recognition Archives - Penn-Mar

April 2024 HEART Award Winners

nvenn — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 18:10:32 +0000

The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork. We are proud to announce our latest round of HEART Award Winners! Join us in congratulating these extraordinary team members.

Jenny Brower, nominated by Jenn Hobbs

“As you may know, each year the Penn-Mar Gala features a Special Appeal video starring some people we support. This year, two of those people were Jay and Melanie. As a small thank you for their participation in the video, the video stars are invited to attend the Gala. Jay and Melanie were extremely excited to attend, and Jay even brought a date, Ashley.

However, to attend the Gala, Melanie and Jay needed transportation and wanted someone to stick around at the Gala in case they needed some support. Jenny kindly offered to bring Jay and Melanie to the Gala, hang out there, and even volunteer alongside the Gala team if needed, and then bring them home. She then stepped up even further, and when Ashley expressed an interest in having her hair and makeup done, Jenny offered to come over early to help her and Melanie with those items, and then bring all three of them to and from the event. Ashley and Melanie were super excited about having Jenny’s support to get ready.

Jenny’s willingness to do this was also helpful to the team members who work in Melanie’s, Jay’s, and Ashley’s homes, as they did not need to figure out transportation or staffing to support the others who live in those homes who would not be attending the Gala and may have other plans of their own.

Supporting Jay, Ashley, and Melanie in this way is not part of Jenny’s job description. She nonetheless went above and beyond to make their evening special and to ensure that they had a great time. When I thanked her for doing this, she brushed it off and said, ‘I always just see it as this is what we do to ensure the people we support don’t get stressed and get anxiety worrying about if there will be staff to support them.’

I am incredibly grateful to Jenny for always thinking first of the people we support and for doing everything she can to make Melanie, Jay, and Ashley’s evening memorable, fun, and stress-free.”

Maria Engler, nominated by Maricel Border and Tina Chan Sweenie

This HEART Award recipient received two nominations. The submissions have been shortened and combined.

“Maria Engler’s exceptional dedication to the individuals we support and her drive to create meaningful opportunities embodies the core values of Penn-Mar. Maria is always eager to get involved and foster partnerships to create opportunities for the Pennsylvania Community Participation Support. She constantly strives to improve both her skills and the quality of her work. She has played a critical role in the volunteer program and the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective, serving as a Steering Committee member. She consistently seeks feedback, engages with the individuals we support, their families, and team members to ensure that their voices are heard and respected.

Maria’s extraordinary quality is her innate desire to seek opportunities for the individuals we support. Whether it’s building partnerships with York College, coordinating the Lunch Buddies Program at York and Penn State York Colleges, or vigorously advocating for increased funding for IDD services, she goes above and beyond to empower the individuals we support to pursue their chosen life. She is an example of dedication, as demonstrated by ID/A Day in Harrisburg, where, despite being on crutches and a scooter, she ensured that those interested in advocating were on the Capitol steps and attending meetings. Her passion is the driving force behind her work. She has an unwavering enthusiasm for the individuals we serve and a relentless advocacy for an inclusive environment.

Maria works as an Activity Coordinator at Far Hills Day Program. She searches for different places in the community to find volunteer opportunities that individuals would enjoy doing. Maria does a fantastic job with this! She also seeks out other meaningful community places that might interest individuals. In addition to her job responsibilities, she is willing to step up and do what needs to be done, even if it falls outside her job title. She helps team members and day managers whenever she notices that they need assistance. For example, when team members find it challenging to support one of their individuals, Maria will ask if they need help or time away from their group, and she is happy to provide a helping hand to support the group so that other team members have time for themselves, even if it is just for a few minutes. Maria has also been a tremendous help to day managers by offering her ideas and insights when needed. She is always eager to help in any way she can without hesitation.”

Courtney Fenske, nominated by Jodi Jones and Melanie Szvitich

This HEART Award recipient received two nominations. The submissions have been shortened and combined.

“It is with great pleasure that we nominate Courtney Fenske for a HEART Award. Few realize how much the Human Resources team does to support the organization. Courtney is a subject matter expert in UKG and troubleshoots problems. She maintains the data integrity of our HRIS. She often leads the charge as we continue to learn and optimize UKG, while juggling her full-time work. She is always willing and happy to help with whatever is needed; tracking down answers when we are in a crunch, jumping on a last-minute meeting, or brainstorming solutions to problems. She’s a great collaborator, is eager to explore new and better ways of doing things and brings a positive energy to her work.

Courtney lives and embodies the values of Penn-Mar every day. Her relationships with those she interacts with are built on mutual respect and collaboration. This last year was challenging for her department due to staffing and Courtney took on additional responsibilities. Her organizational skills and systematic approach served her well so she could move through each task and project to consistently meet deadlines for deliverables. She jumps in to assist other team members in Payroll and Technology whenever needed. Courtney has become the go to person for running reports and various needs around data. She goes above and beyond providing guidance and insight to supervisors on completing timesheets. She created individualized spreadsheets for supervisors to follow when an employee is out on disability; this step in the process has greatly improved team members’ being paid correctly while on leave.

In addition to being a pleasure to work with, Courtney is extremely knowledgeable. Whether finetuning an HR process, onboarding a new team member, or troubleshooting a UKG issue, Courtney’s attention to detail and ability to work in a collaborative manner helps lead to a positive result. Her ability to make a difference, even if it’s outside of her core role, is always apparent; she is a doer. She is willing to step forward and assist whenever called upon or on her own when she sees a need. She is a sought-after resource.

Courtney also approaches her work with a focus on the people we support as well as the front-line team members to best support the mission of Penn-Mar. Courtney is dedicated to the work we do and supporting the team.

For these reasons, we are grateful to have the chance to work alongside Courtney and feel she deserves a HEART award.”

Shawn Fuller, nominated by Valerie Cleary and Nadine Gaetani

This HEART Award recipient received two nominations. The submissions have been shortened and combined.

“Shawn works at the Maryland Day Center as a Senior DSP. In this position, he coordinates our community-based activities, volunteer opportunities, and regularly searches for new opportunities to expand our program. Shawn moved to this role during COVID and before our program reopened. This meant that there was no community supports in place for Shawn to use. Because of this, Shawn essentially built this from the bottom to the fantastic energetic program it is today! The core of Shawn’s work revolves around helping the people we support to connect with community partners to identify activities that they are interested in trying. He works with the entire day learning team to make each adventure work. He asks how each trip went so he can tweak any little things to ensure the next trip is more successful. To go a step further, the schedule encompasses all volunteer opportunities with corresponding team members and vehicles. Shawn spends many hours researching trips, as well as seeking feedback from fellow DSPs and the people we support. Along with coordinating trips with DSP’s and the people we support, Shawn is also responsible for managing all Day Program vehicles. This includes all routine maintenance and connecting groups with the vehicle they will be using. He is a man with many hats! There is never a day that his name isn’t called down the hall for someone needing assistance and there he is on his way to help no matter what.

I personally am part of an on-going partnership that Shawn originally started. It is at the Northeastern Senior Center in Mt Wolf. Shawn made the initial trip to the center to see if Penn-Mar partnering with them would be workable. Well, this relationship has blossomed due in part to Shawn’s relationship with the center. We are sending a group to the center on a weekly basis now. I spoke with one of the center’s representatives, and she said the members of the center look forward to seeing the people we support as much as we love attending it. What a phenomenal opportunity for the people we support and the senior center. This meaningful connection is due in part to Shawn’s hard work and determination to provide the people we support with such wonderful opportunities. He deserves the honor of receiving a HEART award, and if you ask anyone at Maryland Central, they will agree too!”

Amanda Glenney, nominated by Nicole Zeigler

“Amanda is a dedicated employee. She is the first one to say yes to anyone needing help, regardless of the circumstances or time of day. She puts her whole heart into her work.

Amanda is currently helping support an individual who needs a lot of extra patience and understanding. While many have shied away from helping support this person, Amanda stays consistent with the support she provides and seeks ways to improve their relationship. She has a non-biased view and is constantly advocating for the person she supports. Amanda will sit with this person and talk things out and educate her on her choices. Amanda is a supervisor of another residential program and has not waivered her willingness to continue to support this person and their team during challenging times.

Although she has her schedule overbooked with work, she still makes time to help her co-workers. If Amanda cannot be physically present to help her coworker, she is always available by phone as a sounding board and is creative with helping to find solutions. Amanda is often the first phone call I make when faced with a difficult situation and need input. She will listen and then pull the facts from the situation and help me work through a solution.

Everyone needs an Amanda in their life!”

Patty Maynard, nominated by Maria Engler

“Patty continually provides exceptional person-centered support. Her person-centered work is apparent in how the individuals relate to her and in their comfort with her care. They seem to all feel heard and valued by her. Patty builds trusting relationships with the people she supports. They often share information with Patty that they are not comfortable sharing with others.

