- Community Spotlight
- Environmental Resource Assessment & Management
Providing Skills to Build Relationships with Underserved Communities
CSS talented learning specialists supporting NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (for which we subcontract through Lynker) are integral contributors to a team of federal staff and affiliates who develop training to assist coastal community decision makers and resource managers with building skills needed to enhance their communities. CSS learning specialists recently led the development of a workshop, titled “Let’s Talk About Trust: A Collaborative Learning Opportunity to Reflect on Building Long-Term Relationships with Underserved Communities.” Federal staff discovered this topic is a desired area of interest following a needs assessment they conducted. Results identified that building trust with underserved communities is essential to creating a sustainable and just future. With this critical need becoming more evident and urgent in recent years, the team recognized the demand to provide community leaders and managers with new skills and to help them gain new perspectives to do this work. CSS employee owners developed the workshop while checking in with federal staff at key points along the development process.
CSS employee owners delivered this workshop at Social Coast Forum in Charleston, SC, a conference focused on applying social science data, tools, and practices to address coastal community issues, including climate change, the economy, infrastructure, environmental issues and more. Throughout the workshop, participants reflected on the concept of trust, co-created a list of best practices, and departed the workshop equipped with a suite of resources to use moving forward. The workshop was well received with positive post-workshop survey results. In addition, CSS learning specialists have received an overwhelming number of requests for this workshop and are planning future offerings with Great Lakes and South Carolina partners.
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Quality Assurance Audit Reports
Since 1985 we’ve supported the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and have provided more than 1,600 quality assurance audit reports that the client has used to assess the quality of toxicology studies they sponsor. Over the last year our employee owners reviewed several studies involving per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) compounds, or “forever chemicals”,…
Supporting National Ocean Service Financial Management Centers
CSS employee-owners bring exceptional dedication and expertise to the National Ocean Service (NOS) Agreements, Grants, and Acquisitions Division, supporting several Financial Management Centers (FMCs) through complex, high‑priority initiatives. CSS has played a key role in helping FMCs navigate the U.S. Department of Treasury’s G‑Invoicing system during a period of transition and heavy workload. CSS staff recognized the challenges many teams were facing and broke down the system’s complex requirements…
Training Staff for Handling Hazardous Waste and Responding to Chemical Spills
CSS employee owners provide on-site support to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hazardous Waste Program at several campuses around the country: Atlanta, Georgia, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Fort Collins, Colorado. With 22 years of experience, CSS staff are responsible for providing training to laboratory and facilities staff to ensure safe handling of hazardous waste to avoid harmful…