2015

 

Henrico County has received 24 Achievement awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo), more than any other Virginia locality this year.

 
Leasing Company Electronic Billing and Payment Program
Department of Finance
The Treasury Division of the Henrico Finance Department is responsible for the billing of taxes and the collection and application of tax payments. Leasing companies and businesses that own a large number of vehicles present a unique challenge to the Treasury Division, in that, they provide the County a single check that is to be applied in a detailed manner to specific vehicles for a particular amount.

The Leasing Company Electronic Billing and Payment Program is offered to any Leasing Company or other business that owns 10 or more vehicles in Henrico County, Virginia. Customers who enroll in this program opt out of receiving paper invoices and instead receive a single billing file each May and November listing each vehicle having an outstanding balance. Enrolled customers then review and ultimately update the billing file by indicating a specific payment amount for each vehicle and taxable period included on the report. Once funds have been received and verified by the Treasury Division, the payment file submitted by the customer is processed and applied as specified in the file.

 
Amateur Radio Emergency Services Program (ARES)
Division of Fire
Communications is one of the most important factors to response and recovery efforts before, during and after a disaster. Henrico County is fortunate to have a strong and secure primary radio system that has numerous redundancies to support the multitude of County agencies which rely on the resource. However, there is a need to have a redundancy backup; preferably one that is attainable at a minimal cost and includes the integration of trained and licensed volunteers. The Henrico County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (Henrico County ARES) program operates to minimize impact to emergency operations during the disaster response and recovery and to make citizen volunteers an integral part of the response and recovery efforts.

Formally established in 2014, the Henrico County ARES program is a partnership between the Division of Fire’s Office of Emergency Management and the Virginia Capital District ARES. The initiative seeks to pair the knowledge and expertise of licensed amateur radio volunteers together with the resources available to provide an additional radio communications system used in disaster situations (outside of existing backups). This system is completely mobile and is able to provide important decision making information to the County’s Emergency Operations Center.

 
Field Training Medic Program (FTM)
Division of Fire
The Field Training Medic (FTM) Program is a joint effort between the Henrico County Division of Fire (DOF) and Department of Human Resources (HR). The goal of the program is to create a pool of highly skilled Field Training Medics who are assigned to train and mentor future Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers. The FTM program trains selected candidates in leadership development topics such as conflict resolution, feedback, coaching, and mentoring in addition to advanced emergency medical services (EMS) skills and assessment. After orientation and training, FTMs are tasked with the supervision and training of employees participating in an ALS internship in order to practice medicine as ALS providers within the DOF.

To date, the program has successfully trained 34 FTMs who have in turn assisted 12 new ALS providers in successful completion of their ALS internship. The class evaluations of the FTM leadership training received a 97% overall approval rating from participants. Three FTMs also have received promotion to the rank of lieutenant since participating in the FTM process. The Fire Chief noted how the leadership training provided in the FTM program assisted in their successful preparation as formal supervisors.

 
Hermitage Career and Technical Emergency Medical Technician Course
Division of Fire
In fall 2013, Henrico County Division of Fire partnered with the Hermitage High School Career and Technical Emergency Medical Technical program. The ability to deliver high-quality emergency medical services (EMS) is a large and critical component of our public safety system. Exposing high school students to the function and responsibilities of EMS through the delivery of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program helps to promote social responsibility, citizenship, and educate young adults about the field of public safety. This program also reviews the demographic population and the resources of their community within Henrico County. Students learn about the career options available in EMS, health sciences, fire prevention and suppression and the direct impact that these careers have within their community. These students, Henrico County Division of Fire personnel, and the instructor of the program have been invigorated with the success and the increased interest in the EMT program.

 
Teen Summer Fire Academy (TSFA)
Division of Fire
In June of 2014, the Henrico County Division of Fire (DOF), in coordination with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS), conducted the first annual Teen Summer Fire Academy (TSFA). The TSFA is designed to offer a chance for the area’s rising high-school freshmen to experience the culture of the Henrico County Fire Department. The TSFA is operated similar to a DOF recruit academy, even including the issuing of a full set of structural firefighting personal protective equipment. Instruction places an emphasis on teamwork, fire suppression skills, core values, understanding the mission of the Henrico County Division of Fire, physical fitness, and socialization through meals and team-building opportunities. The students were pushed outside of their existing comfort zones and ultimately eleven graduated at the end of the program.

