Evolving Protections for Those in Care

To mark National Safety Month and the one-year anniversary of the “Could This Happen in Your Program?” podcast, we are looking ahead to the next chapter of our mission and the Justice Center’s commitment to prevent, protect, and advocate for New Yorkers with disabilities.

Our guests, Chief of Staff Dr. Jessica Pidgeon and Director of Strategic Initiatives & Portfolio Management Mike Wilmot, join us to provide a first look at the Justice Center’s new strategic plan. We’ll discuss how the agency is evolving beyond traditional oversight toward a proactive safety model—using data and community outreach to identify risks before incidents occur. 

Featured Guests:

• Dr. Jessica Pidgeon, Chief of Staff
• Mike Wilmot, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Portfolio Management

Transcript

00:00:08:01 - 00:00:35:05

Erin Hogan

Hello and welcome to the Could This Happen in Your Program? Podcast, where we find collaborative solutions for protecting New Yorkers and care. In honor of National Safety Month and the one year anniversary of this podcast, we are looking to the future of the Justice Center. Our guest today, Chief of Staff Doctor Jessica Pidgeon, and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Portfolio Management, Mike Wilmot join us to share an exclusive look at the Justice Center strategic plan.

00:00:35:08 - 00:00:56:24

Erin Hogan

We'll explore how the agency is evolving toward a proactive safety model, using data and community outreach to drive decisions and aid prevention. 

 Okay. Well, welcome, Mike and Jess. Thanks so much for joining us today. Can you start by just giving us a little bit of background on your roles pre Justice Center and currently at the Justice Center.

00:00:56:26 - 00:00:57:05

Mike Wilmot

Yeah. You want to go first?

00:00:57:08 - 00:00:58:14

Jessica Pidgeon

00:00:58:17 - 00:01:20:04

Jessica Pidgeon

Sure. So prior to coming to the Justice Center I've been working for the state of New York for a little over 13 years. I've served in four different agencies, most of which have been related to the disability, developmental disability field, some related to innovation, some related to the services. I also worked at OASAS for a short amount of time on a research project and grant there.

00:01:20:07 - 00:01:24:13

Jessica Pidgeon

And now I've been at the Justice Center for a little over six months, and I'm really excited to be here.

00:01:24:15 - 00:01:25:23

Erin Hogan

Great.

00:01:25:26 - 00:01:29:17

Mike Wilmot

And I have about 13 years at the state, a couple different agencies.

00:01:29:22 - 00:01:30:25

Erin Hogan

Oh, you both, 13 years.

00:01:30:29 - 00:01:31:24

Erin Hogan

Yeah.

00:01:31:27 - 00:01:32:06

Erin Hogan

Did you plan that?

00:01:32:06 - 00:01:32:16

Mike Wilmot

00:01:32:18 - 00:01:59:23

Mike Wilmot

No, that wasn't ever even talked about that before. Yeah. Yeah. So, mix of project management, training, even some fiscal stuff at one point. But I actually started at the New York State EAP, which got me inspired to get a degree in human services. And then I moved into nonprofits for about five years. So I did some work in the anti-hunger field and some work in the anti-poverty field, overseeing some programs there, and then came back to the state.

00:01:59:23 - 00:02:04:10

Mike Wilmot

So I've been here at the Justice Center for, I think, four years and like three weeks.

00:02:04:16 - 00:02:05:03

Erin Hogan

Wow .

00:02:05:05 - 00:02:06:02

Mike Wilmot

Yeah, coming up on my anniversary.

00:02:06:03 - 00:02:31:29

Erin Hogan

Happy anniversary. Well, speaking of anniversaries, coming up in June, is, the anniversary of the founding of the Justice Center, which is June 30th, 2013, also 13 years old. I don't know how we planned that, but, it just happened that way. And as we air this episode, it's also National Safety Month. So June really holds a special significance with the Justice Center for a variety of reasons.

