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It is September, the year 2020 is two-thirds complete, and we
are excited to be moving care-fully and safely toward returning as
many CMS employees as feasible to office work during the months
ahead.
As we do so, many of us find ourselves mired in a complicated
and difficult balance of work,
school, and family, perhaps through Fall and Winter, that will
require continued patience, creativity, and cooperation. Be
assured, CMS supports you as we continue to work through these
challenges together.
All of us seem to face new obstacles in day-to-day life that we
had scarce-ly considered prior to this year. As Team CMS, we are
mindful about the need for understanding among co-workers as we
continue to battle the potential spread of the virus, as we
implement deliberate and carefully phased return-to-work plans, as
we maintain proper distancing and sanitizing techniques, and
perhaps most im-portant, as we wear our masks at all times – a
strict requirement in the office environment for the protection and
safety of ourselves and those with whom we work.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation to date, and of
course, we appreciate the continued productivity we have seen from
most who have worked from home since mid-March. We are discovering
and implement-ing new and better ways for us all to work together
in the months ahead.
As we deal with this stage of the crisis and seek to continue
doing the work of CMS, there is no question that this COVID-19
emergency has taken a serious toll in terms of individual stress
and seems to have left a general sense of helplessness affecting
many. September, then, also is a good time to remind CMS staff
members that our Bureau of Benefits is rolling out an expanded
wellness initiative for State employees, which includes a variety
of health resources that focus on mental and behavioral issues and
needs, in addition to many other physical wellness benefits.
In keeping with the wellness initiative, I have issued my own
challenge to CMS staff on personal wellness. I hope that each CMS
staff member will seriously consider their own lifestyle, health,
and wellness goals and make every effort to select physical
activities that best fit your personal lifestyle to allow each of
you to set milestones for fitness
Director’s Monthly Message: Janel L. Forde
September 2020
and work toward those goals, always with the support of
co-workers and management. Please send an email to
[email protected] to join the challenge today and
share your goals.
We do the work of the State at CMS, but it is exceedingly
difficult to do our work properly unless we first attend to our own
wellness issues and do our best to operate at a peak level of
health and energy.
As we enter the Fall, please remember the importance of getting
a flu shot early, especially considering the ongoing COVID-19
situation in Illinois. CMS will provide free flu vaccinations to
all State of Illinois Group Insurance members. This year’s flu
clinics will look a bit different due to social distancing
requirements and the Benefits team is working hard to develop a
schedule that will meet both State and CDC guidelines while
accommodating health plan members.
As health plan members, you also have the option to receive a
free flu vaccination from your doctor or local pharmacy like CVS or
Walgreens.
September also brings a fun and exciting annual learning and
sharing event in Illinois – National Hispanic Heritage Month,
celebrated from September 15 through October 15. Hispanic Heritage
Month recognizes a unique and valued ethnic and cultural richness
that touches all Illinoisans. With more than 1 million Illinois
residents of Hispanic descent, all Illinoisans gain from the
diversity rep-resented throughout the Hispanic culture, and the
accompanying depth of commitment to a strong and vital Illinois
economy and way of life.
Clearly, within the challenges we all face at CMS, we have a
long way to go in bringing back a sense of normalcy to State
government and to our daily lives. But we are making progress. We
are doing the business of State government every day. Our entire
staff is working to make it happen, and together, we have faith
that we will continue our progress through the difficult weeks
ahead.
Director Janel L. Forde
receiving her last flu shot
from Former Chicago
Department of Public
Health Commissioner
Julie Morita.
mailto:[email protected]
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“When all was said and done by May, we had processed more than a
thousand new vehicles,” McGrath said. “The coordination was
challeng-ing, especially at first. With the Secretary of State’s
Office closed down because of COVID-19, we had to work with them to
find a way to process and license these vehicles. They have been
great to work with, and we managed a special connection that
allowed us to get the work done.”“Diana has become one of our most
essential employees,” said Peter Newman, Deputy Director for Agency
Services. “She is tireless in assuring the work is accurate and
timely. Her persistence and attention to detail have allowed fairly
seamless operations to continue during the COVID crisis.”
