Farewell to Rick Christensen
- jstong2
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Rick was crucial in helping CES rebuild our Jackson, WY center's staff, fundraising, and community engagement over the past few years.
When Rick was tapped to become the Director of the Jackson program, there were plenty of challenges: staffing issues, funding issues, and the need to ensure excellent care for all our clients. He swiftly innovated and recruited staff and changed the internal morale and culture around to create a team of mutually supporting staff that grew in trust, confidence, and personal initiative... leading to an expansion of the program for a record number of new clients.
His vision: that each team member mutually support one another without fiefdoms or competition. A teacher for over a decade prior to coming to CES, Rick sought to institutionalize a culture of matching staff with jobs and shifts that maximize their strengths and interests because longevity in the field of Direct Service Professionals requires people who love showing up each shift. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
Rick received the Teacher of the Year Award for "lifting himself by his own boot straps" (Latin: Notra superstites Sumus cum Caligulas). Rick points to a three strand rope as a symbol that teamwork is always stronger than a single person and to a candle to show that repetition and good habits will lead to being able to eventually become a light to other people...
Over a decade of work in the schools of Star Valley and Driggs, ID helped Rick navigate Teton Schools and helped him create a program that caters to high school students who are intellectually and developmentally disabled, giving them a sneak peek of CES' services so their parents also know what to expect once they age out of the school system.
When asked what he's proudest of accomplishing Rick was quick to reply "The team of staff... they've come together on the vision. Secondly, that we've been able to expand our services to our clients: more housing, more community engagement, more jobs in the community for clients, extracurricular activities and finding out of the box solutions for elderly clients."
A natural fundraiser, Rick wrote successful grant applications to help CES build employee housing, improve the day-hab center, increase pay to staff, pay off debt, and provide for extracurricular activities that improve the quality of life for our clients.
Highlights of these trips include a trip to the Lava Hot Springs in Idaho, Morgan's WonderLand wheelchair assessible resort in San Antonio, TX, rafting adventures and therapeutic riding for clients and staff.
From his role in the fundraising events of Art of Love, to Old Bills, and successful grants to provide housing units for staff in Jackson, Rick Christensen has had a profoundly positive impact on CES' operations in Teton County.
"Our DSPs are the heart of all we do, so being able to pay them a decent wage and now being able to offer 4 housing units for local staff is a huge milestone that substantially lowers the risk that weather will keep staff from their shifts" (Rick Christensen).
Rick also thinks that there are angels among us in the Jackson community.
"My first fundraising experience was the Art of Love auction and a donor asked me if we'd secured our fundraising goal. I explained that we missed it by about $50,000. She then cut us a check for that amount. I was flabbergasted. Speechless. I'm telling you, there are angels living here in Jackson that just provide the help we desperately needed, as we needed it. They're truly an amazing bunch of people."
CES in Jackson now has 23 staff that provide round the clock care for about 35 clients, including 8 high school students who come from local families eager to have their children remain local once they age out of the educational system.
"I surrounded myself with good people and encouraged them to be the best version of themselves. As a team, trusting that I had their best interest in heart too."
Recently Rick underwent some surgeries on his knees that sidelined him. Multiple locals volunteered to drive him to work, help him run errands and generally support his recovery.
"If we're looking at what CES is...stay the course. It's a phenomenal organization, doing really great work for our clients. Our work is irreplaceable" (Rick Christensen).
It's been a short 2 years, and CES will miss Rick. He's been a great program director but we wish him all the best as he enters a well deserved retirement.
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