Progress News. Strategic Goal Update: Financial Sustainability. August Employment Anniversaries. Progress Industries Employee Newsletter.

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1 Progress Industries Employee Newsletter Progress News August 15, 2016 Supporting people to achieve a fulfilling life in their community INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Strategic Plan Update 1 Employment Anniversaries 1 Employee Benefits 2 CARF Communication 2 Health and Safety 3 Fair Labor Modernization 3 P.I. Rock Stars 4 Employee Dress Code 4 Strategic Goal Update: Financial Sustainability Fiscal Responsibility: Clean opinion of annual financial audits for P.I. and P.I. Foundation. We have recently completed our annual financial audit of P.I. and the P.I. Foundation. Conducted by an independent auditor, this process involves an examination of financial records, accounts, business transactions, accounting practices, and internal controls of both organizations. The auditing team looks for any discrepancies that would suggest a change in our operations. Conducting an annual audit is good practice and demonstrates our commitment to financial transparency integrity, and professionalism. We expect to receive a clean opinion and will report the results with you later this fall. Values: Integrity Honest, ethical, trustworthy and responsible Passion for People Valuing, respecting and listening to input from all Excellence Be the best we can be Teamwork Meeting our goals together Brandon Taylor Christine Bouck Stacy Thompson Jessica McBride Carol Wall Julie Keele Tyler Frazier Fungming Ma Thanks to the effort of the financial team who made this a successful audit despite the many changes we ve experienced during the MCO transition. - Mark Cahill, CFO August Employment Anniversaries 24 years 20 years 19 years 14 years 11 years 9 years 8 years 6 years Janice Love Alisyn Pinkerton Tina Bimbi Joan Becker Catelyn Kolpin Emily Peck Kassandra Holton Clay Pleggenkuhle 3 years 3 years 2 years 2 years 2 years 1 year 1 year 1 year

2 August 15, Progress News Employee Assistance Program Vision: We envision people able to live by their choices with dignity and respect. Being an employee of Progress Industries definitely has its rewards! The work we do is rewarding and fulfilling and if that isn t enough, we have access to excellent benefits and one of these benefits is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP program provides resources for employees to achieve a healthy work and home life balance. Your calls and counseling services are confidential. This information is not provided to P.I. and is only released with your permission or as required by law. For your convenience, we ve included the EAP brochure in this newsletter. You may also visit EAP online. Enter login ID and password information provided in this article to access resources and information. CARF is Coming Surveyors from CARF (Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities) will be visiting Progress Industries in the spring of 2017 to conduct an on-site survey. Surveyors observe organizational practices, review appropriate documentation, interview staff, persons served, family members and stakeholders, answer questions, and suggest ways to improve operations and service delivery. Progress Industries has consistently received high marks and was awarded its 12th consecutive 3-year accreditation in CARF accreditation reflects P.I. s ongoing innovation and continued conformance to industry standards and demonstrates solid business practices.

3 Progress News August 15, August is National Immunization Awareness Month National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Every year, tens of thousands of Americans get sick from diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. Vaccines are recommended for children, teens, and adults based on different factors like age, health conditions, lifestyle, jobs, and travel. Vaccination is a critical step in protecting those that are most vulnerable to illness - infants and young children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions and weakened immune systems. Even if you got all your vaccines as a child, the protection from some vaccines can wear off over time. Adults with chronic conditions like asthma/copd, heart disease, and diabetes are more likely to get complications from certain diseases. Vaccination is an important part of staying healthy. Be sure to stay on top of your vaccinations this year. Recognizing 10 Years of Service Chris Dydell, Shift Supervisor at the East residential site, has resigned from Progress Industries. Chris was a valuable part of our agency for the past 10 years and we will miss his contributions and experience. We wish Chris much success in his future endeavors. You are invited to farewell gathering on Friday, August 19-1:30 p.m. at the main building in Newton. Please stop by. Thanks to all employees who participated in the Newton Development Corporation survey. Information received will be used to find solutions to the city s housing, childcare and transportation concerns. Survey participants were eligible to win a gift card. The winners have been notified. New Rules Would Curtail Subminimum Wage With all eyes on the race for the White House, both political parties are calling for big change to rules on employing people with disabilities. The platforms approved this month at the Democratic and Republican Party conventions are both urging a move toward competitive employment. Currently, under a federal law dating back to the 1930s, employers are able to get special permission from the U.S. Department of Labor to pay people with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The TIME Act (Transition to Integrated and Meaningful Employment) is a proposal in Congress that would bar the Labor Department from issuing new certificates allowing the payment of subminimum wage and would phase out the use of existing certificates within three years. The TIME Act will modernize the Fair Labor Standards Act to encourage competitive employment for people with disabilities; however, legislation has failed to gain much traction since it was introduced in More to come. Source: Disability Scoop August 2016

4 August 15, Progress News Progress Industries Jasper County 1017 E. 7 th St. N. Newton, Iowa Polk County 5518 NW 88 th Street Johnston, Iowa P.I. s PBS Rock Star Employees In May, Dennis, an individual served in P.I. s Polk County 24-hour residential services, passed away. During the last few days of his life, Gabe Fielder (Program Manager), Jamie Keller (Residential Instructor), and Pauline Mwei (Residential Instructor) went to the hospital before or after their work shifts to offer comfort and provide support to Dennis and his guardian. There were moments in the waiting room when Gabe, Jamie and Pauline shared fond memories of Dennis. His guardian expressed appreciation for this support that helped ease the stress and sorrow of the situation. Story County 2603 Northridge Parkway #102 Ames, Iowa L-R: Kaitlyn Rooney, Jamie Keller, Gabe Fielder, Molly Bruns, Pauline Mwei. Footwear Must be clean, in good repair. No flip flops. Must not present safety concerns for work that is being performed No sandals or opentoed shoes are allowed on the work floor. Making an Appearance P.I. employees are role models to the individuals we support. Therefore, it is important to present a professional image. Certain safety rules govern what can and cannot be worn according to the nature of work in each department. Specific descriptions of acceptable and unacceptable attire are provided in P.I. s dress code policy to eliminate confusion and create consistency in the application of the dress code. This policy is intended to help employees present an image while working that is consistent with P.I. s mission and goals, creates a perception of excellence in all aspects of service, and reflects the expectations of persons served and the communities we serve. G:\POLICIES\All Agency\Dress Code

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