April 24, 2018 -- Stephanie Williams, Program Coordinator, Individual and Provider Rights, State Office, was recently named Employee of the Month, one of four selected for March.
Ms. Williams manages the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) ensuring statewide compliance with federal and state Civil Rights laws, ADA, 504, Title VI regulations, policies, and procedures. OCR evaluates the agency's operations as they relate to civil rights and develop policies, procedures, goals and objectives to improve operations as necessary. That office conducts civil rights reviews, investigates complaints of discrimination and are responsible for all interpreting and translation issues for all program areas.
She says the best part of her job is “interaction with County and Regional staff in all program areas to assist and support them in serving our clients.” Ms. Williams said she was very surprised and honored to have been chosen and added “I am only able to be successful in my job because of my very competent and dedicated team.”
Ms. Williams has worked for DSS for more than 30 years and has been in her present position for 11 years. She began her career with DSS working with the Food Stamp Program. Prior to her current position, she was the Program Coordinator of the Special Nutrition Unit in the Family Nutrition Programs Division. In that position, she managed a staff that was responsible for administering the Summer Food Service Program, After School Snack Program, Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program and Outreach for all Family Nutrition Programs.
She was chosen by management for “providing direction and guidance to her staff and all agency personnel on an on-going basis, working with other agencies on civil rights issues and specifically with SC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) because we share many offices. She continuously works to correct any agency problems regarding Civil Rights, ensures that county staff have the resources available to meet civil rights requirements, works closely with the complainant, the agency and USDA. She is very kind and compassionate in all of her communication with our constituents, staff and USDA and goes above and beyond to help our clients even if their complaint does not meet the criteria for a civil rights complaint.”
Originally from Clinton, Ms. Williams now resides in Columbia, South Carolina.
Staff selected for the Employee of the Month Program are awarded with lunch with the State Director along with other honorees, a dedicated parking space, a photo and write up displayed at State Office, and a write-up sent to their community newspaper.
Other March winners were Dennis Morgan, Audits Manager, Audits, State Office, Brina Hautamaki, Foster Care Case Manager, Charleston County DSS, Charlene Nimmons, Human Services Supervisor,
Bamberg County DSS, and Patty Easterling, ESIC Interviewer with Berkeley County DSS Economic Services.
