​YEAR-END UPDATE, FROM THE DESK OF JOHN GOFF

John Goff is the Community Services Director, and oversees UCP Oregon's Supported Living Department (also known as UCP Foundations) and Children's Services Department (also known as UCP Building Blocks).

YEAR-END UPDATE, FROM THE DESK OF JOHN GOFF, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR

Hello, UCP Family!

It is always an honor to share the successes and stories of the Community Services (CS) Department, but not without first recognizing the collective energy of all UCP customers, employees, Board members, and partners. When I think of the past year, I am reminded of the familiar phrase that it truly “Takes a Village,” and I must say that I am grateful to have been a part of this one for close to 10 years!

So, what of the year 2022? I wish I had space to list every situation and scenario navigated, but I can say with certainty and admiration that everyone in the department showed up in a very big way to support one another.

In no order of priority, the CS Department:

• Worked with incredibly flexible customers to evaluate safety concerns while reentering the community as businesses began to open their doors again.
• Supported customer education and a thoughtful response to the Omicron and variant surges
• Assisted with scheduling vaccines for customers in the ever-changing variant landscape
• Supported one another like family following the loss of loved ones
• Hired, trained and onboarded a ton of positions, including new managers who have all been rocking their various roles and responsibilities
• Customers went back to work or started new jobs
• Celebrated many customer successes including one individual who now creates and monitors his own household budget
• Customers returned to their Special Olympic teams to resume training
• Worked together to identify department strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities
• Completed and participated in agency-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion trainings
• Consistently demonstrated their commitment to CS customers and each other

I am very proud of all the accomplishments and work from the Community Services Department, and I look forward to another great year in 2023 filled with opportunity, continued advocacy, and growth.