Patty continually seeks new opportunities for the people she supports in the day program. She truly helps people to engage fully in their community. She does this by helping them stay engaged in three volunteer opportunities, which is above the usual number of volunteer opportunities groups tend to participate in weekly. Recently she had supported the group in planning ahead for a day trip that was a little more expensive than usual. They all agreed to save and budget their money leading up to the trip, so they could fully enjoy their day together. Not only is she keeping them engaged, but she is helping them build important life skills.

She consistently communicates with her manager and other relevant team members to keep the lines open when building community connections. If the group is unable to attend a volunteer opportunity, she reaches out to other staff to see how the volunteer opportunity could possibly be filled by another group, so that the place they committed to would have someone still there to complete the tasks. Her concern for this shows that she supports the importance of being consistent with our commitments. It shows to those that offer the people we support volunteer opportunities that we are consistent and dependable.

She is an amazing advocate and has accompanied those she supports to Harrisburg to meet with their legislators and participated in a Legislative Roundtable held at Penn-Mar with one of the gentlemen she supports. Patty’s presence and calm demeanor gave the person she supports the confidence to open up to the legislators about his story. She consistently encourages all the individuals she supports to advocate for themselves.”

Clarita Millares, nominated by Maria Engler

“Clarita Millares is a 1:1 staff member in the PA Day Program. The individual she supports communicates in a nontraditional manner, and Clarita has a supportive attitude towards him. She provides him with opportunities to communicate with others in order to improve his communication skills. She is often seen walking with him and helping him to greet other people in the Day Program. The person she supports has frequent and intense seizures, but Clarita handles them with care and professionalism.

Clarita is always enthusiastic about the activities they do together. She is happy to share in the excitement of his successes and is constantly “bubbling with joy” over how happy he is. Even with the fear of his seizures, she encourages him to participate in his community and live his best life. The smiles he produces while out are reflective of the joy he experiences during their time together. Clarita is a new employee in our organization, and she has been a great support to the person she supports and others.

She is always looking for activities to offer to the person she supports or to others who are interested. For example, she purchased an item she thought the individual would be interested in using, and he was delighted to scribble on the iPad with the stylus. Clarita also encouraged him to volunteer at the Senior Center and other places to see if it would interest him. She frequently tries new volunteer opportunities and leisure activities with him.

Clarita taught him basic sign language, such as “thank you” and “bye,” so that he would be able to build relationships with his peers and others at the Day Program and in the community. Due to her nurturing of his communication skills, the person she supports has become more social and participates more in group activities. Clarita is a kind and dedicated employee who promotes Penn-Mar’s values daily in her work.”

Ruth Rodriguez, nominated by Maricel Border

“Ruth has been an invaluable asset to the field for more than five years, and she consistently exemplifies the company’s core values of integrity, excellence, collaboration, and innovation. On a daily basis, Ruth provides unwavering support to three individuals who each have unique challenges. Despite minimal oversight from her supervisor, Ruth goes above and beyond to ensure that these individuals receive the care and attention they need to thrive within their community.

Ruth is a firm believer in the power of volunteering and community involvement, and she takes her group to two volunteer opportunities each year. One of the individuals she supports requires hands-on assistance in everything he does due to his motorized wheelchair. However, this hasn’t stopped Ruth from taking him and the other two individuals to First Fruit Farm every summer to volunteer. Ruth helps each individual with the tasks they can and want to do, such as picking flowers, plants, and vegetables, folding towels, and watering plants. The group always looks forward to volunteering at the farm and has built strong relationships with the people there.

Ruth also takes her group to the Golden Connections Senior Center, where they have been going for several years. One of the individuals loves to be a greeter but doesn’t communicate verbally. Thanks to Ruth’s help, he can now use a communication board to greet senior members of the center. Meanwhile, the other two individuals engage in different activities at the senior center. Everyone there knows the group and has formed close relationships with them.

Ruth is always looking for ways to support everyone to thrive and engage in their community fully. She encouraged her group to participate in fitness classes at the JCC, which has been especially beneficial for one individual who benefits from the additional physical activity. Even an individual with limited mobility was able to engage in the workouts.

Finally, Ruth has been working with a quiet individual who struggled to express her interests and needs independently. Ruth patiently encouraged her to speak more and offered her different activities until she found something she enjoyed. Over time, the individual gained more confidence and began speaking up about her wants and needs to Ruth and others. This has been life-changing for her and her family, who are incredibly grateful for Ruth’s dedication and support.”

Kelly Saxmann, nominated by Michele Jacobs

“I would like to nominate Kelly Saxmann for the Penn-Mar HEART award. Kelly exemplifies what it means to have heart.

When I first met her, Kelly was working as a part time team member when my son Scott returned to Penn-Mar after COVID. Kelly found joy working with Scott and chose to work regularly as Scott’s 1:1 DSP. Kelly shows patience and compassion daily towards him. She has such a positive spirit in her daily interactions with him and others. She genuinely takes the initiative to help him continue to learn and grow and to make his days a positive, fun, and fulfilling experience.

Sometimes Scott cannot fully express himself in a way he is understood. In these moments, Kelly works very hard to help him feel understood and supported. Kelly can work through difficult moments with him quickly. She recognizes that his actions are a result of not being understood and not who he is.

She always looks for and accentuates on the positive things he does and because of her he looks forward to every day when he can go to Penn-Mar.”

Hope Schneider, nominated by Pat Mason

“From the very first time I met Hope, it was clear to me that she is a compassionate and wonderful human being. Her infectious smile won my daughter Lauren’s heart instantly. What’s more, Hope treats Lauren with utmost respect and never talks down to her like she is a child.

When Lauren started attending the Penn-Mar Day Program, she was already distrustful and unresponsive due to her traumatic experience in another Day Program. One staff member was having a hard time connecting with her, but when Hope started supporting Lauren, she did everything possible to connect with her and gain her trust. Despite the difficulties and challenges along the way, Hope never gave up on Lauren and continued to work hard to build a positive relationship with her. Eventually, Lauren started to trust Hope, and they developed a mutually beneficial relationship. Lauren was always happy and excited to attend Penn-Mar every day.

On one occasion, Hope accompanied Lauren to a birthday event that Lauren was invited to, because I couldn’t take her myself due to prior commitments. Hope went out of her way to pick up Lauren and bring her to the event, and she also made sure that Lauren arrived home safely.

Another example of Hope’s caring personality is when I recently fell and broke my ankle and wrist. To help, Hope called me and offered to bring us dinner. It was a heartwarming gesture that I’ll never forget. These are just a few of Hope’s kind acts towards us, and I am confident that her generosity doesn’t stop there. I can’t think of a better reason to nominate Hope for the HEART Award.”

Lindsay Shafer, nominated by Natalie Finnegan

“Lindsay has been a tremendous asset to Penn-Mar over her years of dedication to this Program. During her years of service, Lindsay has exemplified what it is to be a Direct Support Professional. What prompted this nomination was the small, yet incredibly meaningful step Linsday has taken when preparing meals for programs during their time of grieving. In addition to planning and preparing a meal for a program that recently lost a person supported, Lindsay has added a note of encouragement and support to uplift the team. This has become something that Lindsay has done when someone we support passes and is welcomed and appreciated by everyone. This is just one of the many ways Lindsay demonstrates excellence in her work and compassion for those around her.

Lindsay supports many programs within Penn-Mar and is constantly thinking of out of the box ways to provide positive and self-directed support. One way Lindsay demonstrated this out of the box thinking was exposing a person supported to the experience of a Rage Room. Not only did the person enjoy this experience but they have also had the opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with the business owners that has been ongoing for a couple of years now.

Lindsay is what we aspire to be when we think of Direct Support Professionals. She is always on a path of learning, growing, and thinking of how we can do better today than we did yesterday. The Program is blessed to have such a gem on our team.”

Maria Swift, nominated by Teresa O’Brien

“Maria works in the Penn-Mar West Community Day Services program as a Senior Direct Support Professional and deserves to be awarded for setting the bar high for herself and others.

She consistently demonstrates her ability to be a strong leader. Maria was the recipient of the 2023 Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week Award by the MDOD and DDA.

Maria works hard and her mindset is one that embraces Penn-Mar’s core values by showing integrity and excellence in her daily work. Recently, she participated in several pilot projects, including electronic mileage sheets, PCI refresher course, and deep dive sessions for selecting a data management for the organization. Maria also volunteered to facilitate the monthly Senior DSP meetings so collaboration between teams can be prioritized. Maria fills a role that is much needed to help other DSPs to see their potential and ability to be creative, good problem solvers, and positive teammates.

With a full schedule providing support to those on her caseload, she finds time to be an active member of the organization with special projects, shout outs on Kudos to teammates, and brainstorming creative solutions. Thank you, Maria.”