00:02:32:02 - 00:02:58:23

Erin Hogan

Not only its anniversary, but this great observance that we, have been observing over the last couple of years. So with just your experience that you come to us fresh from service in a multitude of agencies that we oversee, you also specifically just come right from, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, which is one of the main agencies that the Justice Center has oversight over.

00:02:58:25 - 00:03:21:21

Erin Hogan

Can you give us a little background on what you see as the value of the Justice Center? It's always interesting to me, hearing from people who have come from a different perspective, especially a perspective where you are licensing and operating providers, like an OPWDD setting, what you see is the value of the Justice Center.

00:03:21:24 - 00:03:22:04

Jessica Pidgeon

00:03:22:05 - 00:03:39:23

Jessica Pidgeon

Sure, yeah. I mean, I think there's a lot of different aspects of the Justice Center in the work that we're doing here at the agency that are of value to the state and across multiple service systems. I think that's part of what is really interesting about the Justice Center is the fact that, you know, the approach that we take and the look that we take is a holistic one.

00:03:39:25 - 00:04:10:03

Jessica Pidgeon

Because we do have oversight over several different agencies with, within the state of New York. The other thing that I think is important to know, again, about the Justice Center, too, is the fact that, you know, with the creation of the Justice Center, it also made background checks a lot easier. We were able to streamline some of the background check process across the systems, looking at criminal background checks and also the creation of a staff exclusion list, which makes it easier for providers and other agencies to look at, you know, the people that they're hiring.

00:04:10:05 - 00:04:34:17

Jessica Pidgeon

Also, you know, an important part of that is the fact that, you know, if somebody was to apply for a position, you know, say at OPWDD or OASAS or OMH, or you know, any other acronym in the state of New York. So the state agencies, you know, previous to the Justice Center, you could apply in one system, maybe you did something that you probably shouldn't have done, like misconduct or abuse or neglect, unfortunately.

00:04:34:19 - 00:04:48:25

Jessica Pidgeon

And then you could just move to another service system. With the creation of our staff exclusionary list. It made it so that we can look at across the systems, again, whether or not somebody should be employed in the state of New York in this type of setting or not. So I think that's a lot of, you know, real value.

00:04:48:25 - 00:04:55:25

Jessica Pidgeon

Again, like I said, that the Justice Center brings to the table in New York State, and I think we've seen that over the 13 year period that it's been in existence.

00:04:55:28 - 00:05:20:16

Erin Hogan

Yeah. And I think with the staff exclusion list, it's very much it says you're not necessarily unable to work, but you're just not the right fit for this specific setting. And I think that's a very important distinction and change that occurred within the service system when that came came about. And we always describe it also as the first line of defense, against people being able to job hop like you described.

00:05:20:16 - 00:05:52:11

Erin Hogan

I get, you know, maybe terminated from one position with one population, and then I'm able to just go and work with another population without really them, those systems talking to each other. So I think those the points that you laid out are really a lot of the values that we see as well. And I think it's a really exciting time in June, not just because of National Safety Month, not just because of our anniversary, but we are on the cusp of launching our strategic plan, which kind of builds upon some of those foundational values that you just, describe.

00:05:52:12 - 00:06:15:14

Erin Hogan

So I just want to hear from from either of you, you know, what is so exciting about the strategic plan? I know strategic plans in general. You think of a lot of like, boring words and things on paper that is anyone going to read this? But I do think there's really exciting pieces within our strategic plan that providers have a lot to be, interested in.

00:06:15:16 - 00:06:25:21

Erin Hogan

Fellow state agencies have a lot that they could be interested in, people receiving care in their families. So what would you say is most exciting to those groups?

00:06:25:23 - 00:06:48:10

Mike Wilmot

I you know, I think for those groups, I think what would be most exciting is just the approach we're taking is, is not kind of just like, we'll put it out and that's the end of it. But that it's a continuous approach. And that that approach includes people receiving services, right? Providers, associations, families, the people who support them.

