Monday, October 18, 2021

Our Mission 

To improve the learning outcomes and well-being of all children and youth by providing services and leadership in partnership with families, schools and communities. 


Our Goals

  • Increase learning growth for students
  • Decrease the gap in achievement
  • Increase annual graduation rates
  • Increase gateways to post-secondary success

Remember to Use Your Direct Dial Phone Number Instead of Your Extension When Communicating Externally

As you know, with the transition of the Agency’s phone system to Zoom Phone (Jan. 2021), you now have your own direct phone number in addition to retaining the extension number most of you have used for many years. Having two ways to contact you could potentially be confusing to external clients such as teachers and parents. 

A reminder from our initial adoption of Zoom Phone: use your direct dial line instead of the (800) 255-0405 number with your extension in your email signature and when communicating otherwise with external clients. (The (800) 255-0405 number is also no longer a direct dial number -- it rings to the agency switchboard.) 

We’ve seen a number of staff members still only list their extension in their email signature or list both their direct dial and their extension number. Using your direct dial number will make contacting you easier for those outside the Agency and will ease any confusion that may be caused by listing a direct phone number and an extension number. Extension numbers can still be used internally between staff, as they will continue to be an easy way to call between one another. 

Email Signature 
See the Heartland AEA Email Signature Template for templates for each office location. 

Website 
The Agency’s online staff directory and website pages have also been updated accordingly with direct dial numbers.

Reminder: Are You Getting Interrupted When You’re on Zoom? You May Need One of These New Signs!

If you’re in an office or school setting and find yourself being interrupted while you’re on a Zoom meeting, you might want to get a new “Zoom Meeting in Progress” sign from Creative Services. The signs say, “Zoom Meeting in Progress. Please email your question or request to me.” 

The signs are available to order in Creative Services Online and can be ordered with or without lamination. They are product #2993 in the catalog.

New Flex Vendor: Switch from 121 Benefits to BRI Goes Live Today!


All account-based plans and administrative services transitioned to BRI's platform effective TODAY, Oct. 18, 2021

You can set up your new BRI account, start submitting your reimbursement requests through BRI, and if you have a Beniversal Card, you can activate your card and begin using it. 

How Do I Login to BRIWEB? 
Participants accessing the site for the first time will be required to register a Custom Login ID. On the BRIWEB login page, select “Employee” from the Yellow Log-In button and then select the blue “Register an Account” link. Follow the instructions provided. 

The following are required during registration: 
  • Company Code: heartland 
  • Member ID: Employee PEID# 
  • Personal Info: First name, last name, zip code 
  • Access to email or phone number on file with Benefit Resource 
If you have a flex medical account, you will now be able to use your Beniversal Card. To activate your Beniversal Card, follow the instructions that were mailed to you along with your card last week. If you didn't receive a card, please contact BRI directly at the number provided below. 

To address any further questions you may have, visit the Participant Migration FAQ, for resources including FAQs, educational videos and information about managing your accounts. 

If you have additional questions or need assistance, reach out to BRI Participant Services: Email: participantservices@benefitresource.com 
Phone: (800) 473 – 9595 (Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM CT) 

You must now use the BRI website instead of 121 Benefits.

Reminder: Biometric Screenings Back On-site at Agency Offices!

After a pandemic pause, on-site biometric screening events with a Hy-Vee dietitian are back for the 2021-22 wellness year. Below is a list of the upcoming scheduled events. You can register for an appointment at one of the offices by following these instructions


  • Adel - Nov. 15, 2021 
  • Ames - March 3, 2022
  • Carroll - Nov. 1, 2021  
  • Indianola - Oct. 27, 2021 
  • Johnston - Nov. 11, 2021, Dec. 2, 2021, Jan. 6, 2022, Feb. 3, 2022, March 3, 2022, April 7, 2022, May 5, 2022 

If you have any questions, contact Wellness lead Britini Jones.

New "Service Spotlight" Aims to Strengthen Connections to Community Partners

Striving to continually strengthen our connections and collaboration with our partners and be responsive to the needs of our staff who would like information about community resources, the Agency’s Early Childhood Leadership Team will be offering a series this year they’re calling “Service Spotlight.” 

