all staff convening leaves our team inspired, hopeful and recharged
unplugged
meeting of the minds
Once a year, the National Service Office brings together field and Denver-based employees alike, puts them together in a big room, and gives it a good shake. For a few days, the whole staff has the opportunity to look one another in the eyes while reflecting on the year gone by and planning for the great work ahead. This year was no different – in late January, we gathered under grey Denver skies to take stock of our work and share our gratitude for being part of the Nurse-Family Partnership family.
We call this experience “Unplugged” because being together brings welcome respite from the technology that knits us together from coast to coast. Far from a traditional corporate retreat, Unplugged facilitates genuine connection among our staff through team building exercises, work sessions, and the occasional social snack break. This year, leadership also drew out the collective intelligence of the group by posing a hearty challenge: if you were to have $1 million to spend on helping NFP achieve its goals across the country, how would you use it? Rich (pun intended) conversation ensued and primed us all for an enthusiastic town hall with leadership.
This year was also marked by the presence of two very special guests: Dr. David Olds and Cheryl Spicer, the 2017 Tenacious Caregiver Award Winner. Together, Dr. Olds and Cheryl provided more inspiration that the room could contain. Dr. Olds highlighted the ongoing research on the NFP model and his determination to amplify NFP’s impact. Cheryl embodied the heart and soul of NFP’s commitment to serving our families and seeing them through complex life circumstances by empowering them to create better futures for themselves and their babies.
To capture all the activities in this eventful week would be impossible, but the energy of the staff at the close of the event spoke volumes. The proof was in the Circle of Excellence, where we were asked to characterize our feelings as we walked away from Unplugged, including “inspired,” “hopeful,”
and “excited.”
a little space waiting for something good to fill it.
15
celebrating success
FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. —
Fifteen new mothers were recognized at a February Nurse-Family Partnership of Forsyth County graduation ceremony. It honors the completion of the two-year home-visitation program.
Congratulations to all!