Welcome to Douglas County Connection, a monthly newsletter for Douglas County employees. This newsletter aims to foster stronger connections within our organization by informing you about important updates, community events, and noteworthy achievements across our County departments. Have a story idea? Email newsletter@douglascounty-ne.gov.

For many struggling Douglas County residents, the Douglas County General Assistance (DCGA) is more than just a safety net—it’s often the only resource available in times of extreme hardship.

“The Douglas County Department of General Assistance is committed to supporting the county’s most vulnerable residents in meeting their essential needs during times of extreme hardship,” said Melissa Sewick, Director of Douglas County General Assistance. “Oftentimes, we are the sole resource available to these individuals. Each day, we work diligently toward creating a safe and supportive environment where every person feels welcomed, respected, valued, and heard as they strive for stability and long-term self-sufficiency.”

In Fiscal Year 2023-24, DCGA distributed more than 6,300 vouchers, providing over $2.8 million in direct financial aid to help residents cover rent, mortgage, and utility expenses, as well as other essential services like transportation, cremation costs, and non-food necessities. Additionally, the department helped nearly 100 clients apply for federal disability benefits, securing nearly $300,000 in reimbursements to sustain vital services while applicants awaited approval.

DCGA’s work goes beyond financial aid, offering:

• Clothing vouchers & closets – Providing seasonal and career-appropriate attire.

• Bus tickets & out-of-county transportation – Helping individuals access job training, medical appointments, and employment.

• Personal care & hygiene kits – Supplying necessary items for health and cleanliness.

• Emergency sustenance – Distributing protein bars, electrolyte packets, and seasonal supplies.

For Sewick, this work is personal. “My core purpose in life is to contribute to the advancement of a society in which every individual is assured the protection and maintenance of their fundamental human rights,” she said. “I strongly believe that housing is a human right and recognize its critical role in public health. Housing instability impacts the wider community, both directly and indirectly, making the promotion of housing stability an essential social responsibility. I am committed to breaking down barriers and addressing inequities to ensure that everyone has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.”

The impact of DCGA’s work is felt across every zip code in Douglas County, providing relief and hope to those who need it most. “We understand that the strength of our community is directly linked to the well-being of its most vulnerable members and are committed to supporting these efforts,” Sewick added.

For more information or to seek assistance, visit generalassist.douglascounty-ne.gov or call 402-444-6215.

As I approach my one-year anniversary as Douglas County’s Talent Acquisition Specialist, I reflect on what an incredible experience it has been. I started this role in late February, and over the past year, I have truly enjoyed getting to know the diverse departments and talented individuals that make up our organization.

One of the things I love most about working in talent acquisition for Douglas County is the wide variety of positions I get to recruit for. I can’t think of anywhere else where I would have the opportunity to connect with professionals across such a broad spectrum—Epidemiologists, Emergency Management professionals, 911 operators, and Mental Health Counselors, just to name a few. Each day presents a new challenge, which makes this role so rewarding. One of my Clifton Strengths is “Input,” which means I thrive on learning and consuming new information. This position allows me to constantly expand my knowledge about different disciplines, departments, and the people who make Douglas County a great place to work.

My role is about making hiring processes easier and more effective for you. I am here to support every department in attracting and securing top talent. That support may look different depending on your specific needs, but here are some of the ways I can assist:

• Direct Candidate Sourcing – Finding and connecting with active and passive talent for your open positions.

• Managing Paid Job Board Promotions – Ensuring your job postings reach the right audience for maximum visibility.

• Career Fair Support – Helping your team represent Douglas County at industry-specific job fairs.

• Marketing Materials – Creating compelling print and email materials to promote job opportunities.

• Social Media Promotion – Leveraging social platforms to attract and engage potential candidates.

• Community Networking – Building relationships with organizations that support job seekers to increase awareness of our career opportunities.

• Interview Preparation – Helping you prepare effective interview processes that deliver a great candidate experience.

• Candidate Screening – Conducting initial screenings to help you determine your interview list.

