The Hendricks County Community Foundation (HCCF) through the Deedee Daniel Opportunity Fund awarded the Indiana Department of Child Services’ (DCS) Hendricks County local office $750 to fund a professional development day for staff members. The grant was used to rent a park shelter and buy teambuilding games, a catered lunch and team shirts.
“HCCF is proud to partner with DCS to better serve at-risk children and their families,” said Eric Hessel, HCCF Program Officer. “As the Community Foundation focuses on nonprofit capacity, we’d be remiss not to consider the self-care required of nonprofit staff and public servants to avoid burnout and turnover as a form of capacity building.”
At the event, DCS staff members worked on activities requiring collaboration, critical thinking and teambuilding. Several employees said they noticed a greater sense of community almost immediately.
“This grant helped our entire Hendricks County team work together to create meaningful relationships,” said DCS director Terry Stigdon. “It’s important that our front-line staff members take time to work together and gain a better understanding of the secondary trauma that can come along with the difficult job they perform every day.”
The unrestricted grantmaking program at HCCF awards capacity-building grants to local nonprofits to help them respond effectively to the needs of people in the Hendricks County neighborhoods and communities they serve.