00:06:48:13 - 00:07:15:06

Mike Wilmot

Everybody in the community just as much as it includes people at the Justice Center. And so I think what would excite people is not just knowing that their voice is going to be heard, but then, you know, part of my role is helping people also see how the work gets connected. Right. And so being able to see, like I gave this feedback and the justice Center is doing something with that, and it's guiding the direction of the future of the work that the Justice Center does and how it works at the other different agency.

00:07:15:06 - 00:07:35:00

Mike Wilmot

So I really hope people are excited about that. That's one of the things I'm very excited about. You know, in terms of like just so we have three kind of general areas that we're focusing in on. So one is around expanding innovative approach. And so we want to expand how we are, you know, predicting and preventing and protecting people.

00:07:35:00 - 00:08:01:00

Mike Wilmot

Right. And and but doing so in innovative ways. So trying new things. And that's going to include things like sharing more data that we have. Right. Out there as much as we can, more information, more resources. It's going to include, you know, in our prevention work, which we can talk a little bit about, it will be including a lot of people in that and then using that data and different ways to, you know, focus in on a certain area based on what the data is showing.

00:08:01:02 - 00:08:21:08

Mike Wilmot

And then the second area is around, really just creating new ways to share what we, what we have learned. You know, we have a lot of like, nation leading experience at the Justice Center. We’re in a really unique agency, you know, but also learning from other people. So that is strategically what we want to do. It's our goal is focused in on that.

00:08:21:08 - 00:08:43:10

Mike Wilmot

So that's finding ways to like document what we already do more formally and share it out, but also finding ways to, have people come in, have a voice, share what they know too. And then the third area is around just expanding our, really strengthening our ability to, like, just put the experiences, like at the Justice Center in our ability to adapt to change.

00:08:43:10 - 00:09:09:08

Mike Wilmot

And when I say the experience, I mean not just for the people who interact with the Justice Center, you know, outside, but also people who work at the Justice Center too, improving their experience as well. So that's doing things like investing in staff, right. And their ideas. It is, doing things like finding new ways, to make technology be a little easier to work with because technology such a like such a factor, across the board, right.

00:09:09:11 - 00:09:38:24

Mike Wilmot

And then it's just about, creating ways for us to adapt to the changes that are coming. Like the world is always changing. Technology is always changing. You know, as I get older, I find it, like, harder and harder to deal with that change myself. Right. So trying to, like, focus in on that, and find ways that we can help make that easier for all of us and, you know, be ready for when things shift to be able to meet it together, collectively, both people at the Justice Center and then all the people we partner with across the board.

00:09:38:26 - 00:09:39:29

Jessica Pidgeon

00:09:40:01 - 00:10:12:01

Erin Hogan

You know, I think one of the most important pieces that you touched on, too is that kind of collaboration and feedback loop. And I know, you know, Governor Hochul has very much stressed, finding ways to make our systems work smarter, not harder, right. And more efficiently and so hearing I know even in just the last several months, working with you all on some of the strategic planning efforts, it's been really unique and unique experience for me to hear back from the provider communities, back from the state agency communities, back from, you know, people who interact and and submit reports.

00:10:12:05 - 00:10:20:26

Erin Hogan

What are some of the hang ups that they see and how can we use the strategic planning efforts to address those? Yeah, if we can. Yeah.

00:10:20:27 - 00:10:36:20

Mike Wilmot

No, I mean, and so, you know, even the way we developed the plan, was we took we had roundtables that were held. So we gathered that feedback. Our acting executive director, Maria Lisi-Murray, she went out and still does regularly go out to providers to talk to people and even talk to the people who are receiving services there.

00:10:36:20 - 00:10:54:10

Mike Wilmot

So every time we were there, she would ask for feedback and she would bring that back, right. And then we would write that down too. So we were pulling all of that in just to develop the plan. And then, you know, like I said, then we're we're going to keep doing that. So we're out, you know, out at conferences saying like, hey, what do you think, right?