• Benefit Overviews - Providing information about employee benefits to your candidates during the interview process. 

• Reference Checks – Completing reference checks before offers are extended.

• Verbal/Written Offers – Drafting and sending offer letters on your behalf.

• NeoGov Training – Providing guidance and training for hiring managers in NeoGov, our applicant tracking system.

I understand that each department within Douglas County has unique hiring challenges and needs. My goal is to tailor my support to ensure you have the resources and strategies necessary to build strong teams. Whether you need help sourcing candidates for challenging positions, promoting job openings, or refining interview processes, I am here to collaborate with you.

If you’d like to discuss how I can support your department’s hiring efforts, please reach out—I’d love to connect!

Lauren Dombrowski

Talent Acquisition Specialist, Douglas County HR

Phone: 402-444-7318

Email: lauren.dombrowski@douglascounty-ne.gov 

• Start tracking toward your incentive on Jan. 6th 

• Access the Asset Health portal here.

• First time user log in credentials: 

  • Username: First initial + Last name + Last 4 digits of SSN 

  • Password:  Date of birth (mmddyyyy)

• Questions? Contact Asset Health at support@assethealth.com or 855.444.1255.

*The Wellness Plan is only open to employees enrolled in the Douglas County Medical Plan – Blue Cross Blue Shield $600 PPO or the Blue Cross Blue Shield High Deductible Health Care plan.

• The deadline to rollover unused 2024 Medical and Limited FSA funds is March 15th. 

• Employees can only roll over up to $640. 

• Need help accessing your account?

  • Go to https://benefitslogin.wexhealth.com/, hover over Solutions and select Participants/Employees. 

  • This page provides login buttons for accessing your online account, along with helpful resources like a benefits knowledge base, a link to current eligible expenses, and chat.  

Clerk

• Terri Winslow

Clerk of the District Court

• Emily Zakaras

• Mariah Rivera

• Diego Salinas

• Chloe Zachary

• Ashley Rivas Martinez

Community Mental Health Center

• Ashley Hunter

• Pamala Jackson

• Stephanie Payne

• Alexandria Acosta

• Michaela Aken

• Garland Williams

• Tonya Jenkins

• Colleen McCollum

Corrections

• Ryan Guttermann

• Chandler Perez

• Anthony Lopez

• Ammon Choate

• Naomi Suarez

• Alana Mullikin

• Abiodun Olusoga

• Hector Hernandez

• Angel Zermeno

• Masood Amanllah

• Paul Parrales

• James Obrin

• Joan Cruz

• Cody Ginter

• Brad Dacus

• Eh Mu

• Lucas Kozeny

• Benjamin Lopez

• Nate Wyant

• Abigail Krueger

County Attorney

• Yudi Lopez

District Court

• Emily Strauss

Health Center

• Larisa Kebeh

Health Department

• Sarah Belter

• Jack Gordon

Public Properties

• Christopher Rotundo

Purchasing

• Roger Godfrey

Sheriff

• Spencer Head

• Melissa Anderson

• Larry Cahill

Veterans Service

• Michelle Arredondo

Youth Center

• Andrew Findlay

• Grimm Knight

• KV Amerson

• Mia Harris

• Liam Wooden

• Freddy Holmes

• Bachelor's degree, from an accredited university or college in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field required.*

• Four (4) years of related work experience required.*

• One (1) year of supervisory experience required.

• Two (2) years of MS Office experience required.

• Valid driver's license and own transportation upon hire and maintained throughout employment required.

• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check, physical assessment and conditional offer drug screen required.

• *Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be substituted for requirements on a year-for-year basis.

Click here to view the full job description and submit your application

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Education required.

• Current Nebraska Elementary or Secondary Education (K-9, K-12, 7-12) certification upon hire and maintained throughout employment required. 

• Two (2) years of teaching experience required.

• Experience in Counseling and Guidance, Special Education, or curriculum planning preferred.

• Completion of a pre-employment criminal record check and conditional offer drug screen required.

Click here to view the full job description and submit your application