Hello BIS Team,

Happy Fri~YAY! And just like that…it’s March 1^st! Spring is just around the corner…or maybe it’s winter again (ya never know with St. Louis) but more importantly, it’s NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER LOVER’S DAY! March 1st was made for National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day (not be confused with National Peanut Butter day which is January 24^th). Ah, peanut butter–one day is not enough to recognize the love for peanut butter enthusiast. The tasty goodness has been paired, blended, and added with many tasty results!

Fun Peanut Butter Facts:

• It takes about 540 peanuts to make a 12-ounce jar of peanut butter.
• C.H. Sumner first sold peanut butter in the United States at the Universal Exposition in St. Louis.  He sold $705.11 of the “new treat” at his concession stand.
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup was introduced to America in 1928.
• The oldest operating manufacturer and seller of peanut butter has been selling peanut butter since 1898.
• Mr. Ed TV’s used peanut butter as a secret ingredient to get a horse talking.
• Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.

Tiers for Success Spotlight: We are excited to announce a new and exciting opportunity for DHSS and DSP career advancement within our organization. The Tiers to Success process will present a unique chance for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional skills, commitment, and leadership qualities to further contribute to their own knowledge and skills within the direct support roles we provide with our clients. It also presents an opportunity for wage increases upon each stage of completion.Please review the attached documents for information on how to sign up and become eligible for the Tiers to Success and the pay increases.

1.      Frequently asked questions about the BIS Tiers to Success

2.      Relias MODD DSP Comptency Modules

If you have any questions or need further information about the application process, please feel free to reach out to Jamie Klamert, HR Director (jklamert@bis-stl.com) or Sheena Cole, Staff Training Coordinator (scole@bis-stl.com) .

DSP Of the Year Spotlight: this is a great opportunity for each of you to recognize a Direct Support Staff Member! This quick process will not only acknowledge their efforts but might also win them the Coalition of Service Providers 2024 DSP of the Year Award! Recipients of these awards are people who provide direct support to individuals with developmental disabilities and are dedicated to providing opportunities for the people they serve to become active, valued members of their communities.

Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions and send them to lbrook@bis-stl.com for submission!

1. Name of DSP you would like to nominate?
2. How does your DSP nominee use original ideas to provide supports while respecting individuals’ choices?
3. How does your DSP nominee respect dignity, independence, culture, and rights of individuals with developmental disabilities?
4. How does your DSP nominee encourage activities to affect positive change on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities?
5. How does your DSP nominee serve as a role model for other staff?

DSP Conference Spotlight: every year there is a DSP conference and we’d love to send you! If you’re interested in attending this special event please reach out to Pierre Dobbins (pdobbins@bis-stl.com) to submit your interest. We will be doing a drawing for those who get to attend. There are 4 slots for attendance!

Benefits Spotlight: Benefits have now moved under the HR Department. Please contact me (Jamie Klamert HR Director at jklamert@bis-stl.com) for any questions or assistance you may need with your benefits!

Policy Spotlight: *updated 2023

184 Employee Training

Effective Date: 1/1/2015

Revision Date: 11/28/2023

BIS employees are required to have certain training classes, as mandated by the Department of Mental

Health and listed in their job description, in order to provide support services to clients who receive Medicaid waiver funding. Employees may obtain this training through a BIS training class or through any accredited training provider.

BIS strongly suggests that employees receive the following vaccinations, which can be reimbursed once the test result and receipt has been turned into the Financial Director for review and processing:

• Tuberculosis test (TB test) – up to $24
• Hepatitis B vaccination (Hep B) – up to $120 for full series (3 shots)

The following classes are required by all BIS employees that have direct contact with individuals supported by BIS:

• Orientation
• Positive Behavior Supports (Behavior Management)
• CPR/First Aid-Every two year re-certification required
• Mandt Systems-Every year re-certification required, quarterly in some instances
• Medication Administration, Level 1- Every two year re-certification required.
• Individualized and/or Behavior Support Plans – Annually or as updated
• All annual online trainings (which include, Abuse and Neglect, Blood Borne Pathogen, Drivers Safety Training Confidentiality, HIPAA, Observe, Record and Report and Seizure training), Fraud, Waste and Abuse and any other as deemed necessary.

Training costs/fees associated with taking classes outside the agency are the employee’s responsibility.  BIS training classes are provided free to employees, barring their completion of 90 days of continuous employment. If employees changes their status to PRN before 90 days of employment the employees training copies are not available for an additional 90 days. An employee may request a copy of any certification received through BIS 30 days after they have taken the class. A $5 processing fee will be assessed for each request for copies. 

In the event that a newly hired employee fails to complete 90 days of employment from the date of any completed training or certification, they will be responsible for the repayment of the cost of any classes attended via a payroll deduction of their last paycheck(s). The $5 processing fee for copies will be waived if the resigned or terminated employees is charged for the repayment of classes taken, as long as their request for copies is received within 30 days of the end of their employment.

It is the responsibility of the employee to ensure that all training is kept current. BIS will inform employees periodically of any changes in Dept. of Mental Health requirements and his/her current training status. Employees are required to have all training completed during the introductory period.  Failure to keep training requirements updated will be grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

If an employee signs up for a class and does not attend or fails to give 2 hours’ notice of the intent to cancel the class, the employee will be responsible and charged for the cost associated with the class. 

Employees will receive compensation for his/her time spent in trainings at minimum wage.

Any person who is not actively employed by BIS will not be compensated for training time. If they choose to pay for the total cost of class, they may receive their training certificates/cards.

If a class is cancelled by BIS, for any reason, no compensation will be paid. No mileage reimbursement is paid for employees to attend training classes.

Employees will not be compensated for trainings not required by BIS’s policies. If an employee fails to take the Medication re-certification class in a timely manner, and is therefore required to repeat the entire 2 day class, they will only be compensated for taking the re certification course and not the full course.

Exempt employees are not compensated for training. 

The following classes (CPR, First Aid, Med Level 1, Annual online trainings) must be re certified before the end of the month in which the training expires. Mandt must be completed within 30 days of the expiration date but is preferred to be completed before the end of the expiration month as with the other trainings.

Under no circumstances may employees work as a single staff member responsible for the care of a client at any time if any if these classes expire.

CPR/FA certifications will be sent directly to the employee and the costs associated with that training will be passed onto the employee at the time of class completion. A payroll deduction for the amount of the class will be taken out of their next available check unless other arrangements for payment have been made prior to class time.

Failure to complete any required training or certification by its due date will result in the employee being suspended on the 1st of the following month and signed up for the next available class and must complete and pass the training in order to be reinstated. An employee must complete the expired training, either by attending one of the next two classes offered or by providing outside certification from another agency.

Failure to take or maintain any required training/certification will result in immediate termination due to a failure to meet the minimum requirements of their position.