Page 4 - TPOCC 2019-2020 AR

RayBanks,M.P.A.
Itisnotastretchformetosaythatinmyalmost40yearsofexperiencewithTurningPoint,thisyearhasben byfarthemostunusual.Morethanhalfofthe􏰀scalyear(July1,2019-June30,2020)wasover,thenin FebruarytheentireworldchangedduetotheCoronavirusCrisis.Lookingbacklater,Iwillikelyconsiderthe Pandemicasthemostimpactfulhistoricalysigni􏰀canteventofmylifetime.Itcameonsuddenly,itcameon hard,withtheunknown,withfearandpanic,withabarageofinformationtoabsorb,withastrugglefor humansurvival,andwithsimultaneouscompetitionandcooperationforresources.Alatonce,everybitof
ormationonhowtheTurningPointAgency(staff,clients,andpartners),andeveryoneIpersonalyloveor careabout,couldmanageandsurvivethishealthcrisis,becameimportanttome,andtomostofthepeople aroundme.
Ialsomustsaythatinmyperception,thehealthcrisishasbroughtoutthebestinTurningPoint,asmostbig chalengessem todo.Asalofourservicesaredemedesentialbythegovernment,wesettheprioritiesof staffandclientsafety,maintainingourservicelevelsandquality,andworkingcooperativelywithourpartners, asguidesforhowtoleadandmanage.Iam soveryproudoftheeffortandsuceswehaveachievedthusfarin implementingthesepriorities.Staffmembershavegonewelbeyondthecalofduty,supportingand encouragingeachothertometthechalengesofeachday,oftenriskingtheirownsafetyorwelfareinmeting
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eweserve.“TurningPointStrong”becameanearlyralyingphraseusedfor encouragementamongstaff.Leadersandteamsfoundwaystoscrenforinfection,obtainnededPersonal
Protectionequipment,promotesocialdistancing,quarantinewhenrequiredofstaffandresidents, acommodatenewlaborrulesandlaws,achievecovid-19testing,serveclientsremotelyintheirhomes, obtainfoodforresidentsduringshortages,provideforsomeemployestoworkfrom theirhomes,and innovatemanyotheracommodationstoovercomethechalengesofcontainmentandsurvival.
Wewilcontinuetoworkhardtokepourservicessafeforthepublic,workdiligentlytomanagefunding reductions,workwithprotectiveforesighttofulyreopensitesthatarepartialyclosed,worksmartlyto managenededcommoditieswithavailablecommunityresourcesandbusineses,andworktireleslytogrow ourserviceswherenededandfeasible.Wewilstrivetodoourpartinachievingtherightbalancebetwen socialisolationprotectionsandeconomicre-openingsinthecountiesinwhichweserve.Wecan,andwewil, continuetoadaptto“thenewnormal”,whereverthattakesusasanorganization,andasourpartina
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roductivesociety.Wewilcontinuetocapitalizeonsomeofthepositivesthathaveemergedfrom thehealth crisis. eseincludeanincreasedrelianceononeanotherinteamstometnewchalenges,increaseduseof videoconferencingtometinefficientways,increaseduseoftelehealthtoreachclientsintheirhomes,aswel astoalowstaffacestoworkfrom theirhomes,whennecesary,posibleandproductive. eCoronavirus pandemichascertainlyputanewperspectiveonservingpeopleinned,andespecialyonwhatitmeanstobe inned.
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