Dear OCEA member,
OCEA continues to meet monthly with Orangewood management to address ongoing safety concerns. Thank you to the members who have escalated issues to us. Your voices are driving these conversations.
OCEA has filed two Orangewood-related grievances with the County, one covering HCA staff and one covering SSA staff. OCEA Labor Relations Representative Carolyn Gasga has been meeting regularly with management, including Maureen Mutch and Kristi Fiskum, to work through specific incidents and identify safety measures going forward.
PROGRESS SO FAR
Working with OCEA, management has taken action on several fronts:
- All cottage telephone lines have been updated so the Assist Line and Emergency Line function
- Hiring efforts have converted extra help into full-time staff, with more extra help on the way
- Specific incidents are being reviewed together to identify policy gaps and prevent recurrences
- Metal detectors have been installed
- Walkie-talkies have been upgraded and more devices are available
THE ONGOING CONVERSATION
We know safety incidents are still occurring. Some risk comes with the work, but much of it can be prevented through adequate staffing, proper training, and the right equipment. That is the standard we are holding management to, and the dialogue so far has been open and productive.
WE NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
Our next meeting with management is on Thursday, May 28, 2026. If there is a specific concern you want raised, please take a moment to share it here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HXF3CXG
You can also reach out directly to OCEA Representative Carolyn Gasga at cgasga@ocea.org.
In Solidarity,
Carolyn Gasga