McGrath’s team in Division of Vehicles also is quick to sing her
praises. “I think the thing that stands out about Diana is her
willingness to assist,” said Kevin Behl, who handles vehicle orders
and check-in for the Divi-sion of Vehicles. “Always on the phone,
the first few things out of her mouth are, ‘What do you need?’ or
‘How can I assist?’ She is willing to learn new things which better
enhance our cus-tomer interactions. She is a stickler for detail
and making sure things get done right. Strong work ethics and
organizational skills are an asset when things are chaotic.”
“Diana recognizes tasks that need to be completed ahead of time,
and takes it upon herself to ensure they are completed, requiring
little or no direction,” said Brett Lindsey, Diana’s immediate
supervisor in DOV. “She played a vital part during the COVID-19
shutdown ensuring all functions of licensing and titling continued
without interruption.”
During the COVID-19 Spring shutdown, McGrath also assisted in
provid-ing response support to the Illinois Emergency Management
Agency (IEMA) through her efforts to quickly license several
semi-trail-ers the agency acquired to serve as temporary morgues
during the crisis.
McGrath has worked for the State since 1999, including 15 years
with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and six
years with the CMS Bureau of Personnel before joining Agency
Services. She is an Army veteran, and served in Germany and
California for four years during the 1990s.
For her part, McGrath is happy that CMS implemented a measured
return-to-work effort in keeping with Governor Pritzker’s Statewide
eopening guidelines. “The office is good, as we maintain social
distanc-ing and use masks,” she said. “It’s hard to work from home,
but now people are coming back. It’s not too crowded, and I feel
very safe here.”
To submit a nomination for employee of the month complete the
nomination form here and submit the completed form to Marjani
Williams at [email protected].
Diana McGrath of the Bureau of Agency Services (BoAS) has been
named CMS Employee of the Month for September 2020 for her
exemplary work in vehicle licensing and coordination, especially
during the COVID-19 crisis.
McGrath joined the Bureau in April 2019 as Executive Secretary
II and, as she learned the system, she was tested nearly from the
outset by high volumes of paperwork for newly purchased vehicles
with limited assistance available. “Diana was diligent in learning
her new craft from the beginning, but she came in at the start of a
very busy time for us. She has really impressed me in how quickly
she learned the roles and responsibilities, and simply excelled in
her work,” said Shawn Perron, CMS Vehicle Coordinator for the
Division of Vehicles, who nomi-nated McGrath for the honor.
“I’m honored by the recognition,” McGrath said. “I am just glad
to be here and able to help out… We definitely have good teamwork
at CMS. You can’t do this kind of work alone or on your own. It
takes a team effort. There have been some real challenges, but I am
really happy to be here and help out where I can.”
By early Spring 2020, McGrath had mastered her daily work
routine, just as COVID-19 led to a Statewide work-from-home order
for many State employees. With hundreds of new vehicles due to
arrive, “despite the shutdown, Diana volunteered to report to the
office to coordi-nate, schedule, organize, and even help shuttle
vehicles to the State fairgrounds” for final processing and pickup,
Perron said. “She spent many hours here in the office manually
filling out the Secretary of State’s forms for licensing and
registration, and acquiring the necessary license plates for these
essential agency vehicles, and scheduling the appointments for
agencies to pick up their vehicles and credit cards.”
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EOTM Award for September – Diana McGrath
September 2020 Employee of the Month, Diana McGrath at her
workstation.
https://cms2.portal.illinois.gov/Documents/CMS_EOM_NominationForm.pdf
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An AED, or automated external defibril-lator, is a device used
to give an electric shock through the chest wall to the heart for
someone who has sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). An AED has built-in
computers that check the person’s heart rhythm, judge if
defibrillation is needed, and then deliver the shock. It will give
you audio or visual instruc-tions throughout the process.
Most AEDs are designed to be used by non-medical people such as
fire department personnel, police officers, lifeguards, flight
attendants, security guards, teachers, and even family members of
high-risk persons.