00:10:54:11 - 00:11:05:11

Mike Wilmot

Tell us, like just asking point blank questions. And, you know, it's funny, like, well, you know, it's thinking about the we offered the question of like, you know, what do you think? And everybody kind of laughed and we were like, no, what do you really for real think?

00:11:05:11 - 00:11:06:17

Erin Hogan

The unvarnished truth.

00:11:06:17 - 00:11:19:04

Mike Wilmot

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I found, you know, I think people responded really positively to that. Yeah. And, really, I think we're like, happy and, dare I say, excited, to be able to give some.

00:11:19:04 - 00:11:19:10

Erin Hogan

You can say it.

00:11:19:10 - 00:11:34:06

Mike Wilmot

Yeah, give some, some real feedback there. So, you know, I think that was a big part of it, but then also part of how the plan was developed too, is we created a workgroup here at the Justice Center made up of people from every single office who represented their office.

00:11:34:06 - 00:11:50:07

Mike Wilmot

And the idea was these were people who could not only speak for their office, you know, had a lot of trust there, but also a lot of experience out in the field. So what was great is they went out and asked people at the Justice Center like, hey, what do you think? And we got 500 ideas that came as a mega list.

00:11:50:09 - 00:12:06:17

Mike Wilmot

But those ideas weren't just internal things. Those were, you know, things that they heard from working with providers. I think, you know, something is around like 40% of the people at the Justice Center, probably more than that, either worked in the field previously, have family members or people they care about in the field have some connections some way. Right.

00:12:06:23 - 00:12:10:00

Mike Wilmot

So like they're not just coming from the perspective.

00:12:10:01 - 00:12:10:18

Erin Hogan

They have stake in the game.

00:12:10:18 - 00:12:19:14

Mike Wilmot

Of that work. They have a real big stake in it. And so their feedback is actually pulling also from externally, you know, that was a huge part of that, that collaborative.

00:12:19:16 - 00:12:20:06

Mike Wilmot

00:12:20:08 - 00:12:36:14

Jessica Pidgeon

Yeah. And I think like to, to the point of what both of you are saying, like the real priority of, the strategic planning here at the agency. And part of what drew me here to the agency is, is that collaborative approach where, you know, as you mentioned, Governor Hochul it’s like a very important like customer experience is a very important to, the current administration.

00:12:36:19 - 00:12:59:11

Jessica Pidgeon

It's very important to us at the agency as well. And as Mike was saying, it's not just, you know, passive like, okay, what do you think? It's like, no, no, let's have a collaborative conversation. What's working? What's not working? Where can we create efficiencies, where maybe we haven't thought to in the past, to make sure that everybody's experience who's interacting with us at the agency, is as good as it could possibly be within whatever, you know, constraints that we have as an agency.

00:12:59:11 - 00:13:15:18

Jessica Pidgeon

So, it's a very collaborative approach, an ongoing, collaborative approach, as Mike mentioned. Yeah. To look at that experience piece of it, which is key for the agency and the leadership here, right now. So I think it's important to re highlight that because it's unique in some ways I think.

00:13:15:22 - 00:13:15:28

Mike Wilmot

00:13:16:04 - 00:13:45:17

Mike Wilmot

Yeah. And I think on the customer experience side, you know it's it is just adding on to what Jessica said. It's one thing to say like oh what do you think? Right. It's another thing to show people like we heard you and here's what we're doing, but also to include people too. So even thinking about things like some of the things we're doing, a really small but are future focused, like looking at our public website, one of the things I found, you know, not just working with like our advisory council, you know, the people who are out there providing the services, but also the people who work here is like we all do

00:13:45:17 - 00:14:07:07

Mike Wilmot

really have a common like mission in our hearts, you know, to, to really like we we all really care. And I think that is part of it is we are demonstrating that we really do want to capitalize and take very seriously what Governor Hochul has said around customer experience of like, we really do want to take that into account and make it just feel good.

00:14:07:07 - 00:14:18:14

Mike Wilmot

I think this is a real power. And, and, you know, maybe even like a vulnerability and being willing to say, like you matter and your voice matters. And while I have these thoughts, I also need to ask you too.

