Sacramento-based Sierra Service Project (SSP) was recognized recently with a Best Practice Award at the ReFrame Association’s 5th Annual National Conference held in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Nominated by volunteers participating in SSP home repair projects, the organization won in the Management Excellence category. This award recognizes the organization that takes exceptional care of employees—both permanent and temporary staff—including their training, supervision, continuing education, etc.
Megan Walsh, SSP’s Program Director, explained that their five-person central staff is involved in a variety of courses and meet-up groups through the local Nonprofit Resource Center. SSP pays for these courses and covers a portion of college courses for employees pursuing degrees. SSP also hires 42 summer staffers, offering online pre-summer training followed by 10 days of hand-on classroom training with a variety of outside experts and resources included. “Each summer staff person is required to take ‘Sabbath’ time which is four hours each week away from work duties,” Walsh noted, and “we also focus on job sharing and how each person can support teammates.”
This past year, SSP offered a Leadership Academy for some returning summer staff “to study best leadership practices and how these practices related to their personal faith.”
ReFrame is a growing nationwide association, which supports, educates and promotes home repair and rehab organizations. This year’s conference drew 125 people from 15 states and represented 36 different nonprofits. Community development expert and “Toxic Charity” author Robert Lupton was keynote speaker at the conference. Paul Leonard, former Habitat for Humanity CEO, closed the two-day meeting.