Wilberforce Yeboah, nominated by Maryanne Kreuz

“Willy works residentially with four gentlemen. He takes each day to demonstrate his dedication as well as initiative in their care. He came to Penn-Mar with no personal care experience but has shown through his behavior and attention that this is where his heart is. Any time he is needed, Willy pitches in whether it’s for meals, showers, household tasks, transportation, or covering shifts. Will goes above and beyond to not only help the men in times of staffing needs, but also several other houses within Penn-Mar. His honesty is greatly appreciated, and he knows his limits and will communicate the need for more information or assistance. Willy is the favorite with the individuals he supports, and they seek his attention for Yahtzee games or just conversation. They know he is dependable and available to them any time they need him.

When Willy first came to this house, there was a person that he supports who was very resistant to male figures working in his home. Willy was resilient and with a kind heart kept working with this person to support them and let them know that he was not going to abandon him, and he was here to stay and to help. Through his genuine kindness and gentle persistence, Willy was able to over a period of 6 months to develop a very strong relationship with this person. Now Willy is his go-to staff when he wants to talk, go shopping, go to the movies, or out to dinner.

Willy takes time each week to meet with the gentleman and discuss what they would like to plan for the week. He takes the time to explore options and provide new experiences for the guys. 

For other staff, Willy has shared his experience and will teach someone who is struggling. He welcomes new staff with an open smile and a ready helping hand. If there are any issues, Willy takes the time to communicate and elaborate his concerns to resolve any problems. His top concern is always for the people he supports. During meetings, he initiates conversations about what the gentlemen need and gives good advice on how to achieve goals. As a new member of Penn-Mar and a new supervisor, I feel comfortable going to Willy and asking not only his advice but for his honest opinion. I am grateful to him for his steadfastness in a profession that is constantly changing. That is why I think Willy Osei would be the perfect person for the HEART Award.”

The post April 2024 HEART Award Winners appeared first on Penn-Mar.

October 2023 HEART Award Winners

nvenn — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:28:31 +0000

The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork.

Kelly Baker, nominated by Jennifer Skelly

“In 2016 Penn-Mar created the Career Ladder Program. Although there were several DSPs who obtained national certification through the NADSP, the true growth and continued success of the program came when Kelly Baker took the position of Career Ladder Program Coordinator.

For 4 years Kelly has supported DSPs in the program, resulting in 95 team members currently certified through the NADSP. Currently, there are 163 Penn-Mar team members in or “graduated” from the program. Kelly is diligent in reaching out to each person still seeking certification every month. She offers support to team members who struggle with the technological aspects of the program, as well as those who simply need a little encouragement to keep going to meet their goals.

Kelly reads every badge submission that team members submit, providing feedback so that they have the best chance of success with certification. She has worked to evolve and improve the program by creating and implementing a Penn-Mar specific requirement for DSP III certification, which involves a capstone project.

Kelly is frequently called upon by the NADSP to share the success of Penn-Mar’s Career Ladder program with providers throughout the country. She has met with dozens of providers. Kelly has directed and coached several organizations through the process of creating their own credentialing program, as a Penn-Mar paid consultant.

If all of this were not enough, Kelly is a PCI Trainer, having helped create and facilitate the training. Kelly also recently presented at the NADSP national conference in Pittsburgh and will be presenting at the PAR annual conference in Harrisburg. Kelly is working with several of Penn-Mar’s certified DSP’s to help prepare them to co-present with her at these conferences.

Kelly’s work at Penn-Mar is crucial to our ability to meet our mission and develop a dynamic, knowledgeable, professional workforce.”

Lila Barchey, nominated by Marion Dyke

“As an Employment Coordinator, Lila consistently and reliably collaborates with her entire team in supporting people in their jobs. She has been instrumental in providing training for myself as her new co-worker. I personally appreciate all of the time and effort Lila is putting forth to ensure that I learn my new role and responsibilities. Her kind demeaner, patience, and ability to teach has made this past year a pure pleasure coming to work every day.

Lila fosters a work environment where others feel empowered whether it is a coworker or an employee she supports. Lila collaborates with the Day Program and Residential Team Members, going above and beyond in providing the support for the people who have jobs within the organization. Lila fosters positive relationships, empowers others, possesses self-awareness, and is constant and fully present. She also possesses immense leadership qualities and I feel the most important leadership quality is to exhibit humility. Lila lives by these traits daily and it shows. Lila’s enthusiasm for her job and the people we support is truly contagious and she is a true leader!

Lila’s supervisor Jenny added: Lila has assisted several people we support in filling unemployment claims due to the pandemic. Not only did Lila assist them in filling out the claims, but she also assisted them through hearings and documentation checks to ensure they received the benefits due to them. Lila spent countless hours diligently researching and following through with these claims resulting in all the people we support finally receiving the back due benefits. One of the people we support was able to get back $16,000 in back pay owed to them. Lila possesses self-awareness, garners credibility, focuses on relationship-building, exhibits humility, empowers others, is authentic, is constant, and is fully present.”

Emily Bowers, nominated by Jessica Fishel

“In the 8 years that Emily has been with Penn-Mar, she has gone above and beyond for her team and the gentlemen in her program. She guides her co-workers and the people she supports through both the great times and some tough situations.

Emily has always exemplified Penn-Mar’s core values. She works with her peers to brainstorm new ideas that can help the people they support deal with past trauma, behaviors, and discovering new interests. She takes time to review behavior plans with her colleagues in group settings and one-on-one to ensure that the integrity and consistency of the plans are being upheld. This has led to a drastic decrease in instances over the past year.

Emily consistently goes out of her way to support the men in her program, and has developed a personal bond and rapport with each gentleman living there. She has taken the time to get to know them and their families. She communicates weekly with their families to provide updates on their care and lives. She helps the gentlemen to explore new topics, ideas, and interests to provide person-centered care.

When one gentleman could no longer compete in certain events for Special Olympics due to health concerns, she worked with him to try out other events and find things that he still enjoyed so that he could continue being engaged in activities he loves. Another one of the men is eager to make connections outside of his home, so Emily is getting him involved with our speed connections event and looking into other community-based activities for him to pursue.

Emily has stepped up on numerous occasions when there was and still is no RS for the house. She took on those additional roles without being asked, ensuring that the gentlemen were still receiving the best care and living their best lives.

She advocates for the people she supports when they cannot advocate for themselves. One gentleman came to the program without the ability to communicate easily. Emily took the time to watch, listen, and observe to learn his “way” of communicating and shared her knowledge with the other staff. She soon realized that even though he may not verbally communicate, he could communicate through writing! It opened a whole new world of understanding for everyone and soon the individual was thriving and so excited to be understood.

These are just a few of the examples to demonstrate the amazing heart, dedication, perseverance, and leadership that Emily brings to Penn-Mar every day!”

Lisa Heim, nominated by Kelly Lorenzen and Jackie Summers

For the sake of brevity, portions of both nominations have been combined below:

“Lisa has been a long-time employee with Penn-Mar and has a deep understanding of, and care for our mission. Lisa has had experience in working directly with the people we support before transitioning to the Finance Team, where she has been for the past several years in Accounts Payable. Lisa is a dedicated employee, who is committed to completing her tasks in an efficient and timely manner. She has an extraordinary number of receipts and invoices to review and record regularly. She often arrives early in the morning to ensure all checks are prepared and ready for signers and distributed on schedule.

Lisa regularly goes above and beyond what is necessary in her job. She always has the time to help, no matter what is asked. While Lisa is the person that we send invoices to, she has helped people in many more ways. She is always willing to take the time out of her day to answer questions whether it is to help with the coding on an invoice or making sure someone gets a last-minute check printed. Lisa willingly does this with everyone she interacts with and is a great example of someone who is always willing to go above and beyond the basics of her job.

A recent event that demonstrates her devotion to Penn-Mar was when a severe storm left roads impassable with downed trees and power lines. Lisa lives in a remote area which was hit particularly hard by the storm, making it incredibly difficult for her to get to work. She was nonetheless determined to come to the office, and never once complained. She was grateful everyone was safe, and she continued to focus on her work and the necessary tasks at hand.

Lisa’s job takes place behind the scenes and so most people don’t realize the effort and caring that Lisa puts into her job. She is always supportive and even when she is stressed with too much on her plate, she always has a kind word to say to anyone who stops by her office.

Lisa’s commitment to Penn-Mar is obvious to anyone who has the pleasure to meet her. She exemplifies HEART in her work, in her attitude, and in her commitment to doing the right thing always. She is living her legacy and is most deserving of this honor. We are better for having her on our team at Penn-Mar!”

Pam Richmond, nominated by Kelly Gillispie

“It is with great admiration and respect that I nominate Pam Richmond for a Penn-Mar Heart Award. It is because of Pam’s huge “heart” that I feel she deserves this recognition.

