For the past year, we have been revising our Application for Services (Gen50B) form using the expertise of the Kleimann Communications Group.
Although still in draft form, Kleimann entered it into the MarCom Creative Awards competition in October… and WE WON! Our draft Application for Services won the MarCom Platinum Award in the Writing/Technical category. Only 15% of entries received this most prestigious Platinum Award this year.
This week I hope each and every one of you will take time to recognize and appreciate one another for the exceptional work we do at DPA!
Although this is only my second month as Director, I have had the wonderful opportunity to work in many jobs in DPA from clerk-typist to ET, a home visitor and lead worker to special projects and Chief of Policy and Program Development. My experience over the last 25 years gives me a great appreciation for what each of you do every day to provide services to people. I also know that it takes all of us pulling together to make things work well.
Good Morning Everyone and Congratulations!
You have all, once again, done an awesome job to improve our payment accuracy. In a letter to Governor Murkowski last Friday, the Food and Nutrition Service announced Alaska's official Food Stamp Program error rate for FFY 2005. Alaska's combined error rate, which includes food stamp underpayments and overpayments, is 6.51%, or, as we like to view it, 93.9% accurate! This is half a percentage point better than last year, and nearer to our Better than Average payment accuracy improvement campaign goal. The national average payment error rate was 5.84%. You have brought us close enough to the national average that we will not face any penalties - always a good thing. Thank you for your hard work to improve the FS accuracy rate. I appreciate that it is not an easy task, especially in an era of growing caseloads and program complexity. I have our improved accuracy news with Commissioner Jackson and Deputy Commissioner Bill Hogan. They are very pleased with our progress and asked me to commend and congratulate each of you on a job exceptionally well done.
On March 23, 2006 representatives statewide from Local Quality Councils, Management Quality Council and the Support Quality Council met by teleconference. A representative from each council participates in a quarterly teleconference to provide updates; share best practices, and learn what projects other councils from around the state are doing.
Check out all the exciting ideas councils have to share: http://dpaweb.hss.state.ak.us/wiki/index.php?page=AAR+March+2006
This DPA Star has been with Public Assistance for nearly a decade. When she's not creating digital works of art, she can usually be found creating dazzling publications, snapping pictures and helping get the word out about Division events. While she loves Alaska, don't be surprised to find this star on a trip to sunny California. And yes, this star is a child at heart so a visit to Disneyland may play a prominent role in her next vacation. This star always comes through in a pinch and has been known to burn the midnight oil to get a project done on time.
It's my pleasure to annonce the DPAStars for October!
To our new stars ... congratulations on this wonderful recognition, and a huge THANK YOU on behalf of all your colleagues and co-workers for everything you do to make DPA a great place to work!
Kitty
"Collectively we can do what no person can do singly" - Leland Kaiser
Our goal is for council members selected from staff to form councils to review, discuss, and plan ways to continuously improve business. The concept is very similar to local municipal or borough assembly's that govern local communities. Local assemblies discuss
issues related to improving the communities in which we live.
This week we get to celebrate and recognize the outstanding work our staff does day-in and day-out at the Division of Public Assistance - help Alaskans in need. Each of you do your best every day so Alaskans in need can get through their days and weeks with dignity and greater opportunities to achieve their fullest potential. I hope you take some time this week to celebrate the good work you do for Alaska's citizens and our communities as a whole.
Congratulations to these stars who shine BRIGHTLY in the days of the Midnight Sun!
This awesome superstar was born and raised in Seward, Alaska however now makes her home in Wasilla. Her motto is: "you got to have love" and she spreads love and hugs wherever she goes. Friends and co-workers describe her as someone who has an absolutely contagious smile, laughter that spreads to everyone around, and the most positive attitude of anyone they have ever met. She genuinely loves people and you can see that in everything she does. She has a natural ability to bring people on opposite sides together. And is dedicated to our agency, customers, and her co-workers. Considered an expert by those around her, she is equally fun, organized, and cheerful. This mega star goes by the 11th letter of the alphabet twice: "KK" . Can you guess who she is?
Please join me in welcoming Margo Nash back to the Division of Public Assistance! She'll be joining the Leadership Team the first of April as the new Operations Support Manager.
Margo has been with DPA since 1975, when she began as an eligibility worker in Ketchikan. Over the years she has supported DPA in many diverse roles, including Southeast Regional Payments Manager, EIS Project Director, and Network Services Manager.