CSEA Members Honored– CSEA Local 552 President Michele Harris (center) is flanked by Hector Melendez (left) and Randy Charlton (right) at a Staff Appreciation Day Ceremony at Industry Residential Center in Rush, NY on Jan 24.
Rush– On January 24, management, staff, CSEA members from Local 552 and the residents they serve from the Industry Residential Center (IRC) of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) held a CSEA Staff Appreciation Day to honor and celebrate the work and commitment to more than 36 long term employees.
The hour long ceremony was highlighted by brief remarks from IRC Assistant Director and Master of Ceremonies R. DeLain, a welcome by IRC Assistant Director D. Hayward, an invocation by IRC Chaplain Rev. Carter and the presentation of gifts and certificates of merit to employees who have been employed at the facility for 10 or more years.
In conjunction with the Office of Program Services, facilities management staff and CSEA members provide discrete residential units for youth with mental health issues, substance abuse and sexual offender service needs. Youth workers and other professionals assist with individual and group counseling, medical and dental services, education, vocational and employment options, ministerial and recreational services at the Monroe County facility campus.
Velma Harris, IRC Facility Director, said a ceremony like this just wasn’t in the cards years ago. “There was a time when recognizing our staff with a ceremonial appreciation day just wouldn’t have happened,” she said to a packed house in the facility’s auditorium. “But today, we have a terrific team of management and labor leaders here at Industry that has come together with the same vision to make this the best possible facility it can be. I thank everyone that is here today, and I especially thank all the CSEA and PEF employees who have dedicated a lifetime to serving the needs of the children and families who come to us in need.”
Michele Harris, CSEA Local 552 President of the IRC, said, “We are constantly looking for ways to improve the lives of the kids we serve and also build upon our labor management relationship. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing. We want to provide a safe nurturing environment for everyone who passes through these gates. We do that by identifying, monitoring and improving conditions of confinement and treatment through data collection, review, training and continuous improvement planning. Working here is a really tough job, so I am really happy we could do this ceremony today. Recognizing our fellow co-workers for their years of public service and their commitment to this job will improve morale, build our union and frankly– it’s just the right thing to do.”
At a ceremony on Jan. 24, CSEA activist Randy Charlton reflects back on a 30 year career as a Youth Worker at NYS OCFS Industry Residential Center in Rush, NY.
Randy Charlton, a former CSEA Local President and Youth Worker at the facility plans on retiring at the end of January 2018 after a 30 year public service career.
“Looking back, I am very proud of what we have done and how our union has really made a difference here at Industry,” said Charlton. He explained, “We just want to improve outcomes for these kids and keep our employees educated and safe. While I admit the work was very demanding, it wasn’t that difficult to find something great in the most challenging child.”
CSEA Local President Harris added, “We are very proud of what we do and we know with OCFS placing older teens in these facilities in the near future there will be major changes ahead. However, we are truly looking forward to working closely with management to make sure we build on our proven success stories,” said Harris.
The OCFS residential care system includes the Industry Residential Center facility in Monroe County along with ten other sites throughout New York State. Residential programs include non-secure, limited secure and secure facilities for troubled youth, juvenile delinquents and court ordered juvenile offenders.
-Ove Overmyer