 
Environmental & Sustainability Management System: Cost Cutting Tools
Department of Human Resources
The County of Henrico recognizes that a healthy and sustainable environment is important to its citizens and wants to ensure that it is not only compliant with regulations, but also demonstrates stewardship by going above and beyond regulatory requirements where practical and identifies cost saving measures wherever possible.

Six County facilities from 4 different departments have implemented Environmental and Sustainability Management Systems (ESMS). These facilities followed core Countywide procedures based on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14001 criteria and also implemented facility unique procedures and documents to guide their environmental and sustainability management efforts. The goals and achievements of Henrico’s ESMS are directly tied to the core values of the County’s Environmental Policy Statement: Environmental Compliance, Pollution Prevention, and Continual Improvement.

Henrico County’s ESMS facilities have reduced energy usage, reduced or eliminated hazardous waste, reduced potable water usage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased recycling efforts, and replaced existing products with ones that are less harmful. Through implementation of this program, the County and its employees have gained a better understanding of regulatory requirements, minimized risk for environmental liabilities, and minimized expenditures by conserving resources. In turn, the County’s resiliency has improved due to the positive outcomes of this program.

 
Internship Program: Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow
*BEST IN CATEGORY*
Department of Human Resources
Henrico County implemented a formal Internship Program in 2012 aimed at positioning the County as an employer-of-choice for young adults and at the same time, having a year round source of motivated, short-term employees. The three phases of the program focused on the creation of a small pilot, development of program materials, and implementation of a County-wide initiative. The results have been outstanding! The program grew from a pilot with only two students in one agency to hosting 89 interns in 15 County agencies in less than three years. Both applications from students and requests for interns from County departments have increased over the five semesters the program has been in operation. After working as interns, students have applied for 68 positions with the County, showing that the goal of positioning Henrico County as a preferred employer for this population is being met. Henrico County’s Internship Program is growing the workforce of tomorrow by developing the skills of young people and their passion for serving their communities as a local government employee.

 
Jumpstart Your Summer Teen Volunteer Fair
Henrico County Public Library
Beginning in the spring of 2013, the Tuckahoe Area Library’s Teen Librarian, Mandy Arnold, invited and hosted representatives from non-profit organizations for a ‘Jumpstart Your Summer’ teen volunteer fair to meet with teens to discuss opportunities for volunteering. The teen volunteer fair brought together non-profit organizations and local high school teens as a way to serve the community while teens earn community service volunteer hours prior to graduation from high school. The fair was so successful, that it has become an annual event for Henrico County Public Libraries (HCPL). The program is a great way for the library to partner with local businesses, nonprofits and other county agencies while helping local teens earn community service hours.

 
Promoting Online Homework Help To Teens
Henrico County Public Library
In October 2012 Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) launched two online services for library customers, Credo Homework Help and Literati. Both are products of the company Credo Reference. Credo Homework Help includes help from a “live” teacher with math, reading or writing for students in grades 3-12. Literati Public allows library customers to search the full-text of online versions of hundreds of top quality reference books in all major subjects. Access to these online resources was provided to Virginia’s public libraries by the Library of Virginia. HCPL teen librarians coordinated with Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) to get the word out about these new services, especially Credo Homework Help. Mandy Arnold, Teen Librarian at Tuckahoe Area Library, used several techniques to get the attention of middle and high school students, including in-person presentations at schools, videos and pizza parties.

 
Study Abroad
Henrico County Public Library
Beginning in August 2011 Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) began a staff study abroad program which required all public service staff to work at another library within the system for a total of at least 24 hours or three days each year. This supported the new Area/Branch Library model for staffing that the library had adopted to help solve staff coverage challenges. HCPL consists of four Area Libraries, five Branch Libraries, a Municipal & Law Library, and a Mobile Library Service. These libraries are arranged into “clusters” so that an Area Library works in coordination with two or three of the closest branch libraries to coordinate staff coverage and programming.

 
Summer Reading Club Trophy Challenge
Henrico County Public Library
The Summer Reading Club Trophy Challenge is a contest between all of Henrico County’s elementary schools hosted by the Henrico County Public Library (HCPL) since 2012. The schools with the highest percentage of students who meet the HCPL Summer Reading Club’s reading goal receive a trophy that can display in the school’s library during the school year. In addition to the trophy, each school receives a Barnes & Noble gift card valued at $50 for the school library. Schools are grouped into three regions – North, East, and West – to better promote the program and allow for several elementary school winners across the county.