Pam has worked in Personal Supports for many years at Penn-Mar. Currently, she supports a gentleman in MD, providing him with new experiences and exposures each and every day. Pam exhibits great patience, humor, and kindness when interacting with her coworkers and those she supports.

Several years ago, Pam was an in-home support staff for a young man who, due to Cerebral Palsy, has extensive physical challenges that require round the clock care. Over that time, Pam took the initiative to learn how to best meet her client’s needs by listening to him and working with his family. Due to unforeseen circumstances following the death of this young man’s mother, he was moved into residential care with a facility outside of Penn-Mar’s service area.

Recently, I was amazed to find out that, to this day, Pam is continuing to support this individual on her own time, visiting him once a week at his new group home. Pam observed that many of the things that this young man used to enjoy were not being provided for him. His current staff expressed that they did not know what he wanted because he “could not communicate.” This inspired Pam to advocate even more on his behalf. Having worked with him for several years, Pam knew he had his own ways of communicating and shared this with his new staff.

Pam was careful not to “step-on-toes” or offend his new staff by being respectful of their operations. However, she was still brave enough to talk to them about Person Centered Supports and explain how Penn-Mar puts the individual’s wishes and goals at the forefront. She continues to work with them, sharing everything from the foods he likes to eat, to the activities he enjoys.

Pam will often sit and read to him when she visits. She has worked closely with his Service Coordinator and will give updates to his family to encourage them to advocate on his behalf as well. She never stopped caring about his life is continuing to be a support to him, despite the fact that he is no longer receiving services at Penn-Mar.

I feel Pam is certainly leaving her legacy, not only in this young man’s life, but by sharing all the important values she has learned from Penn-Mar with others in the Human Services field. We are lucky to have such an incredible human being on our team!”

Olivia Spahr, nominated by April LeFevre and Sarah Paterniti

For the sake of brevity, portions of both nominations have been combined below:

“Over the past several years, Oliva has consistently demonstrated a level of commitment to the organization and the individual she supports. Oliva works as a 1:1 in the PA Day program supporting one of the ladies who lives in one of the houses Sarah oversees. Although this is her primary job, Oliva also works at the house often. She has developed quite the relationship with the individual she supports. She is respectful of her and in turn she has earned her respect.

Oliva has gone above and beyond the scope of her regular responsibilities and has had a positive impact on the individual she supports. Olivia advocated for her to attend a concert for one of her favorite artists, Drake. Oliva and another team member took her to the concert where she had an awesome time. She spent the night in a hotel and had brunch on her way home! This trip was successful because of Olivia and the relationship she has with her.

Several weeks ago, this individual needed to be taken to the emergency room on a Friday evening. Although Oliva was not working, she came to the house and took her. She spent the entire night with her there to make sure she was comfortable. She ensured that she received the care that she needed and was feeling well enough to return home in the early morning hours. Oliva communicated with Sarah and the individual’s family to keep them updated about what was happening. This same individual needed to be taken again a week later on a Saturday afternoon. Again, Oliva was not working but came in to take her. Again, she stayed with her all night and supported her through all the testing that needed to happen. Once she was admitted Oliva went home to get some much-needed rest but returned to the hospital Sunday evening to sit with her. Oliva continued to come to the hospital everyday and advocate for her needs and ensure that she received what she needed.

Oliva works with the new members of the team to help them develop a healthy trusting relationship with the individual she supports. She is always giving tips and tricks that she has learned while supporting her. This is especially helpful to new team members and even those of us who have been here a while! Olivia also advocates for communication devices, adaptive equipment, and any other needs for the individual. She takes her to get her hair done in cute braids and extensions regularly. Olivia has been helping her with some of her health goals, supporting her to eat healthier foods and going for walks, with great success!

Olivia protects and makes sure the individuals are always safe and happy, while still ensuring that they get to live their best lives and experience all life has to offer. She is a kind person with a big heart for all the individuals and staff. She is always willing to help out other staff when there is a need. She interacts positively with all the individuals, making sure they have a smile on their faces and feel appreciated.”

Nicole Swartz, nominated by Court Dudek

“Nicole is a leader in various ways. She headed up the Work-Based Learning Experience program this summer, which is also known as Summer Youth. This summer program is in addition to her yearlong caseload responsibilities. She knows each student well and finds their conditions for success quickly. She led the team and delegated development for each student. She found several placements throughout the summer to meet the right fit for several students.

Additionally, she supported two other DDA-funded people in finding long-term jobs. Nicole demonstrated integrity in showing deep respect for each person, getting to know them, and finding work placement that fit the person well. And if the person struggles, she is great at finding ways to help the person adapt and engage in the work. She is also great at recognizing people’s strengths and supporting them in the job search, in life, and on the job.

Nicole will say, “I’m always working.” She makes business contacts outside of work hours and finds possible connections for those looking for employment – long-term or for the summer.

Nicole’s accomplishments have been outstanding. What is most impressive is her ability to maintain this level of achievement during an incredibly difficult time. Two teammates on the employment team tragically passed away. Nicole carried on and met the day-to-day challenges while grieving such a profound loss to her personally and to her team. She truly demonstrated leadership qualities and commitment to her team and those she supports. Well done, Nicole.”

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April 2023 HEART Award Winners

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 18:44:21 +0000

The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork.

Jes Blais, nominated by Jackie Summers

“As most know, our annual Penn-Mar Gala is a major undertaking that requires painstaking planning, preparation, and delivery. It truly takes an army of dedicated volunteers and team members to see it through to completion. One of the reasons our event is successful is because of our committed Gala Captains, who not only give of their time, but also recruit others to assist in assuring the behind-the-scenes detail of the event is carried out smoothly. Jes Blais is our lead Captain, and has a gift for organizing and managing details of the many facets of the event and also our volunteer team. She willingly dedicates time to meet with her Captains in developing and executing a plan, which although not the case, appears effortless and seamless in ensuring a positive guest experience and good event outcomes. Jes is creative, dedicated, always willing to go the extra mile, and regularly demonstrates the core values of Penn-Mar. Jes does all of this effortlessly outside of all her regular job duties. We are truly fortunate to have a person with her integrity and devotion to our mission in our ranks. She is exceptional and I am very grateful for all she does for the Gala and for Penn-Mar!”

Christina Burkhardt, nominated by Beth Kuczynski

“I would like to nominate Christina Burkhardt for the Heart Award. Christina absolutely goes above and beyond every single day. Over the past year, I have watched her tirelessly advocate for the individuals she supports. She has encountered numerous situations that caused her to spend countless hours brainstorming on new strategies and advocating for additional medical testing. Specifically, one of the individuals she supports has been going through a difficult time lately and the team has spent many hours, over several months, brainstorming ideas for strategies, changes, and possible medical needs. Christina advocated for genetic testing, and this finally led to some new diagnoses and a more comprehensive understanding of the struggles this individual was experiencing. Christina continues to follow up with several medical and psychiatric appointments to help everyone work together, to help train staff and to better understand these new diagnoses. Thanks to her dedication and diligence, we are increasing our knowledge about these diagnoses and are now more capable in properly approaching these situations. In addition to this great feat, she supports other individuals in their home who have also been experiencing some challenges. Christina utilizes her collaborations and team to aid in further understanding these challenges and finding new approaches for each circumstance. Her ability to come to work every day and continue to be a positive role model is amazing. She is a wonderful role model for her staff and is an astounding supervisor. Her leadership enables her team to be positive and to help motivate the people she supports daily. Regardless of her exhaustion, mentally and physically, she continues to put for over 100% effort and we are so fortunate to have her on our team.”

Valerie Cleary, nominated by Dawn Allen

“When we think about advocacy we certainly think about DSPs and how they advocate for the people we support. Valerie is known to advocate; however, she went above and beyond by challenging a Licensed Physical Therapist which is certainly not the scope of practice of a DSP. Someone that Valerie supports suffered an injury and had not walked in months. His Physical Therapist had been working with him for some time and mentioned she was going to discharge him, stating he was as far as he was going to be and would probably not walk again. Valerie supports this person as a Program Instructor in the Day Program; however, she spent time working with him during the day at his home. Valerie was working on the day the Physical Therapist provided the update. If you know Val, you know she is going to advocate for what is best. Valerie spoke assertively to this Physical Therapist sharing how independent and strong willed he is and how “he will walk again!” Valerie asked her to give the staff exercises they can do to help. She also asked him “do you want to walk again,” he said, “yes!” Needless to say, something resonated with the Physical Therapist because she decided against discharging. He began progressing, the staff at the house continued working with him, and to date, he is walking and happy to be back at the Day Program amongst friends. I wholeheartedly believe the Physical Therapist would have discharged had Valerie not advocated and shared information about his determination and strong will. Not only did she advocate, Valerie helped give him a voice that may have been lost over the months of not being as independent as he was used to. Valerie is an example of why we show up and continue to do this work.”

