Ripples F Excellence
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A NEXUS NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2014 cornerst ne Ripples f excellence IN THIS MONTH’S ISSUE Nexus 3rd Annual Conference Recap 2014 Ambassador of Excellence Award Winners A Broader Focus for our Mission Statement A Laser Focus for our Vision Statement from the corner office of the CEO “Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals have far-reaching effects.” –Dalai Lama Creating Ripples of Excellence emerges when we use the Cornerstone Values to guide our actions. Te 2014 Nexus Annual Conerence just wrapped up in Minneapolis, MN, and it was a huge success. We All o our work, together, creates excellence or had our largest attendance ever, with staff rom all our customers – rom maintenance to kitchen to sites represented. counselor to corporate. When we make every step in the process count, excellence is within our grasp. While the conerence, now in its third year, offers It doesn’t matter what your job unction is. It doesn’t learning sessions, un activities, and guest speakers, it matter i you are support staff, direct care staff, or a also provides staff with an opportunity to meet with supervisor. You could be answering the phone, doing and learn rom experts at other Nexus sites. More general ledgers, serving lunch, dispensing medication, importantly, it gives all staff a chance to connect to the leading a group, or talking to a campus visitor. larger organization that Nexus has become. It only takes a little extra effort to be a part o Tis year’s conerence theme was Ambassadors o something truly extraordinary, and there is no Excellence, and the ocus was on going above and beyond our routines to create an environment o kids,downside the amilies, to excellence. and each Everyone and ever benefitsy one orom you. it: the sustained excellence. I hope those who attended were inspired to bring sustained excellence back to their “Share the WOW,” and inspire others to find ways to sites. I you were not able to attend this year’s event, create memorable experiences or our youth, amilies, I urge you to watch the presentations that are posted and partners. Every time you share that Mission on Nex-Net under the Annual Conerence tab. Tere Moment, you strengthen our culture o excellence. are some powerul testimonials rom staff, reerral sources, and youth we have served. Every day, you create a ripple o excellence that touches more lives, more amilies, and more Excellence happens when we develop good, positive communities. relationships with our kids, amilies, and community members. It happens when we create a “wow” You really are making the world a better place, one experience that they want to share with others. And it child at a time. 1 | SEPTEMBER 2014 message from the COO Wolff Calls YSuchou’re an amazing A wesome.time or Nexus…It Yreallyes, is! You! Onarga Academy I have now been here two years, and I have such an incredible Onarga perspective in my role as COO. I get to see all the amazing Academy’s things every site and program is doing each and every day. It ransitional is truly breathtaking when all our great accomplishments are Living Program put together. We have positively impacted so many lives, truly earned a #1 living up to our great mission. ranking in Illinois or the ourth consecutive year. David has done a antastic job o leading and positioning this Woodbourne Center organization not only to be strong today, but ensuring we Woodbourne re-launched its Development Program this past are strong well into the uture. Financially, Nexus has never year, and has already raised more than $100,000 in cash and been stronger or more stable. In 2007, we had $46.4 million donations to support the youth at Woodbourne Center. in assets; today, we have nearly $96 million. In 2007, our total revenues were $40 million. oday, our revenues are nearly $75 Mille Lacs Academy million (and growing)! Mille Lacs Academy successully negotiated a county contract per diem increase to include additional support or a second We have developed a much broader continuum o services, Clinical Director and two auxiliary Terapists. rom 1 in 1972 to nearly 25 today (and growing). We continue to expand our evidence-based practices, with emphasis on Indian Oaks Academy amily partnership and trauma-inormed care. Indian Oaks Academy assumed operations o Starfish Family Homes, and will continue to provide support services to oster We continue to renovate and move into new acilities, amilies, while developing oster care services at Indian Oaks. providing new urnishings to all our residents. Tis is our great Kindred Family Focus statement to the youth we serve that they are valued. Kindred Family Focus became the first oster care agency in the state to offer oster amilies financial and resource support We are now being approached regularly by state and