| Chamber of Commerce Diversity Award |
YSS earns Ames Chamber of Commerce Diversity Award
Youth and Shelter Services has a commitment to diversity that goes deeper than a board approved directive or company memo. YSS has been dedicated to diversity in staff employment and in the services that are offered to the Story County community.
During the last 3 years YSS has offered to its staff in excess of 15 trainings focused on diversity. The topics have included education on different ethnicities (Sudanese and Asian), different sub-cultures of youth (gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender as well as specifics differences and similarities of the male and female gender), differently-abled individuals (youth that have co-occurring disorders, and individuals that are handicapped) and training on different socioeconomic levels (what you would need to learn to live in either a higher or lower SES, and the privileges that come with being ‘Middle Class’). YSS has also started a lending library of information for our staff about working with minority populations. This includes many books, pamphlets, and government issued studies to aid staff in providing the most accurate information/services within a cultural context to our clients.
YSS, as an agency, has completed a self-assessment of Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity to better concentrate training programs and to develop culturally sensitive services for the Ames community. The results of this assessment have helped members of the Diversity Task Force in determining recommendations that will/have been made to the YSS Board of Directors regarding YSS’s strengths and needs in terms of our cultural awareness and sensitivity.
In regards to communication YSS has available staff and community volunteers to assist in translation of information and YSS provides sign language interpreters for our clients during group and individual sessions. Another service that YSS houses is the Free Medical Clinic for Ames residents. This allows people with lower SES and recent immigrants/minority group’s access to medical care, which would other wise, be unobtainable due to cost.
YSS’s diversity initiative has increased cultural awareness and sensitivity within the staff so that as service providers’ staff can better connect with/aid clients. Part of the training series that staff have participated in included the topic of “Examining the Self as the Foundation for Developing Cultural Fluency”. This opportunity allowed staff to not only refine his/her vocabulary of cultural terms but allowed for free flow discussion about different thoughts and ideas in how services are provided to clients. This particular training in conjunction with educational in-services enhances services to clients of different cultural or ethnic backgrounds, but also makes our staff more aware of differences within the Ames community.
A visible sign of change that has been furthered within our branches is that of the Safe Zone. This is an initiative directly focused on/for the GLBT population. These signs of a safe judgment free area are found in stickers or “clings” that have a pink triangle on them. We have made these available for our staff and out-patient offices to allow clients that may be struggling with sexual orientation or gender issues to recognize/identify that the people that they are talking to are both sensitive and aware of the issues that surround those questions and feelings. Some may see this as a small move, but it has made a difference in the lives of some of the clients that we serve.
YSS staff are encouraged and for some trainings required to attend trainings associated with diversity. In addition to that YSS has a very strong non-discrimination policy associated with both the treatment of clients and that of staff. This policy allows for both direction to be taken should there be a concern and the process for filing a grievance should an individual feel that appropriate actions were not taken.
George Belitsos, YSS CEO, has been a long time supporter of diversity not only within YSS but also in the community of Ames. For YSS, he has initiated the Diversity Task Force dedicated to increasing not only company-based diversity awareness, but also enhancing community wide discussion and growth associated with diversity. He participates in both these meetings but also in the trainings that are held within YSS demonstrating CEO investment in diversity initiatives. George has also encouraged his staff to participate in various community organizations and committees focused on diversity to enhance community investment, to increase Ames’ motivation for change, and to make visible YSS’s dedication to diversity
The following are letters of congratulations to YSS for receiving the award:
Mr. George Belitsos
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc.
Dear George:
Congratulations on being named the recipient of the 2005 Diversity Award at the 2005 Ames Chamber Annual Dinner.
We are please you received this well deserved recognition and would like to thank you for your dedicated service to the Ames Community. Keep up the good work!
Please accept our best wishes for continued success!
Sincerely,
Thomas Pohlman
President
First National Bank
To the Leadership and Staff of YSS,
Congratulations to your organization for doing the right things to make YSS the recipient of the 2005 Diversity Award; it appears that you work hard at it.
Also, thanks for continuing the important work that you do.
Daryle Vegge
Ames City Council
Mr. George Belitsos
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc.
Dear George:
I was pleased to see that Youth and Shelter Services was presented with the Diversity Award at the Ames Chamber Dinner on February 23. Congratulations! That is a very well-deserved recognition!
You and the staff of Youth and Shelter Services continue to give so much to this community, George. Our staff and Board members join me in congratulating you.
Sincerely,
Frankee Oleson
Executive Director
United Way of Story County
Congratulations!
Mr. George Belitsos
Youth & Shelter Services, Inc.
Dear George:
Congratulations on being this year’s recipient of the Diversity Award! This is a great honor and I hope you are as proud of the honor as we are of you. We are glad that Youth and Shelter Services has made a commitment to diversity and hope in the process, you inspire many companies to follow your leadership.
It was nice that Peggy Johnson was able to accept this award on behalf of your organization. Ames is fortunate to have YSS in our community. Once again, congratulations on a very deserving award.
Sincerely,
David L. Maahs
Executive Director
Ames Chamber of Commerce
Diversity is something that Youth & Shelter Services, Inc. (YSS) has embraced for a very long time, probably from its beginning. The staff at YSS strives everyday to embrace this very definition. It starts with its founder and CEO, George Belitsos, and works its way down through every staff member and volunteer.
“Youth and Shelter Services has a commitment to diversity that goes deeper than a board approved directive or company memo. YSS has been dedicated to diversity in staff employment and in the services that are offered to the Story County community,” said Erin Kennedy, Student Assistance Counselor, Ames High School.
During the last three years, YSS has offered over fifteen trainings focusing on diversity for its staff. The topics have included education on different ethnicities (Sudanese and Asian), different sub-cultures of youth, differently-abled individuals, and training on different socioeconomic levels. YSS also started a lending library of information for staff about working with minority populations.
“When I think of YSS, I think of diversity. I think of its staff, its volunteers, clients, its Board of Directors, the multitude of programs and services it provides for the City of Ames and the state of Iowa,” said Peggy Johnson, YSS Board of Director.