Vanessa Cooke, nominated by Teresa O’Brien

“Vanessa Cooke is being honored with this award because she has gone above and beyond to support people live their best life. She gets to know people and finds out what is important to them. One example was when she flexed her schedule to make it possible for an older gentleman to enjoy his first car show on a Saturday. After many years of collecting and talking about cars, he finally had the chance to spend the day with other car lovers. Another is example is when Vanessa realized that someone really had an interest in getting a job, so after reaching out to the employment team, she set up a mock interview with a local business person to help him practice interviewing skills. Knowing that others look for employment, she reached out to set up a job experience at a local pizza shop. Vanessa has also shown passion for her work by supporting someone who has an interest in becoming a first responder. Vanessa worked with the individual for months to help him prepare for and finally take the CPR/First Aid test. He was successful and is now certified! Vanessa does more than her job duties. She takes that extra step to enhance all supports. Her energy and wiliness to share her connections have supported people to have better experiences.”

Kelly Dorsey, nominated by Kris Froehlich

“Kelly is a Residential Supervisor 2 for the Westminster location. She is a strong advocate for those wishing to live independently. She knows that the little things are what makes the difference between good and exceptional. This was evident in a recent medical situation with someone who experienced several falls resulting in hospitalizations. Kelly acted quickly to get medical attention. When the hospital prematurely discharged the person home, Kelly was there to advocate for her to return to the hospital that same day. She was readmitted and then discharged to a nursing rehab facility. While the person was at the facility, Kelly visited almost daily to support her through a very difficult time. When her care plan was not being followed by facility staff, Kelly advocated for better services and filed a formal complaint. When Kelly realized that the person would be at the rehab facility during Christmas, she arranged for her to return to her decorated apartment for several hours on Christmas day to enjoy a home cooked meal made by Kelly and a video chat with her out of state family members. Kelly is so dedicated to her job and the people she supports and should be recognized for going the extra mile and setting the bar high for her team.”

Michal Edmondson, nominated by Alexis Ogle

“I would like to nominate Michal Edmondson for a heart award. She always goes above and beyond for the ladies in her care. I have never met another staff who puts forth this level of energy to always ensure that the ladies have an amazing time whether they are just hanging at home or going out in the community. Every weekend she always has a fun packed agenda for everyone. Michal ensures that everyone has a way of participating. Once at Hershey Park she took a water wheelchair in the water so a lady who used a walker could enjoy the tide pool just like her housemates. Michal does a great job of making sure everyone is included, even her team. The house is constantly decorated for every holiday or event, special treats or meals are also prepared for each holiday and event. Michal always includes the ladies in the prep for these treats and meals. There was a time when Hocus Pocus 2 was first airing, and all of the ladies were excited. Michal made the night extra special with the help of the ladies by making spooky treats to enjoy while watching the movie. The ladies also have an “all year round” tree decorated for each season. As I worked with her, she was very transparent with the steps of care needed and communication on everything that was going on. She has the upmost respect for everyone. I admire her enthusiasm. Every day the ladies from that house come in and share something fun they did with Michal whether it be an interesting conversation, a movie, a game, or even a great dinner. If anyone deserves this award, it’s Michal!”

Kelly Gillispie, nominated by Jackie Summers

“At Penn-Mar, we are fortunate to work alongside many dedicated and committed team members. Each day is filled with enormous responsibility and while the demands are high, the rewards are great in seeing the fruit of our labor carried out through the people we support. Kelly Gillispie seeks to make each day special for all who walk by her welcoming front desk. She greets every person who comes through the door with a warm hello and a smile. She accommodates each request with grace, and she goes above and beyond in demonstrating a willingness to do all she can for whomever she is assisting. Somehow, she manages to fulfill her daily tasks and take on even more for other team members and departments. Our team is particularly grateful for her support in administering much need pieces in preparation for the gala auction, including producing dozens of labels, table tents, auctioneer cards, and more. And when changes need to be made, she complies willingly and quickly with an attitude of joyful cooperation. She shows a genuine interest in the work of other teams and is always willing to offer assistance whenever she can. Kelly is a gem, and we are fortunate to have her as a valuable member of the Penn-Mar team!”

Jennifer Hisey, nominated by Tina Chan Sweenie

“The first time I worked with Jennifer Hisey, I knew we would have fun collaborating on projects. Her go with the flow and ‘we can do this’ attitude is the perfect mix for developing person-centered, creative, and substantive programing. I also appreciate her greater understanding of why volunteers are so integral to the entire organization and what the larger community could bring to the people we support. Jennifer’s openness to explore ideas and her innovative thinking was the perfect catalyst needed to get the volunteer program off the ground, especially during Covid, which had put a major damper on the entire volunteer initiative. What I regard the most is that she shared with me the needs and interests of those we support. Without her valuable and intimate knowledge, we could not create fulfilling experiences for those we support through our volunteers. But her true skill is how she communicates and connects with people in our day program, with respect and advocacy. One of many perfect examples of Jennifer’s excellence in her work, is the rollout of this year’s Developmental Disabilities Day (DD Day). In anticipation of DD Day, the PMC Day Program focused on Civil Rights, which then called upon a past visit and book reading with Jennifer Keelan-Chaffan’s, “All the Way to the Top.” The conversation surrounding Disability Rights and the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act further solidified real time advocacy. Thanks to the curriculum not only did we see an amazing display of multisensory instructions with the artwork that was created, but a greater amount of participation from our self-advocates. Seeing their interactions and discussions with our Senators and Delegates through their input and stories drove home the call for stronger investment for our workforce and greater support for their own services.”

Kim Kimmel, nominated by LaElla Dickerson

“I am nominating Kim because she is everything you would want in an employee working in this field. She is dedicated, considerate, and goes above and beyond for the individuals and staff. She is consistent in having open communication between staff members and is always there if we have questions. She advocates for the individuals to lead the lives they want and suggests different activities to give them the opportunity to try new things. For example, when one of the individuals became romantically involved with someone, she helped him create handcrafted cards from her own personal supplies. He would send one to his girlfriend every week and she really appreciated it. That was possible because Kim took the time every week to sit with him and asked what he wanted to say to her and how he wanted it to look. She encourages innovation and is open to suggestions from staff. She promotes teamwork and exemplifies that by doing everything a DSP does on a regular basis on top of her RS duties. Kim is transparent when she is having a difficult time and communicates with the team when she needs help, so the load is not all on her. Her team is more than willing to help her. This is because she is always there to help her team. She is regularly showing appreciation for staff with small gift boxes she makes and candy. I know that Kim works the best she can and puts her all in every day. The best example of this was when she was the RS of not just one home but a second one for the whole month of November 2022. She was working double duty every day and although it was challenging, she showed that she was a reliable leader that truly put the individuals first.”

Nicole Rowland, nominated by Nicole Zeigler

“I started with Penn-Mar in January 2022 as a supervisor for a home and Nicole R. started in November of 2021. She has been in this field for years and it shows. She has spent countless hours helping get the program she supports out from under a dark cloud and into the light. She will often credit me for this, but she was with me 100 percent of the way in every decision and action. She instilled the confidence and determination in me as a new supervisor. It would not have happened without her. Nicole R. has united her 3 homes into one team. She holds monthly supervisor meetings which has created a special bond within the pod. The supervisors in the pod have a great support system and we are often helping each other out due to this. It has also sparked friendships among our individuals. Not only does Nicole R. help the houses in her pod, but she is often found helping other program managers and supervisors. She has teamed up with Penn-Mar’s behavioral specialist and has created skills group for supervisors to bring them together on common issues they face at their homes. She is often found collaborating with program managers and helping give direction and suggestions on various occasions. She is constantly striving to better the lives of the individuals. She recently thanked her supervisor pod for always rising to her “high expectations” when needed. Honestly, her expectations are not high, they are reasonable to make sure the individuals we support are in a safe and healthy environment and living their best lives. She cares and her heart is in her work, and it shows. Her southern charm and determination is exactly the spice of life that Penn-Mar needs.”

