Local news- Press Release
Boone County Kentucky - Faces Behind the County Jessica Candia 01 February 2024 ( news )
Boone County , state Kentucky ( By Press Release office)
Feb 01,2024
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Faces Behind the County: Jessica Candia
Jessica Candia , Human Resource Specialist at Boone County , brings together skills and experience in the HR world along with a passion to help the Spanish - speaking community . Not only does she do important work for our employees , but she also provides an invaluable service to many of our Spanish - speaking residents: translation services .
Get to know Jessica with her answers below!
How do you describe your job ( and responsibilities ) to family and friends?
I handle and administer the County employees’ Workers Compensation & FMLA Claims . I budget , process and verify tuition reimbursements , and handle all HR department’s purchase orders .
I also translate as needed for Assisted Housing , Finance , Occupational License and Judge/Executive Moore .
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
Being part of a County that has progressed tremendously in the 20 years I’ve lived here .
You also provide an important service – translation for our Spanish - speaking residents . Why is that an important resource for our residents?
It is extremely important for our Latino residents to feel comfortable in the community they live in . Providing this service gives them the opportunity to clearly understand what services and resources are available to them .
What are your goals with translation services in the County?
I would love for all services provided by the County in English to be available in Spanish as well , so that a language barrier isn’t the reason for miscommunication or misinformation .
I’ve been fortunate to see you come into a conversation where we were struggling to communicate with a Spanish - speaking couple . There was a very clear shift once you arrived . You could feel everyone just take a deep breath and relax . What’s it like to be able to shift the tone ( and often the outcome ) of a conversation for our residents?
Thank you for that . I want to be able to make them as comfortable as possible , gain trust and make them feel a sense of security when they come to our facilities without any hesitation . Moving to another state is not easy; imagine moving to another Country and not speaking the language or understanding the laws , procedures , or requirements of different entities .
How else are you involved in the community – outside of work?
With the support & guidance of my HR Director , Lori Zombek , I’ve been able to collaborate with
F . I . E . S . T . A .
, the first Latino Community Center that helps with resources , support , and services for our Spanish - speaking residents .
What are some of your favorite things to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with my family and playing volleyball .
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