00:14:18:16 - 00:14:47:14

Erin Hogan

Well, I will say it is kind of interesting as we just went through a discussion internally about a very specific process within the Justice Center that I and my team didn't necessarily feel like deserved a spot on the public facing website because it was just so in the weeds. But the person I was working with here was like, well, as a parent of someone with a disability who received services, I actually would prefer to see all of the things that you do to process.

00:14:47:16 - 00:15:00:27

Erin Hogan

That was really unique feedback. I was like, well, I wouldn't have gotten that anywhere else. And and now it will be a part of that. So like, that's a good, you know, to kind of build off what you're saying. It's kind of a microcosm of of what you're talking about. Yeah.

00:15:00:29 - 00:15:21:11

Jessica Pidgeon

Yeah. And I think, you know, that's another part of what kind of excites me about the direction we're moving in. When Mike was talking about our second goal, which is really focused on opportunities to have conversations with new, unique, different voices, in addition to some of the voices that we’re already having conversations with families is a big part of that, as well as people who are receiving services from the different systems that have oversight over.

00:15:21:17 - 00:15:37:08

Jessica Pidgeon

And there's a lot of opportunity, I think, in those spaces for us to continue to expand on the conversations and the work we're doing, and I'm really excited to be able to have that opportunity, whether it's something like reviewing, you know, the website or, you know, looking at processes, making sure that the information that we're sharing makes sense to them, right?

00:15:37:08 - 00:16:03:27

Jessica Pidgeon

Because, you know, oftentimes when somebody is engaging with the Justice Center, you know, sometimes it can be stressful, right? Because of what they're engaging with us around. And so we want to make sure that we have the resources and information that makes the most sense to them as a little bit of clarity. You know, when they're they're faced with the challenges that they're facing with if they're, you know, obviously participating in an investigation or something like that or their loved one is, you know, a part of an investigation, we want to make sure they feel supported in whatever way they can.

00:16:03:29 - 00:16:21:19

Jessica Pidgeon

And I think that's another part of the Justice Center that's really interesting that people don't always know about. Right? Is our support side our advocacy side. So we're looking forward to, you know, bolstering that and the understanding of those services in what we provide at the Justice Center. You know, in addition to the the great work that our investigations team is doing.

00:16:21:21 - 00:16:25:01

Jessica Pidgeon

So I'm really excited to kind of expand on that in this new strategic plan.

00:16:25:04 - 00:16:48:25

Erin Hogan

Yeah. And, you know, I think that's a really good segue to the next question I wanted to ask, which is about, you know, a lot of people think of the Justice Center and they think of our investigations team or our investigations work. But a lot of our work is rooted in prevention. And I, I'll often will say the entire point and purpose of the Justice Center is to prevent abuse and neglect, right?

00:16:49:00 - 00:17:11:11

Erin Hogan

Investigations that then root out bad actors that then prevent future incidents from happening. Plus, we do have all this great prevention work that we do. And so I want to want either of you to kind of touch on how this strategic plan really builds upon some of those successes that have already been established, at the Justice Center and focusing on prevention work and abuse prevention.

00:17:11:13 - 00:17:30:12

Mike Wilmot

Yeah, yeah. I mean, and again, you know, it is really kind of building out that pillar of work based off just, you know, we started off, you know, by saying like 13 years, right? Like we are standing on top of 13 years of an incredible foundation that was built. And 13 years, isn't really a long time for a state agency, right.

00:17:30:17 - 00:17:48:18

Mike Wilmot

But a lot of great work is gone into it. So it even just something around that that's exciting is building off of that amazing work and and bolstering that. One of the ways we'll be doing that is we do have a lot of data. And so like let's, let's use the data. And we are in a lot of ways of finding new ways to use it.