Nakiera Simmons, nominated by Nadine Gaetani

“Nakiera Simmons embodies all that Penn-Mar stands for. She goes above and beyond in her job at the Maryland Line Day Program. Nakiera is a floater, which says a lot about her. She is extremely flexible with her skillset and can work in any position, in or outside of the Day Program. Nakiera’s name is synonymous with tech support amongst everyone. Her expertise with technology helps us to help those we support in the Day Program to have the best possible day. We are very fortunate to have her assistance, and so is everyone who enjoys using our virtual services. She is extremely professional in her interactions with co-workers as well as the individuals. She maintains a sunny disposition, even when she might not be having the best day. She has developed healthy relationships with many of the individuals based on the consistent support which she has given them. Nakiera recently started supporting a few people who had an interest in leading our virtual fitness class. She assisted with the technology, but that is only the beginning. A couple of the gentlemen who wanted to guest host the fitness class had never had that experience but really wanted to try. Nakiera supported both gentlemen with gentle encouragement from behind the scenes. She would help by mirroring the exercises so each would know exactly what to do. Two of the gentlemen got so much enjoyment out of the experience and confidence built due in part to Nakiera’s support! If you know Nakiera, this is something that is not in her comfort zone, but she stepped outside of it in the best way! Nakiera is someone you can call upon in any situation to help others. She does her job with grace and elegance, but also with a wicked sense of humor that can cheer up anyone. She is an outstanding co-worker and a true pleasure to work with. Nakiera has completed Professional Development training and is working her way through Career Ladders. She is truly a team player and I personally feel blessed to have her as a fellow staff and friend. Way to go, Nakiera!!!”

Kollyne Wetzel, nominated by Jackie Summers

“Penn-Mar is so very fortunate to have a team member who is as dedicated and hard working as Kollyne Wetzel. Kollyne has a bright and positive attitude that she consistently exhibits every day. Even when her plate is overflowing, she manages to complete assignments in a timely and efficient manner. She is a joy to work with and I am especially grateful for the role she plays in helping to administer the critically important behind the scenes organization of the Gala. This year was particularly challenging, as she was also assisting with the administration of the Building Bold Futures Campaign, as well as our Belonging Initiative, and so much more. These two initiatives were above and beyond the scope of her job and yet she handled the increased workload with her usual grace. She is a proficient multitasker and an asset to the organization, and often winds up supporting other departments or fielding all kinds of questions from team members, board members, and more. There are many elements to the Gala, and the expertise she provides in managing our guest and sponsor needs is no small task. Her knowledge of our event platform, OneCause, has proven to be incredibly valuable. Much of the success of this year’s record-breaking Gala can be attributed to her hard work and determination. She is an unsung hero, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to work closely with her on this signature event each year!”

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October 2022 HEART Award Winners

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 17:17:24 +0000

The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork.

Beth Chege, nominated by Lee Carrion

“I respectfully nominate Beth Chege, AON for my daughter since 2018, to receive The Heart Award. Beth and my daughter have a very special relationship marked by trust and cemented in love. Beth worked hard to build that unshakable bond through extremely challenging behaviors meant to repeatedly test her resolve. Beth met every challenge with a calm reserved determination to help her feel safe and secure. Beth never sees behavior as anything but an attempt to communicate. My daughter has faith that Beth will protect and care for her in the most loving way. Beth possesses an ethereal quality in aeternum that settles and consoles her. When distraught, Beth can mitigate the raging battles within her mind by alleviating her fears in quietness. It is Beth who she trusts to bathe her after an abusive situation years ago in the tub. It is Beth who soothes the night terrors and holds her close while gently singing in her native language. It is Beth who prepares special meals from her African country to bring as treats to delight her. It is Beth who picks up open shifts as often as she can because she understands my daughter and her needs. Last year, Beth was pregnant, and she chose to continue working with her although her aggressive nature was well known and experienced. Beth literally stayed until the start of labor. Beth is fearless, empathic, intuitive, and responsive. She innately knows my daughter’s unspoken language. Beth penetrates her hard shell to unveil a tender, loving young lady. When Beth returned from Maternity Leave, she immediately embraced her! Her beloved friend and guardian had returned to her universe; a bright light engulfs her when she is with Beth. Beth gives freely of that je ne sais quoi luminescence that defines her soul to help my daughter live courageously, peacefully, and happily.”

Rochelle Daniel, nominated by Emily Finnegan

“I would like to nominate Rochelle Daniel for this HEART award. Rochelle works at a house that some (okay many of us) would say is slightly more difficult than others. For as long as I have worked with her, she has put in endless hours to make sure the Individuals that live there are not just cared for, but well cared for. She has been through the ringer on multiple occasions including having no staff, and while many have experienced this lately, Rochelle has captained this ship with 3 crew members when there should be 10!! Rochelle runs an over/under program, and this at times doubles the workload on a supervisor. She frequently laughs and says the running up and down the stairs helps to keep her in shape and ready for the next challenge! She had a temporary move in of another individual that lasted far beyond the expected time. This really changed the dynamic of the program. Before they moved in everyone upstairs was retired, but when they moved in everyone had to shift gears and now ensure they were up and ready for Day Programming 5 days a week. They had moved into the room of the Individual who had passed away during a particularly rough time personally for Rochelle. Did she hesitate to again take on the challenge? NO, she collaborated with other programs and helped to lead the way to a smooth transition, both to move to a different house and then back to their previous program. All of this during the COVID pandemic. With this move happening during the pandemic, Rochelle was responsible for getting the individual all settled. She helped the individual unpack and make her new room feel like home. She worked hard to connect with this individual and found that she really enjoyed getting her hair done and this was something Rochelle could do for her. When it was time for the individual to move back to her house, Rochelle prepped the individual gradually. Since the individual has moved back to her group home, Rochelle has continued the connection she made with her. Rochelle continues to do the individual’s hair regularly. This is time that the two get to spend with each other. Rochelle handled all these situations as well as anyone could and still to this day is taking every challenge thrown at her like the leader she is. I feel as though she goes above and beyond what is expected of her and never even asks for a thank you. We all deserve to be recognized at one time or another, and I feel like Rochelle’s time is due if not overdue, she truly embodies every aspect of HEART in her everyday work ethic and caring positive attitude.”

Betty Diaz-Griffith, nominated by Matt Bahn

“Betty helped me out a lot in my first few weeks here at Penn Mar. When she started training me, she did an amazing job at both helping me learn the ropes of the Maryland Line Day Program and instantly made me feel like a welcomed member of the team. After my training was done, I began working with someone who had unique personal care needs and the need for medication that I was not able to administer yet, due to not being med certified. Betty not only showed me how to take care of this persons care needs but applied the medication almost every day for over a month until I was certified. She also helped me with the necessary documentation of medication tracking on CaraSolva until I was able to do it myself. It’s important to note that Betty did all of this while supporting a group of her own most days. She ensured that her group had their needs met so that she could assist me with this person’s needs. Betty’s support continues for me whenever I have a question or need any guidance, and never makes me feel like I’m burdening her. It is clear in her work that she wants those around her to succeed in their roles and most importantly, wants the people we support to receive the best care from everyone. Every time I would thank her profusely, and Betty would say things like, “it’s no problem at all, Matt… seriously, any time”. She never complained or even frowned when I needed her assistance. But that is Betty’s character; she’s there for everyone and wants to see all of us succeed and give the best support we can. She always smiles and even made me and the person I was supporting laugh with her humor. She goes above and beyond her duties every day and made my job so much easier. Her efforts have made me, and others feel supported and included as part of a strong team. She deserves the HEART award.”

Christine Eckard, nominated by Megan Ball

“Christine Eckard is a Poster DSP for Person Centered Services. In addition to coming to work every day with the perfect ratio of enthusiasm to determination, Christine is always focused in on the individual she is supporting in the moment. She has an amazing dedication to our individuals and a fantastic sense of humor, making the best of things even when they go awry. She has worked tirelessly to develop a solid rapport and foundation of trust with the individuals that she supports; she has learned ASL as well as worked to come up with a system of photo cards to better communicate with the people she supports to help them feel heard. But I feel the best example of Christine’s impact in the lives of someone else she supports. Christine has helped this gentleman explore his self-expression and creativity through large-scale crafts like a massive piece of resin pour artwork and the design, creation and embroidery of a quilt, both framed around his passion for firefighting. Christine and this gentleman worked together and were both certified to use the embroidery machine in the newly built Exploration Commons not long after the area was opened to the public. She has encouraged and assisted him in getting more comfortable and confident in using his cane while out in the community as well as engaging with his peers both in Penn-Mar and in the Federation of the Blind. This gentleman confided in Christine that he had been advised by his doctor to lose weight and in the height of winter, Christine worked with him to build a plan of low-impact exercises and healthier eating choices and he lost 25lbs. Christine also helped him feel safe and secure through a breakthrough seizure while he was out in the community; it was his first seizure in over 5 years and Christine was able to remain calm and in control throughout. And afterwards, she has made sure to keep a sharp eye out for any triggers or signs that he might be having any additional issues, documenting everything so that it can be used both in his current treatment as well as prevention of any future seizures. She has made herself utterly indispensable to the Northwest Team.”

