b'HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021RIVERSIDE WINS D&I TRAILBLAZER AWARDRiverside was proud to receive a 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazer award from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers at their annual Juneteenth celebration.Thisrecognition of our 20 years of work on D&I initiatives energizes us as we strengthen our commitment to a culture of awareness and belonging. Our five-year D&I Strategic Plan, published in spring 2021, contains actionable goals for client care diversity, employee engagement, andleadership accountability, and will continue to guide us as we strive to maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and culturally competent organization.EMPOWERING SCHOOL STAFF TO PREVENT YOUTH SUICIDEThis year Riversides MindWise Innovations launched ACT for School Staff: Responding to Suicide Risk in Students, an online training that enlists all school adultsfrom teachers and administrators to custodians and nutrition staffas partners in suicide prevention. Adults learn how to recognize suicide warning signs in youngpeople, ways to engage in caring conversations with them, and how to connect students to help through school protocols. ACT for School Staff significantly enhances awareness and prevention efforts within schools, where students spend a large part of their day. NEARLY 700 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES GAIN EMPLOYMENT These job-seekers entered the workforce last year thanks to the flexibility and determination of Riversides five statewide Regional Employment Collaboratives, which serve as bridges between social service agencies that work with people with disabilities, and hundreds of employers including CVS, Home Depot, Wegmans, and the WooSox. We redesigned training programs for virtual learning, with spectacular resultsallCulinary Career Academy participants earned their ServSafe Food Handlers certificates. Over 50 participants finished the long-standing CVS retail skill-building program, including virtual register training. And over 70 job-seekers prepared for successful virtual interviews through the Ace The Interview program!'