Cutting Usage, Despite High Temps

The United Helpers Sustainability Committee has issued a 12-month challenge to facilities to reduce their energy usage, using a three-year look back period to provide incentive for employees to explore ways to conserve electricity. For each month that a United Helpers’ facility goes below their three year average, they are awarded a point. Sites falling below their average by 1-2% receive an additional point and those achieving a rate at 2% below their average receive 2 points or a maximum total of 3 points per month.

Despite high temperatures, many of United Helpers' 26 facilities have still managed to find unique ways to cut their energy consumption and rise to the top of the contest leader board. As of May 31, the United Helpers facilities with most points are: 

Spruce Street IRA - 15 points

Flackville Rd IRA - 14 points

RiverLedge Residence - 13 points

Sparx - 12 points

Riverwood IRA - 12 points

Mosaic Complex - 12 points

With the summer temps well above average, will these leaders be able to hang on after numbers for June and July roll in? Fall may result in cooler temps, but this contest is starting to heat up!  

Jones Honored With Life Improved Award

From left, Mosaic Day Services Coordinator Robin Glass, Lyndsey Jones and Bonnie Hitsman

OGDENSBURG - The bond between staff and residents is difficult to describe in words, but for anyone who has ever witnessed Lyndsey Jones interacting with the people we serve either at Day Hab or the McIntyre IRA, where she also works, words aren't needed as the sights and sounds will surely do the trick.

It was that strong relationship between Ms. Jones and the residents that led fellow M-DSP Bonnie Hitsman to nominate her for one of this summer's Life Improved Awards.

"She treats the residents with respect and enjoys taking them where they would enjoy going," Ms. Hitsman wrote adding, "She is very kind and thoughtful towards all the residents and speaks to them in a way that they will understand what she is saying to them. She has even gone to visit residents when they had to be in the hospital after she was done working."

And according to Ms. Hitsman, Ms. Jones also shares a similar bond with her co-workers, as well as visitors to whichever facility she finds herself working in that day.

"When we have visitors she is very pleasant towards them and offers to help in anyway she can, also including them in what is happening at the work site ," Ms. Hitsman wrote. "The residents all like being around her and and her co-workers do too. She gets along with everyone and she is a positive role mode for residents and her co-workers. You can tell she loves her job here at Day Hab and the McIntyre house."

Job/CNA Class Applications Submitted Monday & Tuesday may be Lost

During the process of updating our employment portal, job applications and CNA Class applications that were submitted on Monday and Tuesday of this week were purged from the system. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but we are asking people who submitted applications earlier this week to please reapply.

Secondly, if you know anyone who may have applied online for a job or the CNA class, please pass this message on to them.

If you have any questions or wish to verify that your application was received, please contact the HR Department at 393-3074, ext. 4270 or 4265.

www.unitedhelpers.org/apply

Employment Portal Unveiled on UH Website

OGDENSBURG – In an effort to streamline both the job application and hiring processes, United Helpers has launched an “Employment Portal” at www.unitedhelpers.org.

“We wanted applicants to be contacted quicker, which in-turn will hopefully reduce the length of time our hiring process takes,” said Human Resources Specialist Michelle R. Matthews.

The launching of the portal comes as the result of a joint effort between the United Helpers Human Resources and IT Departments.

“Our intention is to one day, in the not too distant future, have a completely paperless hiring process,” said IT Systems Administrator Greg Walrath, who added that in addition to benefiting the environment, the new portal is also beneficial to applicants, as well as the Human Resources Department and management-level employees.

“This has really allowed us to improve communication between human resources and managers, who are responsible for the hiring of employees at their respective facilities.” Ms. Matthews said.

Recognizing that not everyone does have access to a computer, Ms. Matthews said that in the near future, there will be a computer available for job applicants to use at the company’s 732 Ford St., Ogdensburg Management Company offices.

“This decision was made after several weeks of discussions and examination of national trends,” she said. “What we’re looking to do is make this process easier for everyone involved.”

Features of the job portal include a comprehensive listing of currently available jobs, as well as tools that allow potential job applicants to create an on-line profile and set alerts to notify them when jobs they may be interested in become available. Managers within the company may also set alerts that notify them when someone submits an application they may be interested in.

The portal will also allow United Helpers to generate reports, which among other things, will identify where those applying for jobs and visiting the website are coming from.

“Those analytics will give us data that will allow us to better focus our recruitment efforts where they’re needed,” Ms. Matthews said.

“Anyone applying for a job or thinking about applying for one with us is encouraged to set up an on-line profile,” Mr. Walrath said.

To view the employment portal visit, www.unitedhelpers.org/employment. To apply for a job with United Helpers visit, www.unitedhelpers.org/apply. 

Welcome New Hires

RiverLedge

Bridgette Simmons - Activity Aide
Miranda Ross - Task Aide
David Ellis - Food Service Attendant
Darrel Perrine - Food Service Attendant

RiverLedge Residence
Courtney Brabant - Personal Care Attendant

Maplewood

Joshua Bassett - Food Service Attendant

United Helpers Management Company

Michelle Cross - Housing Specialist

Basta's Flowers & Gifts
Jacob Hargrave - Delivery Driver

Potsdam Day Hab
Jocelyn Deshane - DSP

Epprecht Honored With Life Improved Award

At United Helpers we are in the business of helping others, but for some employees helping other people is more than just their job.

Program Manager Lauren Peters with
Tucker Epprecht

Tucker Epprecht is one of those employees and it's his dedication to our Life Improved mantra that led to his selection as one of our Life Improved Award winners for the summer of 2016.

Mr. Epprecht was nominated for the honor by Summer Storie, a fellow DSP at the High St. IRA in Morristown.

"Tucker often comes in on his days off to take residents on outings that otherwise would not happen," Ms. Storie said, noting he's been known to assist community members in need while on those outings.

"While out in the community he will stop what he's doing to help someone else in need, even if it's just to assist with the most simplest of things," she said.

Mr. Epprecht also possesses a sense of humor that makes working with him more than just another day at the office, she said. "Tucker makes everyone laugh, and he is always willing to help out a co-worker whether it's swithcing time off or even just working shifts for people."

Perhaps it's that sense of humor that has helped him build a rapport with the families of High Street's residents, many of whom will ask for him by name when calling to check on their loved ones.

"Tucker is always willing to talk with our residents' families, and even has families ask for him personally," Ms. Storie said.

Employee Activity Team Hosting Outdoor Showing of The Goonies

Employees of United Helpers and their families are invited to a special outdoor screening of The Goonies to be held on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Maplewood Pavilion.
Admission to the film, which will be shown on a GIANT 12 FOOT SCREEN is FREE!
Snacks will be provided and several door prizes will also be awarded.
The Goonies is one of the most beloved family films    of all-time. If you have yet to enjoy this movie with your children now is your chance. If they've already seen the film, enjoy it all over again on the silver screen, the way it was meant to be seen.
A Sept. 30 rain date has been set.