00:17:48:18 - 00:18:13:24

Mike Wilmot

But also enriching the data we have is there are other other things we could be capturing that might be more helpful. And then what we want to do is be able to take that kind of information along with some, you know, best practices for different approaches and use that to focus our efforts on a survey area. So maybe, you know, focus in on a specific area of training with a specific group of people, maybe even at like a certain location, and then be able to kind of test out how that works and like, oh.

00:18:13:24 - 00:18:14:20

Erin Hogan

Did it make a change?

00:18:14:20 - 00:18:30:21

Mike Wilmot

Did it make a change? Right. And to what Jessica was saying, like, you know, if we’re working with the family, because some of the feedback we have had is like, hey, we'd love to see you expand some of your, like, training and information for people receiving services and families. So if we're working with them, you know, put out an evaluation after and say like you know, hey, did you did you learn something right?

00:18:30:22 - 00:18:58:03

Mike Wilmot

Was this helpful? And then take what we learned there and just keep applying it further. Right. So taking that data but also partnering up with people to have them be part of that data as well. So that's a big part of it. The other part is, you know, using that data and using those, you know, tried and true methods or some of the models that are out there try to incorporate all those and also the great work that people are already doing that maybe like we didn't do to be like, you know, why reinvent the wheel?

00:18:58:03 - 00:19:09:27

Mike Wilmot

Like there's some amazing things out there pull that into. So it's really around using that to focus our efforts and to, not just like where we're going, but the way we're going about it too.

00:19:09:29 - 00:19:27:11

Jessica Pidgeon

I didn't know about all of that side of the work that the Justice Center was doing before I came here, like the advocate, like the fact that we have a whole unit, right? Like our, individual families and support unit that will support people who are going through the investigation process. They will go to an interview or a hearing.

00:19:27:14 - 00:19:43:23

Jessica Pidgeon

You know, they're sharing wisdom around trauma informed, interviewing and processes, as are other people on the team. And so there's just so much value in that work that's happening. And I want to make sure as part of this new strategic plan, people know that we have those services and that we're providing them, and families know that.

00:19:44:00 - 00:19:46:23

Jessica Pidgeon

And as we're providing them, we're evaluating like, is this helpful?

00:19:46:23 - 00:19:47:10

Jessica Pidgeon

00:19:47:10 - 00:20:11:25

Jessica Pidgeon

What’s working? What could we do differently? What should we be bolstering, in your opinion, right from the work that you're doing? So I had no idea we were doing half of that, even though I've been in the system. So I think there's a lot of opportunity to think about how we share information, think about who we're sharing with to, especially underserved communities that maybe we, you know, have a lot of opportunity to kind of expand in those realms and areas, different demographic groups that we haven't had a chance to previously.

00:20:11:25 - 00:20:23:16

Jessica Pidgeon

So, you know, there's a lot to come in this new strategic plan that I think is going to really, you know, hopefully shift some of the understanding and perspectives of the Justice Center and what we do as an agency.

00:20:23:18 - 00:20:24:14

Erin Hogan

Awesome.

00:20:24:16 - 00:20:38:24

Erin Hogan

And last question, of all the initiatives on the table right now, and I know we don't have a formal list of projects that we're going to be rolling out the strategic plan. But what is one thing that you're really excited to get rolling on?

00:20:38:25 - 00:20:41:14

Mike Wilmot

Want to go first?

00:20:41:14 - 00:20:42:03

Jessica Pidgeon

No, because I’m excited to do a bunch of it.

00:20:42:05 - 00:20:42:17

Jessica Pidgeon

00:20:42:24 - 00:20:44:03

Erin Hogan

Too many to pick from.

00:20:44:05 - 00:21:05:29

Mike Wilmot

Yeah. So, you know, having been involved with it and worked with a lot of people, I also have the challenge of being like, well, you know, this is a buffet of exciting, so which do I choose? And so, you know, obviously very excited about the prevention stuff. I think, though, rather than saying, like a specific thing, I think it's the approach, is the thing that I am most excited about.

