CCKids Names First GEMs of 2023

January 11, 2023

Communities Connected for Kids congratulates Ronnisha Hall and Doreen Hernandez for winning this quarter’s Going the Extra Mile – or GEM – Award.

Hall and Hernandez won the award, an honor given to staff and caregivers for excellence in service to children and families in Okeechobee and the Treasure Coast, for the period spanning October through December.

Hernandez, a case-management support worker, received her GEM award in the Ruby Division, which recognizes the work of administrative and program staff. She was nominated by fellow support worker, Morgan Hoffman.

“Doreen is always the first one called after hours for emergencies, always volunteers to help despite her already full schedule and will drop anything to work all night, with no notice, even on holidays,” said Hoffman. “So many people rely on her so heavily; her heart is fully in the job, and she treats families with so much respect and is the greatest with kids of all ages.”

“Ronnisha continues to go above and beyond for her team,” said Kelsey Hudek, one of Hall’s case managers. “She has been a pillar of support for the case managers in her unit.

She will continually check in with her team and encourage appropriate work-life balance as well as mental health and physical well-being.”

Hall is the sixth case management supervisor to be recognized with the award since it was introduced in 2018.

CCKids places a premium on supervisor training, and this latest example of exemplary work and dedication to staff is the result, said Christina Kaiser, community relations director for the organization.

“We had zero turnover among our case-management supervisors in 2022, and that’s an important piece to retaining case managers,” Kaiser said.

CCKids’ Board of Directors will recognize Hall and Hernandez during its January Board meeting. Each employee will receive a $100 bonus and a plaque.

We are happy to take nominations from the community. If you know a CCKids employee who has gone above and beyond, let us know. Click the link to the nomination form.