded the Behavioral Health program at Families First and co-founded the Trauma Informed Care initiative during his time here; he now manages the SUD program at the Doorway at Wentworth-Douglass. 
SOS Recovery Center Opens in Hampton
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 4, SOS Recovery held the grand opening and open house for a new Recovery Center at 1 Lafayette Road in Hampton on November 21. Along with those in Dover and Rochester, the new Hampton center will work to reduce stigma and harm associated with substance use and misuse by providing safe space and peer based supports for people in all stages of recovery. Want to see more of SOS? Follow their Facebook , Instagram or learn about ways to get involved yourself .
Health Care As a Basic Human Right
The Concord Monitor recently posed a question to its readers: “Do you believe health care should be considered a basic human right?” Many people wrote in including our own Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joann Buonomano . She wrote:

“There are very few among us, regardless of political affiliation, who would walk past a bicyclist lying on the pavement after having been hit by a motor vehicle. Very few of us would decline offering immediate help to a lost and injured toddler. I have seen beauty in human compassion that rises above politics and corporate profit. This sanctity is the essence of health care as a right: a right to live with inherent dignity. May we as U.S. citizens pledge to treat our fellow human beings with the honor and respect they deserve. As a democracy, may we pledge to care for the most vulnerable among us. We must urgently recognize how quickly life can change for any of us....

As a physician, I witness the inequities of our complex system every day. I write on behalf of the patients whom I have had the privilege to serve. I write for a mother’s right to bring her 3-week-old child with a 103 fever to a medical clinic that serves as the family’s organized medical home, instead of delaying care and entering the “safety net” of an ER with a septic newborn, too late to intervene with simple antibiotics, too late even for the tens of thousands of dollars to be spent on the most advanced pediatric ICU interventions. I write for the adolescent minority teen-patient whose school performance and life trajectory declines due to his inability to afford $600/month for his Advair asthma inhaler. I write for the under-insured hard-working couple who avoids care for treatable depression and coronary artery disease for fear of not being able to pay their rent due to their $10,000 deductible on their health insurance plan. May we all take a moment of silence, and then proceed together on the right path forward.”

Employee of the Month - December 2019
Shannon Gillan, RN, is our December Employee of the month. Shannon is the Clinical Nurse Lead at Families First. Here’s what her coworkers had to say about her:
 
“She is truly an exceptional leader; always around to listen, and always ready to jump in and help anyone when needed. She is always showing appreciation for her staff and coworkers, and consistently brings positive energy. Shannon is a great nurse! She is kind, caring and always makes sure her patients understand their health care.”
“She is a strong leader. On a daily basis, she is confronted with concerns from staff and patients. She is able to listen and manage each situation in a calm and considerate manner. She is well-respected by her peers for her professionalism, dedication to her position and knowledge base. Many of us are glad to work side-by-side with Shannon.”
 
“She goes above and beyond to help other employees. Shannon has a busy schedule as it is but will take on any job duty and get it done before her shift is done. She is an absolute SUPERWOMAN.”
#GivingToothsday a BIG Success and Spinning Generosity is here!
#GivingToothsday was a BIG Success
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and First Seacoast Bank, we raised over $9,000 this #GivingToothsday to support our school-based dental program.

Now, that's something to smile about!
Still Time to Support
"Spinning Generosity"
Janet Laatsch , our CEO, and our marketing intern, Rachel Heller, will be representing our cause this Saturday (tomorrow) at the annual Spinning Generosity with LizFit in Portsmouth. They will be spinning, and sweating (!) to raise money for our programs. The bikes are sold out, but you can support a rider here !
Creating a Legendary Patient Experience (5/6)
Mark Your Calendar
Events to attend yourself or with your family
Staff Yoga Classes
Open to:  All Staff
When:  12/12, 12/17, 12/19, 12/24, 12/26, 12/31 from 12-2 p.m.
Where:  Upstairs conference room at Goodwin
Contact:    Misha Lugo
Step on the mat, breathe, and discover your flow. Staff yoga is a great way to get your body moving and de-stress. Each session is beginner-friendly and will focus on different techniques and parts of the body. Drop in anytime between 12-2 p.m. as your schedule allows.
 
Employee Holiday Luncheon
Open to:  All Staff
When:  12/18
Where:  Goodwin Kitchen Conference Rooms … Families First Parent Room, and Lilac City Pediatrics
Gather ‘round with coworkers for a delicious holiday meal on Wednesday, December 18, from 12-2 p.m. A taco bar will set the stage for an ugly-sweater contest, so remember to wear your worst (extra points for salsa stains). Please RSVP by Friday, December 13 at 12 p.m. RSVPs can be sent to Kendall or Karla .
 