The goal is to provide access defibrillation when needed as
quickly as possible. CPR along with AEDs can dramatically increase
survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest.
What is ventricular fibrillation (VF)?VF is an abnormal heart
rhythm often seen in sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). This rhythm is
caused by abnormal and very fast electrical activity in the heart.
VF is chaotic and unorganized; the heart quivers and cannot
effectively pump blood. VF is short lived and will deteriorate to
asystole (a flat line) if not treated promptly.
How is VF treated?The only effective treatment for VF is an
electrical shock called defibrillation. Defibrillation is an
electrical current applied to the chest. The electrical current
passes through the heart with the goal of stopping the VF and
providing an opportunity for the heart’s normal electrical system
to take control. This current helps the heart reorganize the
electrical activity so it can pump blood again. An automated
external defibrillator (AED) can defibrillate the heart.
Why Learn to Use an AEDSudden cardiac arrest is among the
leading causes of death in the United States. In fact, more than
350,000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest this year. Currently,
the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac
arrest is to use an AED.
Of course, you can – and should – request the assistance of
trained medical professionals. However, because the average
response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8-12
minutes, and for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the odds of
survival are reduced by approximately 10%, having access to and AED
and knowing how to use one, is critical.
Safety Corner - Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Before Using the AEDThese AED steps should be used when caring
for a non-breathing child aged 8 or older who weighs more than 55
pounds, or an adult.
After checking the scene and ensuring that the person needs
help, you should ask a bystander to call 911 for help, then:1. Turn
on the AED and follow the visual and/or audio prompts.2. Open the
person’s shirt and wipe his or her bare chest dry. If the
person
is wearing any medication patches, you should use a gloved (if
possible) hand to remove the patches before wiping the person’s
chest.
3. Attach the AED pads according to the device’s instructions,
and plug in the connector (if necessary).
4. Make sure no one is, including you, is touching the person.
Tell every-one to “stand clear.”
5. Push the “analyze” button (if necessary) and allow the AED to
analyze the person’s heart rhythm.
6. If the AED recommends that you deliver a shock to the person,
make sure that no one, including you, is touching the person – and
tell every-one to “stand clear.” Once clear, press the “shock”
button.
7. Begin CPR after delivering the shock. Or, if no shock is
advised, begin CPR. Perform 2 minutes (about 5 cycles) of CPR and
continue to follow the AED’s prompts. If you notice obvious signs
of life, discontinue CPR and monitor breathing for any changes in
condition.
Click here to view a video tutorial on how to use an AED.
Click here to view a video tutorial for CPR on adults.
Visit the American Red Cross and American Heart Association
websites for more information about AED training opportunities.
An automated external debfibrillator (AED)
with full details for proper use.
http://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/perfoming-cpr/cpr-stepshttps://youtu.be/mfiWikreG4khttp://www.redcrossrefresher.com/media/videos/adultcpr.htmlhttps://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/aed/aed-traininghttps://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/illinois/illinois
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The 2020 Illinois State Employee Engagement Survey (EES) is now
live. Please help CMS by using the link provided to open and
participate in the survey with your candid thoughts about the State
workplace. Employee engagement is defined as the
level at which staff is involved in, enthusiastic about and
committed to their work and workplace. Your feedback from this
survey helps agency leaders understand the status of employee
engagement in each agency and how to improve the level of
engagement.
The EES is both anonymous and confidential. We do not attempt to
identify or release individual survey responses. Instead, we
perform cumulative analyses on all the survey responses as a whole.
The survey
Employee Engagement Survey
will close at 5p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2020. While your
responses to the survey are encouraged and appreciated, survey
partici-pation is not mandatory.
Your feedback is incredibly valuable to the State and CMS.
Previous feed-back from past surveys has informed many current
strategies around goals like improving employee morale, skill
development, and career-building among State agencies.
Please click this link to complete the survey. If you have any
questions regarding the survey, please direct them to
[email protected].