Each month (November 2021 – May 2022) one of our partners will be in the spotlight and will describe various aspects of their organization and/or services in about 15-20 minutes with time for Q and A. In most cases, partners will join via Zoom. This not only opens up the opportunity for anyone who would like to join, but it also gives us the opportunity to record and archive the presentations. Below is the schedule and Zoom link for the next three months. 

Oct. 26, 2021 
8:30 a.m. 
Heartland AEA Family & Educator Partnership, Kari Paulsen 

Nov. 22, 2021 
8:30 a.m. 
EMBARC (The Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center), Abigail Sui 

Dec. 17, 2021 
8:30 a.m. MIECHV (Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program), PJ West & Janet Horras 

Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Has Changed Its Email Addresses

ADM now uses firstname.lastname@admschools.org for its email address format.

Example: Greg Dufoe, superintendent - greg.dufoe@admschools.org

Mission Monday: Let’s Increase Positivity, Build Connection and Deepen Relationships!

Mission Monday
is the creation of Mark Johnson and Sam Stecher. As teachers, coaches and leaders, they desired a way to consistently create connections and a sense of community in their school buildings. They made it their mission to take the “random” out of Random Acts of Kindness. Each Monday, they provided their students and staff with a “mission” designed to increase positivity, build connections, deepen relationships and contribute to a supportive culture and climate. 

Heartland AEA and our Development Team for Safe, Supportive, Welcoming Environments want to bring this idea to our settings. We will be building upon the Pick 3 For Me card that we had at our All-Staff Meeting by including a weekly mission each Monday in The Connection. Then use the “Mission Accomplished” form to indicate when you have accomplished a mission, and you’ll be put in a monthly drawing for cool prizes! 

Mission for Week of Oct. 18: Have lunch with a colleague this week 

Join Us for the Next Round of Listening Circles: Achieving a Functional Work-Life Balance

Our Heartland AEA SEBMH group has designed and scheduled another round of Listening Circles. In this round, we will revisit our topic from Round 2 and consider how to create and maintain a functional work-life balance. We will be drawing upon the ideas in this article from Edutopia. We encourage you to read the article prior to participating; however, it is not required. 

As a reminder, the goal of Listening Circles is to create a brave space for staff to be heard, free of judgment, and with no fear of consequences for speaking their truth. It is believed that this practice will be helpful for building and maintaining a healthy community in which ALL staff feels connected and respected. 

Here is what some of our colleagues have said about participating in the Listening Circles: 
  • "The listening circle is a place where you can feel connected to others in our Heartland AEA family and share in a reflective, thoughtful, caring way. It was a meaningful experience." 
  • "I thought I might be walking into group therapy and wasn't too eager to do that! But Listening Circles aren't like that. They are led by our incredibly bright and caring staff in a structured way so we can hear from our colleagues, learn from each other, gain understanding and build connections. It's time well spent!" 
  • "This was a very non-threatening process. We always had the option to pass and that was totally okay." 
We encourage you to participate in an upcoming Listening Circle with your fellow Heartland AEA colleagues! 

How to Participate 
Listening Circles have been scheduled over the next three weeks at various times throughout the day to accommodate as many schedules as possible. Registration for each circle will be capped at eight participants to allow for meaningful sharing from all participants. If you are interested in participating as a group, feel free to have your group members sign up for the same time or contact your SEBMH regional lead to see about setting up a separate time for your group to engage in a circle. Listening Circles with fewer than 3 participants will be canceled and those participants will be encouraged to register for another circle time. Registration for all sections will be open soon! 