Dawn Findley, nominated by Teresa O’Brien

“Dawn Findley has demonstrated the ability to go above and beyond her daily duties of a DSP. When Dawn realized that the reading program the person she supports was using was being discontinued, she began searching for other tools. This gentleman is an individual Dawn supports who needs both visual and auditory cues to comprehend written language. Through her research, she learned about the reader pen which is a tool that reads aloud written words. She supported him to complete an application to borrow a reader pen from Maryland Technology Assistance Program. It took time and strategy adjustments but after three months, Dawn was able to support him to use the tool affectively. He can now move the reader pen slowly across the words and use ear buds to be able to hear the written words. I admire how Dawn has since shared this technology with her teammates. Through her encouragement, another teammate is preparing to support an individual with reading comprehension using the reader pen. This is all thanks to Dawn’s nature to assist and educate. Dawn is also supporting him to explore other technology strategies with Allis Kensing, Penn-Mar’s Enabling Technology Coordinator. Dawn has reviewed the programs suggested by Allis and believes the Seeing AI app might be a good fit. This technology requires you to take a picture of something and the app tells you what the picture is about. The tablet case he was using covered his camera option. Dawn supported him to search local stores for the correct case to fit his tablet. When he was unable to find one, she advocated for him to ask his parents to purchase one on Amazon. Now that the correct tablet case has been purchased, he will be able to experience the Seeing Al program. Dawn’s determination to find a way for him to enjoy reading again is one reason why she deserves this nomination for the Heart Award.”

Ellen Killefer, nominated by Karen Koenigsberg

“All the DSPs who work at the Respite Inn get to know the guests who stay there—what their likes and dislikes are—but Ellen takes things a step beyond. Ellen brought in a tent from home to put up in the backyard of the Inn because she knew how much one of the guests at the Inn loved camping. She helped the guest put the tent together (and keep in mind this was not just a two-person tent, it was a family-size tent). The joy on his face was priceless when they finished putting it together! Ellen also works with several individuals in wheelchairs and wanted to find a way they could utilize the sidewalk chalk at the Inn. She found a “Walkie Chalk” stick (adjustable length 1′ to 3′) that the guests could use while in their chairs. It has been a huge hit and the guests are enjoying decorating the driveway! Over the last two months, Ellen has handled two emergency situations at the Inn calmly and professionally. The first was when a guest (M.D.) came back from her day services to the Inn. As Ellen was taking her to the restroom, she noticed M.D. was having difficulty talking. Ellen asked her if she was having trouble breathing; M.D. said yes, and that her chest hurt. Ellen stayed calm and in control of the situation, working to help M.D. stay calm and present. Ellen called Dimensional and 911 while keeping other managers there at the time in the loop. There was a lot going on at the Inn during this time, including other guests at the Inn, a meeting going on with managers and staff, and as the door to the Inn was opened for paramedics, a stray dog came running into the Inn! Other staff handled the stray dog, but Ellen continued to stay focused on M.D.’s needs while still staying aware of the other guests’ needs. After everything settled down, Ellen went to the hospital and stayed with M.D., remaining even after the family arrived and she had filled the family in on the situation. Ellen didn’t want to leave until she knew what the plan was for the M.D. When M.D. was able to return to the Inn, Ellen returned with her to the Inn to help settle her for the night even though her shift was over. The second situation happened when a guest (T.G.) was being dropped off at the Inn by her family member. The family member fell outside and began yelling and crying. Ellen went out quickly and assessed the situation; since the family member was talking and alert though in pain, Ellen brought T.G. inside and made sure she was settled and calm. Then Ellen called 911 and went back outside to the family member to provide any aid that she could and let the family member know that help was on the way. After the family member went to the hospital, Ellen checked in with her to help keep T.G., other staff working at the Inn that weekend, and management in the loop. She did her best during her times on shift to make sure that T.G. was able to enjoy herself and not be worried about her family member.”

Hope Schneider, nominated by Maricel Border

“I want to nominate Hope Schneider for the HEART Award. Hope is a person with a heart for helping other people. Hope has worked with Penn-Mar for over 8 years as a DSP, and she has completed the Career Ladders program. Her compassion and dedication to people in need has been beyond ordinary and she has done it wholeheartedly. Hope continued to support individuals even during the surge of the pandemic. She even volunteered to pick up extra hours to help residential programs struggling with staffing needs. One morning, Hope was doing her morning routine, picking up individuals that lived in their parent’s house. One of the individuals did not come out when she got there. When Hope went to the door, the individual was yelling, saying, “mom fell on the floor.” Hope ran inside the house and saw the mom on the floor with blood everywhere. She quickly called 911 and assisted the mom the best she could, all while ensuring the supervision needs of those she was already supporting. Hope did not panic and helped the individual and mom to remain calm even though deep inside her heart, she was scared and feared for what might happen to the mom. She never showed her fear in front of the individuals so that the individuals would also feel at ease until paramedics arrived. When paramedics arrived, Hope helped them get the mom ready for transport. Hope then continued the route, picking up the last individual until they arrived at the day program. Hope supported the individual and reassured her that her mom would be okay, so the individual had a good day, even in her situation. Hope helped save a LIFE, and without her at that time, we don’t know what would have happened to the mother. I am thankful for Hope for being calm and alert and her dedication to helping above and beyond.”

Kellie Spies, nominated by Jessica Fishel

“I am nominating Kellie Spies for the Heart Award. Kellie has been with Penn-Mar for almost 20 years and is always going above and beyond her duties. She consistently puts the needs of her individuals and staff first. She is the first person to step up and volunteer to help out in any situation. Kellie has not only helped in her own program but lends her time and talents to other programs. She has filled in at another house as the acting supervisor while the current supervisor went on vacation. Most recently she stepped up to help a house that was almost completely out of staff to work with an individual. She selflessly gave up an entire weekend to spend with this individual in order to keep his environment familiar and stable. She continues to be a huge support, in this house and other houses, to work additional shifts when no one else is willing to fill in. Kellie will do whatever it takes to make sure the individuals we support are taken care of. She advocates for their needs and well-being. She will speak up when she feels an individual cannot do so for themselves. She takes care of not only their physical needs but is mindful of the social and emotional needs. Without a doubt, she cares and takes pride in the relationships she has developed with the individuals in her program, their families, and the others in which she helps. It is through these relationships that she has been able to engage the individuals in social activities that interest them, give them purpose, and help them feel connected as housemates and to the community. She supports her staff 150% and never leaves them without guidance. She is not just their supervisor, but their role model and mentor. Kellie has a staff that has been with her for several years and they are a very solid team. They all speak highly of Kellie and appreciate her willingness to truly work as a team.”

Tonya Stonesifer, nominated by Court Dudek

“Tonya has gone above and beyond in her role as Job developer. Over the last year, Tonya has worked hard to set herself up as Mentor to one of our Job Coaches. She really is the glue that holds our team together. She has been supporting this Job Coach to help him expand his knowledge and understanding of the entire employment process. This job coach has gone on to take Tonya’s lead and is now a much better peer lead and is assisting staff in the NADSP program (as he has completed it). This particular job coach, under Tonya’s tutelage was instrumental in 2 gentlemen landing new jobs! She has created an amazing work partnership with our local VR agency, so much so that they are now bringing us individuals who may need a little more support to land a job than what is common. Tonya doesn’t hesitate to support these non-DDA individuals to live their best lives and find an awesome job where they can be successful. She goes above and beyond working odd hours and taking calls as the families, employers and individuals need to contact her around their schedule, not hers. She is so supportive and creative in how she supports the job seeker to try new things and explore their interests. Tonya, like all of us, has professional goals. She is working very hard to learn, outside of her role as a JD, how to support and coach staff. She is actively seeking situations where she can mentor staff to be employment and individual focused while supporting people in the community. Tonya just recently secured an amazing new partnership with a wedding venue in New Windsor, MD. The individual that she placed there is thriving and Tonya credits the individual’s success to the open-mindedness of the management to be completely person-centered and creative in their partnership with the job seeker. Tonya is an awesome leader, both at PM and in the community and she deserves to be recognized for all she does.”

The post October 2022 HEART Award Winners appeared first on Penn-Mar.

February 2022 HEART Award Winners

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 19:40:07 +0000

The Penn-Mar HEART Award program recognizes team members whose passion and performance leave the mark of their own legacy through exceptional demonstrations of Honesty, Excellence, Advocacy, Respect, and Teamwork.

Tina Chan Sweenie, nominated by Matthew Muench

Every day, Tina surprises me with her creativity and persistence to move the mission of Penn-Mar forward. Her work to improve the lives of the women and men Penn-Mar supports and to mobilize our community to advocate for Penn-Mar and our valuable DSPs reflects her innovative spirit.