county through Nexus CARES (Cash and Respite Enhancements). officials to bring our excellent services to them. Tis is evidence that Nexus is seen as a premier provider. We are being Corporate recognized as a true leader in our field. Human Resources – Instituted a PO Cash-Out Program that allows employees to request rom 1 to 5 ull days o PO to be We have been this successul or one reason and one reason paid out to them rom their PO balance once each year. only: our people. Our hard-working, committed and mission- Clinical Services – Successully completed a COA- driven staff is what separates us rom others in our field reaccreditation process this past year. and truly defines what it means to be excellent. You are all Business Development – Has been working on an Intensive Ambassadors o Excellence! Tank you. Residential Program or Adolescent Females and an out-o- state Boys’ Program, as well as innovative new ways to deliver Tere isn’t enough space here to mention everything our mental health services in outstate Minnesota. sites have done this past year, but I want to highlight one key IT – Has brought large-scale upgrades to virtualization across accomplishment o each. Nexus staff and sites are working Nexus, increasing agile growth capacity or the uture. to bring excellence to kids, amilies, and communities in CQI – Broadened the scope o activities and meaningul everything we do. data use and reflection throughout Nexus’ continuum o care, continuing to shi rom compliance to areas o key Gerard Academy perormance indicators and outcomes. Gerard Academy opened Te Villa this year, and it wasn’t long beore things were right back where they were beore the dorm I applaud all o your efforts. Congratulations on a great year! opened – all 93 beds on campus filled, with a long waiting list. SEPTEMBER 2014 | 2 The Nexus 3rd Annual Conference in Plymouth, MN, was the largest yet, with more than 120 staff from all six sites in attendance. Events kicked off with an opening speech on Creating a Culture of Excellence, delivered by Nexus CEO David Hutchinson. Guest speaker David Mann addressed the crowd on matching the content of words with intent, using both sides of the brain for problem-solving, and living the Cornerstone Values. After a short break, attendees took part in selected A Dixieland dinner with live music by the Figs. learning sessions on Collaborative Problem-Solving, The Welcome Committee. Funding for the Future, Mapping Aftercare Services, Developing Conflict Competence, Opening the Door to Inclusion of Transgender Youth, and CQI. Evening events included a New Orleans Dixieland dinner on Wednesday evening with live music provided by the Figs, and a Derby Race with prize drawings on Thursday. The conference ended with a summary of the year’s highlights by COO Brock Wolff, the 2014 Nexus Ambassador of Excellence Awards presentation, and closing remarks by CEO David Hutchinson.* Beautiful weather allowed for outdoor dining. * Video of David Hutchinson’s opening and closing speeches and Ambassador Awards Presentations can be viewed online under the Annual Conference tab on Nex-Net. Breakout Learning Session PowerPoints and handouts are also available for download and review, as are photos from the conference events. Fun and frivolity. t a ! M i n n e s o e a n s i n N e w O r l 3 | SEPTEMBER 2014 B r eak out Lear n i ng Sessi ons. Opening ceremonies. Buffet Dinner Derby Night! Sel fes w i t h t he CE O ! Place your bets! Ambassador Awards SEPTEMBER 2014 | 4 AAmbassadorward Winners–2014 of Excellence Te Ambassador Award was established as a Nexus-wide recognition program or those individuals who exempliy the best in all o us and who model our Cornerstone Values and Guiding Principles. Each ambassador was nominated by their ellow peers on the ollowing criteria: • Exhibits a passion or the work they do. • Exemplifies the values and principles o the organization to all they come in contact with, both internally and externally. • Exhibits and models behaviors that go above and beyond their job responsibilities. • Has been a shining example o how to put others first. CongratulationsWatch the awards presentation to videothis online Year’s under thAmbassadorse Annual Conference tab o on Nex-Net.Excellence! Gerard Academy Onarga Academy Kindred Family Focus Chris Probst Sarah Thomson Andrea McCormick School Coordinator Sr. Counselor -TLP Regional Supervisor Mille Lacs Academy Indian Oaks Academy Woodbourne Center Colleen Kightlinger Malissa Roby Mechelle Dukes Accounting Specialist Unit Coordinator Recreation Coordinator 5 | SEPTEMBER 2014 Nexus Mission & Vision Infusing our Mission & Vision Statements with New Vitality Strengthening Lives, Families, and Communities Trough Our Cornerstone Values Since our ounding in 1972, Nexus has broadened the depth their child’s success and long-lasting outcomes, which is and reach o its mission.