Thank you for your continued commitment to the State of
Illinois.
Congratulations to the IL Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO)
for completing the program’s annual inventory in the shortest
timeframe ever for the State of Illinois.
The annual inventory fulfills a requirement of the agreement
between the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and the State, which
allows for the transfer of excess Department of Defense property
and equipment to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) across the
nation.
The inventory’s timeline for completion is 90 days however the
IL LESO team completed the task in an astonishing 36 days. Illinois
current-ly has the second-largest LEA participation in the nation
and only five other states have completed the task to date.
In 2020, the team used new technology and transformed the
traditional format into the “E-LESO” to increase efficiencies. The
team credits the use of new e-tools and strong relationships with
partic-ipating LEAs in helping to improve responsiveness to DLA
requirements and support to LEAs. The DLA has formally recognized
the IL LESO’s “hard, tenacity, and innovation” for these
efforts.
IL LESO Office Administrator Rewa Bowdrey served as the project
manager and used Hubspot, a customer relationship platform, to
collect and organize electronic records for LEA contacts. Hubspot
also allowed the team to communicate internally and track and
monitor progress.
The team also used Pandadoc, a document completion and
submission platform, to ensure that required documents were
completed quickly and accurately. With the integration of new
technology for electronic sub-missions, the LEA’s eliminated the
need to print, fill out, scan, and email documents with fewer
errors.
IL LESO Program Annual Inventory
Training videos were also created to walk LEA’s through the
step-by-step process of creating accounts on the new platforms,
filling out required documents, searching for the property, and
completing their inventory certification.
Currently, there are 440 LESO participants and the team hopes to
enlist more LEA’s into the program soon. The IL LESO Program
provides LEA’s with various types of much needed equipment,
including medical supplies (AEDs, first aid kits, turnakits), cold
weather gear and off-terrain vehicles for search and rescue
efforts. After recent flooding in Crawford County, the Sheriff’s
department used a LAV-300 obtained through the program to assist an
elderly person who was trapped due to floodwaters.
Congratulations to Rewa Boldrey, Dave Rector, Sarah Wallace and
Brent Boesdorfer on their hard work in making the IL LESO Program a
success!
The Crawford County Sheriff’s department using a light armored
vehicle, LAV-300, obtained through the IL LESO program to rescue an
elderly resident who was trapped due to floodwaters.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P5SVHVQhttp://www.illinois.gov/leso
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Office of the DirectorJanel L. Forde(217) 782-2141
For more information on this newsletter or any other CMS
initiatives, contact:
Marjani Williams • Deputy Director: (312) 814-1676
Wendy Butler • Director of Governmental Affairs: (217)
785-19410078-20, 05/20, web21-0139, 09-20, web
National Black Business MonthThe Business Enterprise Program
(BEP) celebrated National Black Business Month in August with a
series of virtual panel discussions to support Black and other
minority business owners. Featured panelists included Matt Simpson
from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development
(DCEO), Thyatiria Towns from Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Marcus
Yancey from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and
Rosalyn E. Putman from the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Participants were given detailed information on vendor
requirements for selling to the federal government, current
opportunities with CPS and funding opportunities available through
LISC.
Director Janel Forde and BEP Outreach Manager Irma Lopez also
joined DCEO and Groupon for a panel discussion of best practices
for doing business with the State of Illinois including options for
BEP certification.
Events Corner
Benefits Corner
2020 Rapid Results Summit
Registration for the 2020 Rapid Results Summit, Expedition:
Excellence, is now open. Please go to the Summit’s website to
register. While there, you can get a preview of the exciting live
sessions and informative breakout videos that will be
presented.
The Rapid Results Summit will take place from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
on Wednesday, September 16, 2020. It is open to all state employees
with supervisor/agency approval, so please feel free to forward
this information to your colleagues.
We hope that you can attend EXPEDITION: EXCELLENCE!Click here to
register.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/RapidResultSummit/Pages/default.aspxhttps://www2.illinois.gov/sites/RapidResultSummit/Pages/Registration.aspx