What are our Core Values?

All people must be treated with dignity and respect

Every human being has dignity and is worthy of respect. This underlies our person-centered approach to services, support and illustrates our approach to working with each other and with our stakeholders. We treat people in a principled manner, knowing we are united by a shared mission and positive intent. 

Observable behaviors: 

• We engage people in decisions that impact them and stay connected with them as decisions are made.  
• We express gratitude for the contributions of people across all functions of the organization.  
• We consistently demonstrate respect in our communications and in our behavior.   
• We show vulnerability, acknowledge when we are wrong, apologize when appropriate, and forgive when needed.
• We consult with people to see what they need, talk with them about how things are perceived, and get their input on important issues. 

What we mean by this: 

Show respect for people supported and employees. Recognize that our mission is centered on the people we support. Additionally, recognize our employees are the organization’s greatest asset and make investments in them. Commit to making AHRC a place where people want to receive supports, want to work, good work is getting done, staff are valued, and people are happier.

Lead by example. Treat others the way we want to be treated. Model the behavior we expect of others in day-to-day actions, and our interactions.

Model grace and empathy at all levels of the organization. Give people allowances for mistakes. Assume good intentions, avoid hidden agendas, show vulnerability, apologize when appropriate, forgive when needed. 

Partnering with people, families and communities creates the best opportunities

We encourage collaboration, bringing people into the conversation and practicing active listening. We practice and model being un-biased. We take risks and are willing to be wrong.  

Observable behaviors: 

• We are willing to take risks and allow space for “creative ideas.”
• We structure our decision-making processes to enable collaboration.
• We share responsibility for finding solutions and accountability for results.
• We actively seek dialogue, finding the right way to engage individuals. We ask curious questions to gain insight and understanding.
• We have tough conversations, acknowledge critical input. 

What we mean by this:

Engage liberally with people especially when you see that some are silent or need time to participate. Reach out to communicate with them, especially those whom you hear less from or are less extroverted. Endeavor to knock down walls, not build silos.

Practice active listening Listen attentively with the intent to understand. Active listening means repeating what you think you heard to check that you understood. It means asking curious questions to gather insights and understanding. It means acknowledging other’s perspective and ideas with sincerity. Demonstrate this through verbal and non-verbal cues. Be open to dialogue and feedback you receive.

Look for solutions, not just problems. Present and address problems in a way that promotes discussion and resolution. Have the courage to deliver bad news accurately to generate solutions not to gossip.  

A competent and compassionate workforce is vital 

We acknowledge that a competent workforce is vital to our ability to meet and fulfill our mission. Our ability to support our people to live full, meaningful, and happy lives is dependent on the core skills of compassion, empathy, and commitment to be of service to others. 

Observable behaviors: 

• We seek and celebrate staff who have the competencies to effectively make a positive difference in the lives of others.
• We seek and celebrate staff who represent the diversity of our community and the people we support.
• We support any of our staff who are experiencing bias from anyone else in the organization by interceding and reinforcing our core value of respect.
• We provide our staff with the training, professional development, tools, resources, and ongoing support they need to be successful.
• We look for opportunities to solicit staff feedback and engage staff in decisions that impact their ability to do their work effectively. 

What we mean by this: 

Identify the skills needed to be successful and pursue candidates with those skills. We challenge our biases to ensure we are selecting those who will be successful regardless of race, gender, LGBTQIA+, age, disability, etc.

We identify opportunities for professional growth and help staff consider their career path and the skills needed to achieve their goals.

We do not tolerate bias, prejudice, discrimination, harassment, or bullying by anyone within the organization and we intercede to protect our staff from mistreatment.

We listen and seek feedback. We assess the needs of staff and hold ourselves accountable for the resources available to staff by engaging staff in conversations on how to find effective solutions. 

Commitment to diversity and cultural sensitivity is essential 

We advance equity, and foster equitable opportunity, addressing inequality within our organization and in our work.  

Observable behaviors:  

• We find solutions to structural impediments that interfere with equity in our organization. 
• We have transparent policies and procedures. We do not have hidden rules of behavior that may be apparent to some groups and unknown to others. 
• The Senior Leadership Team and Diversity Strategic Plan Steering Committee will champion diversity and inclusion efforts at every level of the organization. 
• We cultivate a diverse and representative workforce, free of discrimination. 
• We strive to strengthen the voices of the marginalized and vulnerable, especially within our own organization. 
• We value every team member and seek to ensure everyone can fulfill their potential. 

What we mean by this: 

We recognize our moral obligation to respect and protect the civil rights of all. We are committed to achieving and maintaining an inclusive, diverse, and representative workforce within AHRC the organization, free of bias, discrimination, and reflecting the innovation and creativity that diversity can bring to the workplace. We value every member of our team, learn from their experience, and foster their active engagement.

Innovative approaches promote advancement and growth 

We believe innovation starts with our people. It revolves around our ability to challenge our staff to strive for a continually improving mindset that focuses on turning challenges into opportunities. 

Observable behaviors:  

• We challenge our assumptions and always ask “why” to find creative solutions. Curiosity is a key competency and cultivated in everyone.
• We encourage each other to share their ideas and work to foster a culture that supports failure as well as success.
• We are dedicated to our work and take full responsibility for our solutions. 

What we mean by this: 

We know that our success in providing supports and services to a diverse community requires us to continuously seek new and creative ways to understand the needs of different racial/ethnic communities. We are committed to creating an environment where our diverse staff can utilize their skills to find innovative solutions in supporting people with I/DD to live full and healthy lives. 

Financial sustainability is critical for organizational success 

Our success depends on our ability to be a viable enterprise now and in the future. We look for everyone to take ownership for ensuring the highest standards of performance and success. 

Observable behaviors 

• We encourage all employees to responsibly deliver and document high quality services in an efficient and impactful manner. 
• We support employees in creating solutions that bring greater efficiencies and higher effectiveness to promote financial stability. 

What we mean by this: 

We provide high quality services and continuously strive to improve in the way we provide them. We do not sacrifice quality and [we] work as a team to ensure we deliver services efficiently. We manage and allocate our resources responsibly to advance our mission and adhere to our values.