Holidays and Early Closures
Christmas: Closing at 12:30 p.m. on 12/24. Closed Christmas Day.
New Year’s: Closing at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31. Closed New Year’s Day.
When we close early, employees who are working earlier in the day will be paid for their usual hours while we are closed. Employees who don’t normally work at those times will not receive any additional paid time off. Employees who were already scheduled to be off on those days must use their earned time.
 
Deadline for Last Payroll of 2019
Thursday, December 26 (end of day)
Last payroll of year will be run on Friday December 27 th . All time cards and earned time must be approved by the end of the day on Thursday, December 26 th . If you or your employees are out of the office the week of Dec 23 to 27 it is important that this get done before you leave.
 
2020 Artists of the Seacoast and Banff Tickets now on Sale
Our annual calendar comprised of submissions from local artists, as well as tickets to everyone’s favorite outdoor film festival hosted by the Music Hall. Profits from both go towards Greater Seacoast Community Health. Learn more about each below.
 
 
Pass It On
Programs to tell your patients & clients about
Public Health Cold Weather Shelter Volunteer Training
Open to: Public
When and where:
12/13 from 6 to 8 p.m. @ Dover McConnell Center Cafeteria
12/14 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. @ Dover Alms House Shelter Site
12/16 - from 6 to 8 p.m. @ Rochester Library Community Room
Our local cold weather shelters will be opening on particularly frigid nights. Strafford County Public Health is partnering with the IDN to help recruit volunteers who will lend a hand during these times. Please consider reaching out to take part this year. If you’re interested, please reach out to the Public Health Network, or register at NHResponds.org
Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Group
Open to: Public
When: Tuesdays from 9-10 a.m.
Where: Families First
Contact: Susan Remillard, PCD (DONA), CLC
Held each Tuesday morning, the free Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Group offers support to mothers during their baby’s first year, when postpartum depression and anxiety are common. The group is hosted by Susan Remillard, PCD (DONA), CLC, who is trained in birth and postpartum care. For more info, call Susan at (207) 439-3033. Free child care with advance signup. Sign up here.
 
Holidays, Traditions, and Gratitude
Open to: Public
When and Where:
@Goodwin: 12/19 from 5:30–7 p.m.
@Families First: 12/17 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Contact: Patrice Baker
During the first half of the evening, parents will discuss the importance of rituals and traditions in creating a strong family identity. We will also share ideas for cultivating an “attitude of gratitude” in our families. The kids will be next door having a light dinner. During the second part of the evening, parents and children together will make gifts to take home to share with loved ones. Click these links to sign up for the group at Goodwin or at Families First.
Winter Storm Reminders
4 Ways to Find Out if We Are Open
  • Your work email. Normally, you will receive an email by 6 a.m. if we will be closed or have a delayed opening. Here is a link to your login screen. You can also always find this link on the Goodwin website “Staff Resources” link at bottom of every page) and the Families First website (“Staff Links” choice under the Contact menu).
  • TV and Radio: WMUR (TV Channel 9 or website), WOKQ (97.5 FM), WTSN (1270 AM)
  • Facebook (search for Goodwin Community Health or Families1st)
  • Websites (top of GoodwinCH.org and FamiliesFirstSeacoast.org)

Storm Pay
If we are closed for part or all of the day, or if we are open but you are not able to get in to work, your choices are:
  • Take Earned Time to make up for hours that you miss; or
  • With your supervisor’s approval and if your job duties allow it, add time on other days to make up the time during the same week, and/or work from home.

Notes : Until further notice, you will NOT get a text message with weather updates. Our texting system doesn’t work well for emergency uses like this. Remember: There may be times when different sites have different opening and closing times.
TIC Corner:
The Four Agreements
“ Abandon assumptions and myths about how people should act and behave. What you learned is not what everyone else learns," said John Iudice, LICSW, MLADC, in his presentation on the Beyond Self-Care forum on December 5. "If you are going to improve your relational self-care when interacting with others, you need to remember that everyone has different expectations growing up.” John also shared the “4 Agreements” (from the popular book by Don Miguel Ruiz).
December Work Anniversaries
1 Year: Rebecca Balok-Searles, Gene Harkless, Stephanie Martin, Sally VanderPloeg
  2 Years:  Brenda Creteau, Ashley Desrochers, Benjamin Goldrich, Laurie Sorensen, Michael Vinci
 3 Years: Kevin O’Connell
 4 Years: Jacquelyn Collins
5 Years: Diep-Anh Nguyen
6 Years: David Lunianski
7 Years: Crystal Bonias, Coreen Toussaint
15 Years: Shannon Feger
16 Years: Cheryl Hamilton, Jennifer Jestude- Malone
17 Years: Erin Ross
Helpful Links
About This Newsletter
Looking for an article from a past newsletter? They are archived here , and if you lose this link you can always find it on your ADP home page. The newsletter comes out around the 10 th of each month. Please send any info you would like to see included in the next issue, or ideas for improving the newsletter generally, to Mike Vinci o r Margie Wachtel .