Facilitators 
The first and second facilitators for each of the sessions (as they stand today) are listed below. 
Oct. 25 (M) 12:30-1:00 p.m. -- Lauren Vanderhorst & Rebecca Carver 
Oct. 25 (M) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Andrea Matheson & Jen Funk 
Oct. 26 (T) 1:00-2:30 p.m. -- Stacey Warren & Rebecca Carver 
Oct. 28 (Th) 1:30-3:00 p.m. --  Aimee Schuppe & Brianna Sayre Geiser 
Oct. 29 (F) 8:30-10:00 a.m. -- Rebecca Carver & Aimee Schuppe 
Nov. 1 (M) 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. -- Jadie Boens & Rebecca Carver 
Nov. 4 (Th) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Jean Boger & Andrea Matheson 
Nov. 5 (F) 1:30-3:00 p.m. -- Brenda Gerdes & Jean Boger 
Nov. 8 (M) 2:00-3:30 p.m. -- Lauren Vanderhorst & Aimee Schuppe 
Nov. 9 (T) 9:30-11:00 a.m. -- Stacey Warren & Aimee Schuppe 
Nov. 9 (T) 12:30-2:00 p.m. -- Rebecca Carver & Lauren Vanderhorst 
Nov. 10 (W) 12:00-1:30 p.m. -- Brianna Sayre Geiser & Andrea Matheson 
Nov. 11 (Th) 1:00-2:30 p.m. -- Jean Boger & Rebecca Carver

Registration
Registration for all sections will be open soon! 
Course #: 190735 HL - Heartland AEA Listening Circles 

Youth Mental Health First Aid Being Offered Again on Oct. 28 in a Blended Format

Participants will become certified Youth Mental Health First Aiders. Through the Youth Mental Health First Aid curriculum, participants will learn about the prevalence of various mental health disorders impacting youth and how to recognize the warning signs of mental health problems that may impact a youth’s mental health and resiliency. 

They will learn how to utilize a five-step (ALGEE) plan to support youth and help youth in crisis connect with appropriate evidence-based treatment. In addition to becoming certified, participants will become more familiar with their YMHFA manuals, practice the ALGEE plan using case studies, identify appropriate school interventions/supports and research community resources. Registration includes a digital YMHFA Manual. 

Youth Mental Health First Aid 
Blended Format 
Oct. 28, 2021 
8:00 am - 2:30 p.m. 

Technology Tip of the Week: Customizing Zoom Waiting Rooms

Did you know you can customize a waiting room in Zoom? See today’s Tech Tip for more! 



Have You Registered for the Agency's Google Technology Learning Sessions Yet?


All Heartland AEA staff are encouraged to attend the Agency's
 2021-22 Technology Lunch & Learn Series. These sessions will provide tips, tricks and hints about using varied Google Workplace tools and resources for increased productivity. 

New this year, months will be packaged with one topic focus for deeper learning and increased skill development. You will register for each course section, which will encompass 3-4 weeks of learning around one topic. The intended outcome will be that your skills and proficiencies will be deepened through this more focused approach. In addition, task checklists will keep you moving forward. 

Sessions will be held via Zoom Thursdays from 12:00-12:30 p.m. The format includes 15 minutes of new learning and 15 minutes of guided task practice. Once you have registered for the sections, you will be emailed the Zoom link to participate. The sessions will be conducted in Room 115 at the Johnston REC if anyone is interested in attending live in the room with the facilitator(s). 

Schedule & Topics 

The course registration links may reflect different titles, but all dates are correct and the session topics included here are what content will be delivered. 

Google Drive & Docs (October) - Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2021 
Google Calendar (November) - Nov. 4, 11, 18, 2021 
Google Groups/Contacts/Email Lists/Labels (December) - Dec. 2, 9, 16, 2021 
Google Groups/Contacts/ Email Lists/Labels (January) - Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27, 2022 
Google Keep (February) - Feb. 3, 10, 17, 24, 2022 
Google Sheets (March) - Mar. 3, 10, 24, 31, 2022 
Google Slides (April) - Apr. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2022 
Google Chrome (May) - May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2022 

More Information About October’s Sessions 

Are you wondering which training opportunities are the best fit for you? If so, check out the task lists below to see what learning will be offered during our October sessions. Remember, all trainings will be conducted via Zoom on Thursdays from 12:00-12:30 p.m. and will include “Task Time” where participants actually practice the skills discussed. All trainings will be recorded for those who are not able to attend the live virtual session. 

Oct. 21, 2021: Google Docs Level 2 

Registration 

If you have any questions, contact Amy Wichman. We look forward to seeing you this year!