00:21:05:29 - 00:21:34:09

Mike Wilmot

And I know we kind of started off here, but it really is the thing that is just like, like really just gets me up every day. You know, it's taking the experience of, again, providers, right. The associations, the families, the family groups, the self-advocates, the people receiving services, our counsel, all of these different groups. Right. And also our intake people who are working 24 seven, you know, our investigators, our legal people, our IFSU advocates.

00:21:34:09 - 00:22:03:00

Mike Wilmot

Right. Our TRAID program, our SDMC, you know, all of these different groups of people and and connecting all of those different pieces together. I think giving everybody a voice and then creating something that takes all of those voices into a cohesive plan that's not just words, but has actual, real action we're going to show behind it. Measurable action is really exciting to me and as, you know, I am a person with disabilities.

00:22:03:05 - 00:22:33:21

Mike Wilmot

So being able to be in this position is very, you know, deeply meaningful to me because I care a lot about this. It's very personal. So, you know, on a personal level, it's just exciting to have this opportunity to talk with all these different people and work with them. But hopefully add to what Jessica was saying, have, you know, a lasting impact on the community and all of us kind of working together to get these little pieces to say like, hey, we are all in this together?

00:22:33:23 - 00:22:49:01

Mike Wilmot

You know, when I, whenever I start like a work group, if we're working with an external thing, one of the first things I like to do is look at their mission and look at our mission, and then try to find the overlap. And then I like to have that sometimes as like a starting point for the conversation to show people.

00:22:49:01 - 00:22:54:01

Mike Wilmot

Like there is a lot of overlap here and like we're excited to work together so.

00:22:54:04 - 00:22:54:06

Mike Wilmot

00:22:54:08 - 00:22:56:07

Erin Hogan

Well, we already know mine's the website.

00:22:56:09 - 00:22:57:09

Mike Wilmot

Yes. Very excited about the website.

00:22:57:10 - 00:23:01:06

Erin Hogan

So let's get to Jess.

00:23:01:08 - 00:23:03:28

Jessica Pidgeon

I probably should have went first. Like how do you follow that up?

00:23:04:00 - 00:23:06:08

Erin Hogan

Right, that was so beautiful and that I’m like, the website.

00:23:06:10 - 00:23:08:24

Mike Wilmot

00:23:08:27 - 00:23:09:16

Mike Wilmot

00:23:09:18 - 00:23:17:22

Jessica Pidgeon

I mean obviously ditto everything that Mike said which truly is you know, I truly agree with, you know, just based on my unique

00:23:17:24 - 00:23:18:03

Mike Wilmot

00:23:18:03 - 00:23:18:14

Erin Hogan

00:23:18:14 - 00:23:38:05

Jessica Pidgeon

Background and where I've been in my career at this point. Like, I'm really excited about, obviously, a lot of it, but some of the work that we're doing around the data, being able to share and use that data to inform our decision making as an agency, looking at the data that other agencies have and compiling that to see, okay, what are we really seeing, which ultimately I think helps with anything like a prevention.

00:23:38:12 - 00:23:57:12

Jessica Pidgeon

I think opportunities that we might have to pilot, like Mike was saying, some new innovative approaches, like I really am interested in innovation, you know, data informed decision making. And the collaboration piece, which I think we've talked about a lot already, but, you know, just making sure that we are the resource that, you know, we're meant to be in a lot of different ways.

00:23:57:12 - 00:24:07:26

Jessica Pidgeon

And I think we have several projects underway, already being informed by the fabulous conversations that we're having at different conferences and provider visits. So thank you to everybody who's participating.

00:24:07:26 - 00:24:08:05

Mike Wilmot

Yeah.

00:24:08:05 - 00:24:22:03

Jessica Pidgeon

And continuing to participate. And we'll be reaching out for more participation going forward. So yeah, I mean, there's a lot there's a lot to be excited about, I think in this in a strategic plan and in the direction that the agency is going and building off of our history and past.

00:24:22:05 - 00:26:00:23

Erin Hogan

Great.