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The Strategic Management Series: Sound Employment Practices for Centers for Independent Living Part 1: Effective Hiring Practices

Presented by Melanie Lockwood Herman, Executive Director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center, on March 8, 2011

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About the Training

The CIL-NET series on exemplary employment practices and skills is designed for Executive Directors and other managers at Centers for Independent Living. The four-part series offers the opportunity to explore the risks and rewards of the employment relationship within the context of a center for independent living. The four-parts include:

• Part 1: Effective Hiring Practices
• Part 2: Staff Supervision and Evaluation
• Part 3: Discipline and Departure
• Part 4: Managing Workplace Risks

Effective Hiring Practices, the first program in the series, explores the importance of hiring qualified personnel while respecting the philosophy and requirements of the independent living movement with regard to hiring personnel with disabilities. The hiring stage of the employment relationship can and should be managed in a way that increases the chance that new hires will be a good "fit" for the organization. Learn how to approach the hiring process with optimism and discipline while managing the legal risks that arise at this stage of the employment relationship. The program covers:

• Hiring goals
• Legal do's and don'ts and risks associated with hiring
• Sensitivity in hiring
• Matching screening tools to the "risks" of the position (e.g., reference checks, background checks, interviews, home visits, etc.).

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the on-demand training series, participants will be able to:

1. Identify potential trouble spots in the employment lifecycle (from hiring to departure)
2. Describe effective techniques for empowering employees to succeed
3. Distinguish how to spot and address difficulties that often arise in the workplace
4. Describe the circumstances under which outside help may be needed to manage employment challenges

About the Presenter

Melanie Lockwood Herman, Executive Director, Nonprofit Risk Management Center

In a world that is fraught with danger, it is comforting to know that Melanie Lockwood Herman is holding on tight to the handlebars of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. The Center provides training, technical assistance and informational resources to help nonprofits take a practical approach to managing risk so that they can fulfill their missions and stay out of trouble.

A prolific author of a more than a dozen comprehensive (and comprehensible!) guides on various risk management topics, Melanie has delivered countless workshops, seminars, and keynote presentations for organizations simply unwilling to leave success to chance. Melanie earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban Affairs from American University (Washington, DC) and a Juris Doctor from George Mason University (Arlington, VA). She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association.

Melanie's books include Taking the High Road: A Guide to Effective and Legal Employment Practices for Nonprofits.

In 2007 and 2008 Melanie was named to the NonProfit Times "Power & Influence Top 50," a list of "executives and thinkers ... selected for the impact they have now and for the innovative plans they are putting in place to evolve the charitable sector."

A calculated risk taker, Melanie loves raw fish, scalding coffee, and riding her 2009 Buell Blast, 1964 Norton Electra or 1970 BSA Bantam motorcycles (she always wears her helmet). She also embraces risk by serving on three nonprofit boards. To be on the safe side, she serves as Chair of the Administrative Council, lay speaker and organist of her church.

Transcript and Resources:

• PowerPoint presentation (PPT file)
• PowerPoint presentation (Accessible HTML file)
• Transcript of the Program (doc file)

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Presented by CIL-NET, a program of the IL NET national training and technical assistance project for Centers for Independent Living (CIL-NET) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC-NET). The IL NET is operated by ILRU, Independent Living Research Utilization, in partnership with the National Council on Independent Living (NCIL) and the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living (APRIL).

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