The health and well-being of you – our Orange County Government employees – and your families remains a top priority. This is especially true as we continue to overcome the mental, physical and emotional challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

OC MINDMATTERS
Please watch this video message that has details about our new behavioral health initiative, OC MINDMATTERS. My goal is to make sure you and your family have all the support you need to get through this pandemic and regain a sense of control in these uncertain times.

Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks about OC MINDMATTERS and how we will recognize National Mental Health Awareness month throughout May.

Denim Day

Additionally, this Wednesday, April 28, is “Denim Day 2021.” Employees are encouraged to wear denim jeans to help raise awareness about the tragedy and trauma of rape and sexual assault. Denim Day is sponsored by the Victim Service Center of Central Florida, and seeks to enlist public support in dispelling harmful attitudes and inaccurate perceptions about the heartbreaking reality of rape and sexual assault.
 
The Denim Day campaign is a worldwide effort and started as a grass-roots protest against a controversial Italian Supreme Court decision, in which a rape conviction was overturned. In that case, the Italian Supreme Court dismissed charges against a rape suspect because his victim was wearing jeans at the time of the attack. To learn more about the significance of this campaign, visit: www.denimdayinfo.org/why-denim.
 
For members of our Orange County family who are required to wear a county uniform as part of your dress code and will be unable to participate by wearing jeans, I ask that you please join us in spirit and cheer on your colleagues taking part in Denim Day. Also, be sure to receive approval from your supervisor. Feel free to send pictures of you and team wearing denim to HREvents@ocfl.net.
 
Together, we can help spread awareness about the physical and emotional trauma that accompanies sexual assault and rape, while also helping to comfort victims in Central Florida and around the world.

Sincerely,
Jerry L. Demings Orange County Mayor