The South Carolina Department of Social Services’ Employee of the Month programs recognizes staff whose work exemplifies our core principles: Competence, Courage and Compassion. Brina Hautamaki, Foster Care case manager with Charleston County DSS, was selected as a March Employee of the Month.
“My reaction to being named employee of the month was pride,” she said. “Working in a field where being praised for your work is rare makes it so much more meaningful when you do hear words of appreciation.”
Hautamaki was selected as a March Employee of the Month because she consistently goes above and beyond for the families with whom she works. She also has an excellent reputation with community partners, foster parents, and birth parents.
“My favorite part of my job is serving my community, whether that is in the form of support and guidance for parents or my children in foster care,” she said.
While there is no such thing as a typical work day for her, Hautamaki said she spends a lot of time on the roads transporting foster children to and from appointments such as medical or family visitation. She also monitors biological parents’ progress and appears in court throughout the month to provide information on families in care. There is paperwork and numerous phone calls with schools, providers, guardian ad litems, foster parents, biological parents, and yes, the children in care, too.
“You must be flexible, be able to think on your toes, think critically, and have unending amounts of compassion, love, and determination,” Hautamaki said. “We stay busy in foster care, to say the least, but I enjoy the challenge and thrive under the pressure.”
Staff chosen as part of the Employee of the Month Program are awarded lunch with the State Director along with other honorees, a dedicated parking space, a photo and write up displayed at State Office and a write-up sent to their community newspaper.
Other March winners included: Patty Easterling, an economic services processing specialist with Berkeley County DSS; Dennis M. Morgan, audit manager with the state Audit Division; Charlene Nimmons, Human Services supervisor for Bamberg County DSS; and Stephanie Williams, a program coordinator with the Individual and Provider Rights department.