Innovative Care Partners (ICP) had a planting event on May 17 in which staff came to the lawn on Hillside Circle in West Springfield to plant assorted seeds and plants in pots (flowers, herbs, spider plants etc.)

Care Coordinator Tammy Bishop “stepped up and really made sure this event went off without a hitch,” said Service Area Director Elle LaGuerre. ICP, a partnership between CHD, ServiceNet, and Gandara Center, “put together a Staff Appreciation Committee that comes up with one activity a month to help staff feel appreciated and give them support, because we want them to feel valued,” said LaGuerre. “In January, the committee was formed, and we had our first meeting, where we asked staff and supervisors to give us feedback on how they feel valued and appreciated. We got a lot of great information, so now we meet monthly to discuss and plan our next month’s activities.”

The fruits of their brainstorming: in February, ICP had a cookie exchange between staff, and in March they held a taco bar potluck lunch. In April. ICP leadership made brunch for staff!