Blog Home > Blog Here at Heritage Christian we like to talk about big topics — and sometimes we have big ideas. In our posts, you'll see opinions and insights from employees and often from Marisa Geitner, our president and C.E.O. They will give you a glimpse into the kinds of things we’re wrestling with and the kinds of things we think are worth fighting for. By Marisa Geitner It bears repeating that staff who feel valued have more motivation to stay with their organization. One such way we can demonstrate commitment to staff members is by offering ample opportunities for them to seek promotions within the agency. In today’s working world, many people are seeking advancement by job hopping, or moving between companies with the intent of achieving higher pay or a more prestigious job title. That is rarely necessary when you work for a company the size and scope of Heritage Christian Services. In our industry, employee retention is key. Our direct support staff are the foundation of our compassionate support. We worked diligently to raise our base wage again last summer not only to reflect the complex work our staff perform, but to promote retention and financial self- sufficiency. Retention ensures our program sites and homes are properly staffed at all hours, and that the people who choose our services can form deeper and more meaningful relationships with those who work alongside them. Increasing wage is a start, but staff also need to know they have ways of moving up. Last year alone, we promoted a total of 120 employees. We take several things into account when deciding how to best fill a role. An equitable experience for each applicant needs to be priority one. Honestly, we are always improving in this area but have work to do in welcoming more candidates into advancement opportunities. It is also important that we have a diverse pool of qualified candidates. Candidates need to have the skills and experience necessary to fulfill the needs of that next role. That is why we put such emphasis on professional development opportunities and competency building across our full organization. Our recent partnership with the NADSP E-Badge Academy will provide staff with another vehicle to learn the skills they need to earn new positions. Heritage Christian Services is committed to the career development, and will continue to offer resources and avenues for all to pursue advancement within our agency. Promoting from Within January 9, 2023 Read More Branding Forward December 5, 2022 Read More The Caring Industry Needs Government Support November 7, 2022 Read More Finding Work with Meaning October 3, 2022 Read More Our Commitment to Advancing Our Workforce September 6, 2022 Read More The Benefits of Creative Therapy August 1, 2022 Read More Providing for and Retaining Our Workforce July 12, 2022 Read More Reiterating our Commitment to IDEA Values June 6, 2022 Read More What it Means to be a Compass Agency May 2, 2022 Read More More Articles