 
Teen Community Emergency Response Teams
Henrico County Public Library
Henrico County Public Library, in partnership with the County of Henrico Division of Fire and Office of Emergency Management (OEM), offered teens a chance to become members of the Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT). Teens were prepared for and responded to hypothetical emergencies, including a hurricane, mass casualty accident, and an epidemic.

The first program in 2013 consisted of nine Saturday sessions and the 2014 program consisted of five consecutive day sessions. Both years culminated in a four-hour scenario drill at the Fire Training Facility.

 
Coping Skills Group
Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
The Coping Skills Group is a newly created program by the Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services and the Sheriff’s Department to address and serve the mental health needs of our inmates. Incarcerated adults are an underserved population with a variety of needs. The Henrico Area Mental Health team in the jail identified the need for additional services for inmates housed at Henrico Jail West. While the team is typically tasked with crisis intervention, assessments, and triage of inmates; it was clear that the need existed to have additional therapeutic interventions available to the inmates. The group is voluntary and inmates do not receive any incentives for participation. The goal of this group intervention is to provide additional resources and treatment to inmates to increase their ability to cope with stressors in their lives. Inmates complete a pre-test during their first group and a post-test at the end of the group in order to determine effectiveness.

 
Jail Diversion
Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
In September 2013, Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services (HAMHDS) in coordination with the Henrico Sherriff’s department initiated The Jail Diversion Program. The Program is designed to support individuals with mental illness and individuals dually diagnosed with mental illness and substance abuse disorders who are currently incarcerated in our local jails. Re-incarceration rates for this population are high, and the overall goal of the program is to reduce these rates by serving the individuals once incarcerated and then following them as they re-enter the community.

 
Substance Abuse Walk-in Clinic
Henrico Area Mental Health & Developmental Services
On April 22, 2013, Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services (HAMHDS) expanded a Substance Abuse Walk-in Clinic in an effort to decrease the amount of time between a client’s initial request for services and actual enrollment in treatment, and to provide more opportunities for immediate access to services. The substance abuse (SA) unit began offering three to four days per week of open access to citizens requesting substance abuse services. There are two locations in Henrico County where citizens can request services, have their case opened and if needed be referred to a psychiatric provider all in one unscheduled walk-in appointment. Previously, appointments were scheduled several weeks in advance to see a clinician for an intake. The wait time for an appointment posed a significant barrier for citizens seeking help.

 
Development Condition analysis
Department of Planning
In January 2014, the Henrico County Planning Department embarked upon creating the Henrico County Development Condition Analysis consisting of a database of conditions typical with new development. Since its implementation in March 2014, not only has the database created an on-going framework for cataloging the approvals of land use projects, it has also provided an easily navigable tool to research over 4,000 entries spanning eight years of conditions. This technological tool can be used on a variety of research projects, and has already proved useful in researching development trends. A report utilizing the data from the new database was presented to the county’s Planning Commission in October 2014. This presentation provided a forum on the impacts and effectiveness of typical development conditions within Henrico County, and demonstrated that this program can serve a vital function for quick and detailed research on various land use topics. Ultimately, the Henrico County Development Condition Analysis has created a greater understanding of the development process and conditions placed on development, reduced the amount of time staff devotes to basic research for new applications, and assisted in providing more consistent recommendations and land use guidance to the development community, residents and county decision makers.

 
TEMPO Dashboard
Police Division
The Henrico County Police Division TEMPO (Technology Enhanced Modern Policing Operations) workgroup was formed on April 24, 2012, to develop and implement Police Divisions new brand of policing. As the workgroup progressed, Henrico County Information and Technology was brought in as a partner to take the workgroups technological ideas to the next level by expanding on them to bring them to fruition: the TEMPO Dashboard. The TEMPO Dashboard is a portal that links the full suite of Police Division computer applications from one program, deriving its data from the Police Division’s Computer Aided Dispatch, GIS, and Operational programs including Incident Crime Report, Arrest, Field Interview Reports, and warrant databases, combined with mapping technology to plot crime relevant information based on an officers location displayed on their MDC in real time. It also provides a forum for enhanced communications between officers so they can accurately share information between zones, Stations, or countywide. The TEMPO Dashboard represents the efficient use of technology to enhance the officer’s ability to better analyze, understand, track, and address crime and quality of life issues while increasing officer safety and awareness in order to improve the overall police services provided to the citizens of Henrico County.

 
Vacuum Leaf Program
Department of Public Works
Henrico County has long provided a vacuum leaf service to its residents. This program was historically provided from November through the end of March. Servicing residents during the winter months is difficult as the same trucks and personnel also plow snow and treat icy roads in winter conditions. Frozen, snow covered leaves are very difficult to remove with our equipment.

