The Hendricks County Community Foundation (HCCF) through the Deedee Daniel Opportunity Fund awarded the Indiana Department of Child Services' (DCS) Hendricks County local office $750 to fund a professional development day for staff members. The grant was used to rent a park shelter and buy team-building games, a catered lunch and team shirts.

"HCCF is proud to partner with DCS to better serve at-risk children and their families," said Eric Hessel, HCCF Program Officer. "As the Community Foundation focuses on nonprofit capacity, we'd be remiss not to consider the self-care required of nonprofit staff and public servants to avoid burnout and turnover as a form of capacity building." At the event, DCS staff members worked on activities requiring collaboration, critical thinking and teambuilding. Several employees said they noticed a greater sense of community almost immediately.

"This grant helped our entire Hendricks County team work together to create meaningful relationships," said DCS director Terry Stigdon. "It's important that our frontline staff members take time to work together and gain a better understanding of the secondary trauma that can come along with the difficult job they perform every day." The unrestricted grantmaking program at HCCF awards capacity-building grants to local nonprofits to help them respond effectively to the needs of people in the Hendricks County neighborhoods and communities they serve.