In 2013, this program was re-vamped to eliminate the collection window between January and March. While this achieved the desired cost savings it created service issues as the same number of orders were condensed into a shorter window of time. In 2014 this program was modified to increase its effectiveness, improve service and provide greater responsiveness to our customers. As a result of these changes, the program reduced its service time from 20 days from receipt of an order in 2014 to 4 days in 2015.

 
A Systematic Process for Evaluating Educational Programs
Henrico County Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) has developed a systematic process to enable administrators and public leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. This process is designed to ensure that quality programs are implemented with consistency and fidelity, and ultimately contribute to positive student outcomes. The model helps division leaders make data-driven decisions about whether programs should continue, and if so, how to improve or expand them to meet the needs of stakeholders while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

 
Culinary Experience: Serving Our Campus and Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center
Henrico County Public Schools
Students cater luncheons and dinners for various school and private functions to enhance their classroom knowledge. Chef Terran Evans of the Academy at Virginia Randolph has built a reputation for high-quality food and professional service resulting in increased opportunities for catering services. The culinary class under Evans’ leadership has been in existence for almost a decade. However, the catering and community outreach programs have changed dramatically over the years. One of those changes was best demonstrated by a project the culinary students undertook: running a restaurant during a local museum fair.

 
Education in Racing: How Stem Plays a Role in NASCAR
Henrico County Public Schools
The field of technology education involves the understanding of the human-made world. Education in Racing began in September 2012 and is a joint effort among Henrico County Public Schools, Richmond International Raceway and the Center for Sports Leadership at VCU to integrate the principals of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—into unique sporting activities such as NASCAR. This program includes age appropriate, technology-based activities that enhance, not add to, any local, state or national standards.

To date, over 1,000 eighth-grade middle-school students and their teachers have had the opportunity to participate in this program. Teachers have been trained to provide instruction using STEM and the role it plays in NASCAR. Students have been able to explore the world of NASCAR and how STEM education is applied through hands-on, real-world problem-solving activities.

 
Operations Professional Development Initiative
Henrico County Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools’ (HCPS) theme “The Right to Achieve, the Support to Succeed” captures our belief that all students are entitled to a positive and productive learning experience, regardless of where they begin. This theme also applies to our employees.

To support this theme, it’s essential to ensure that our operations team – our school division’s backbone – has ongoing professional development opportunities. Consequently, the HCPS Operations Professional Development Initiative was implemented.

The initiative is an in-house professional development program for the pupil transportation, construction and maintenance, custodial services and technology departments. It was developed by the human resources department in collaboration with Henrico County Legal Services.

Human resources and operations leaders used a team survey to identify the most needed areas of training: candidate interviews; investigations and documentation; the U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act; social media; the Americans with Disabilities Act; sexual harassment; Google Docs; and the PowerSchool online portal. Using the survey, a program was developed and is being implemented during the 2014-15 school year.

The program has yielded cost savings in training; improvements in the quality of candidates hired; documentation in discipline-related matters; and efficiencies in managing data. Using in-house expertise has enhanced relationships among our teams.

 
Springer Preschool Academy: Parent Night Out
Henrico County Public Schools
Springer Preschool Academy is a high-quality, full-day preschool laboratory operated in conjunction with the early childhood education program at Highland Springs Technical Center in Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS). The early childhood education program is designed for high school juniors and seniors interested in careers working with young children. The Springer Preschool Academy opened its doors during the 2007-08 school year. Henrico school employees can choose to enroll their preschoolers in this academy just as they would another local preschool program.

The Parent Night Out (PNO) program began in fall 2012 as a fundraising event for the Highland Springs Tech Center chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, the student organization that supports early childhood education. The one-night fundraising event became an ongoing request from parents. They enjoy it because it is in a trusted, familiar place where their children can spend one evening a quarter with friends. The program allows parents to run errands, have a date night or take part in other activities. The PNO program was developed so that current preschool clients could receive childcare on one designated Friday evening per quarter.

 
The Un-Initiative
Henrico County Public Schools
Henrico County Public Schools employees were invited to suggest ways that the school division could operate more efficiently and effectively, while still delivering the high level of service that students and their families have come to expect. HCPS Superintendent Patrick C. Kinlaw promised to write personal checks to three individuals who came up with the winning ideas. A school division parent also volunteered to match the award money.