Her creativity was on full display recently when she hosted a reading group and follow-up discussion about the book “All the Way to the Top” by Annette Bay Pimentel. The book told the story of Jennifer Keelen-Chaffin, a then 8-year-old girl who climbed out of her wheelchair and up the Capitol steps to prove to our elected officials that this world was not built with people like her in mind. The media took notice and it helped to create the Americans with Disability Act. Thanks to Tina’s persistence she was able to contact Jennifer Keelen-Chaffin and invited her to present her story in a virtual book discussion. The virtual discussion was attended by Penn-Mar Team Members, Penn-Mar Families, and the people supported by Penn-Mar. This is just one example of Tina’s dedication and the steps she takes to support the mission of Penn-Mar.

In the two years that Tina has been with Penn-Mar she has expanded our advocacy efforts and created the Penn-Mar Advocacy Collective (PMAC). Through her efforts, PMAC has become a thriving group of families, friends, and team members who advocate for an increase in funding for IDD services that will translate to proper compensation of Direct Support Professional (DSP) wages. This is critical for inclusion and equity within the greater community, and for gainful employment, opportunities, and acceptance of people with IDD. Furthermore, Tina has made collaboration a key priority and works extensively with the Voices of Change group in Westminster to ensure that their advocacy efforts are supported by PMAC.

In addition to working with PMAC, Tina has also focused on volunteer opportunities which is no small feat during the pandemic. She has created and strengthened relationships internally and externally and consistently goes above and beyond. At the height of the pandemic even though she was new to Penn-Mar, she used connections and developed relationships to secure masks for DSPs. She was also integral in working with Program Managers to ensure DSP was a celebration recognizing the importance of our committed DSPs. Tina is an extremely caring person who is willing to support her colleagues in the Advancement Department and throughout the organization. She gladly steps in to assist with grants, communications, and our annual gala and golf events. I’m lucky to work with Tina every day and admire her proactive work style and love her sense of humor.

Finally, Penn-Mar is always looking for more people to get involved in our advocacy efforts. If you are interested in, please contact tina at tinachansweenie@penn-mar.org. She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Michal Edmondson, nominated by Nadine Gaetani

A little over a year ago Michal was promoted to the position of residential supervisor at a home, after working at the house for many years. The position became available suddenly, and Michal (who was the SRA at the time), stepped in with grace and finesse. She took on many extra hours to help to fill the vacancy and maintain the house through it all in the heart of the COVID pandemic. Michal has strived over the last year to meet the needs of the four ladies she supports to the fullest. She continues to work extra hours every week, usually averaging six or seven days a week.

During the weekends, when COVID is not surging, Michal plans exciting activities, complete with trips to the zoo, shopping, ball games, and restaurant visits. The ladies are always on the go! She does this while following the CDC guidelines to maximize the safety of the ladies. Michal embodies the true spirit and core values of Penn-Mar. I think what sets Michal apart from other staff is how detailed she is in every aspect of her job. She grocery shops with a list of items that the ladies have requested, assuring everyone gets exactly what she wants. She prepares meals that are nutritious and well balanced. In addition, Michal has taken an ordinary kitchen dining area, and made it extraordinary by decorating it with Mickey Mouse themed pictures as well as a toaster, towels, potholders, etc. By the dining table, there is a giant chalk board that Michal built, with more Mickey-themed stills and the ladies’ names written in chalk. One of the ladies always comments that she sees her name on it, which makes her very happy.

Recently, the home’s beloved cat they shared for years, Johnny Cat, had to be put down due to a long-term illness. Michal ensured the ladies each got to spend special time with Johnny the night before her passing. Michal then took Johnny home with her to make sure she was as comfortable as she could be. Michal took the cat to the vet’s and humanely helped Johnny cross over the rainbow bridge. Michal then bought a beautiful little pine tree to plant near the house at Johnny’s grave as a memorial of sorts for the ladies’ beloved cat. In addition, she purchased heart-shaped stones for each lady to paint to place around the tree.

In conclusion, there are so many reasons that Michal Edmondson deserves this honor, but the bottom line is that she will do whatever she can to give the ladies she supports the best possible home life that she can. When you go to the home, it is so much more than a group home; it is a family home filled with love due in part to the hard work of Michal.

Rachael Keeney, nominated by Michelle Delozier & Emily Finnegan

Rachael consistently comes to work with a smile on her face, ready to dive into whatever chaos she may be walking into. She helps out at many different houses in our pod, and always is willing to switch around when necessary. Rachael is always asking what more she can do to help out whenever she is in any program. She makes an effort to take everyone out in the community as much as possible, and take them to places they love to go. Sometimes I ask a lot of Rachael, but she is ready for the challenge and does what she can to make everyone’s day meaningful.

She has been especially helpful this past month while I was supervising multiple programs and needed her support going from one program to another. She did this with ease, and often this happened with minimal notice. She was instrumental in arranging and driving individuals for Covid testing in these past few weeks. She did this in part to protect others and limit exposure.

If any individual from any program in our pod needs to be picked early for an appointment or any other reason, Rachael never fails to be available for this. She has even reached outside of our Pod to help ensure two other individuals got to work or their violin lessons and taekwondo.

Rachael is a wonderful example of a staff who each and every day demonstrates all of our core values.

Jesse Kent, nominated by Christina Dixon, Kim Lowrie, & Jen Mettrick

We would like to nominate Jesse Kent to receive a HEART Award for his exceptional support of the Westminster team in their transition from a facility-based program to fully community-based supports.

Jesse has gone above and beyond in exploring and testing technology options as our team transitions to remote and shared work solutions due to the recent sale of our day program building. Jesse has spent the past six months engaging in the transitional work that the Westminster team is undergoing, taking extra time to understand the needs of the team, the goals the team has for the successful implementation of community-based supports and bringing the team options to consider that will meet their changing needs.

Typically, Jesse is scheduled about half a day a week at the Westminster location to provide IT support to the team, follow-up on open IT tickets and often addressing equipment needs. Jesse quickly recognized the additional needs of the team as more and more questions began to surface about technology needs in a community-based model. He took extra time to meet with different team members to think through solutions and brought larger concerns back to the IT team to think through. Jesse also made time to join several of Westminster’s transition team meetings to report out on his research, progress on testing new tech options and laying out next steps. As part of those meetings, Jesse was open to new suggestions and pivoting plans as needed. Jesse embraced the extra work and continually brought his good humor and “can do attitude” to every meeting, helping the Westminster team feel supported and confident they would have the tools they needed to make a successful transition. As Manager Teresa O’Brien shared, “Jesse has always encouraged me, even though I don’t feel I am tech savvy. His approach has always been friendly and supportive as I work through challenges outside of my comfort zone. He celebrates when I have accomplished what he has shown me.”

Jesse also jumped in to support Corey, who is working on his reading and writing skills to help his employment, learn about his Chromebook after overhearing Corey say he needed help. Jesse made an impact in other ways such as taking on the added responsibility of shepherding information, supplies and equipment between Westminster and Maryland Line to eliminate the need for someone to make an added trip. Just recently he ensured that 300 desperately needed COVID tests were delivered to our team members at all three locations!

Jesse has demonstrated impactful characteristics with the Westminster team that have had positive effects on our transition. The team is very grateful and continually talks about how Jesse has become an integral part of Westminster’s team!

Karen Koenigsberg, nominated by Kathy Zeallor & Teresa O’Brien

We would like to nominate Karen Koenigsberg for the HEART Award. Over the past several months, Karen has truly gone above and beyond for her program and the organization. She recognizes that all teams are understaffed and has time and time again offered to help in any way she can.

Karen manages the Westminster respite inn and is the coordinator for the newest program, peer mentoring. Both programs have new DDA guidelines and procedures to learn and implement. Change is not easy for most; but Karen is able to support families through these challenging changes with a positive and reassuring attitude.

Karen is frequently supporting other teams by covering several virtual support classes connecting to the individuals who we can’t support in-person. Her documentation not only records their attendance but their reaction to the activity. Having this additional information better supports the manager to follow up with additional programming.

As the Westminster Stoner Ave. site downsizes and most of us are working from other locations, Karen takes the initiative to be present in the building ready to support team members by passing out needed supplies or covering the front entrance. If Karen is not in the building to assist, she doesn’t hesitate to report to the building to lend support when needed.

Karen has also been known to offer her personal supply of materials including KN95 masks while we wait for a new shipment.

During these past couple cold weeks, Karen has saved the day for one of the people we support. This person uses public transportation three times a day; from home to the volunteer job, to paid employment workplace, to home again. Twice in the past few weeks the person has arrived at the volunteer job only to find a sign on the door saying they were closed. This leaves the person standing outside the building in the cold. This person can use their cell phone to call their team who at that time of day is a good 25 minutes away. Karen, however, always seems to be in the right place at the right time. She can swing by and transport the person to a warmer and safer place.

Being a single mother of two people supported by Penn-Mar and an employee, Karen has insight and pertinent background information to help people and families. Karen continuously takes the time to share this information with the newest quality coordinator and managers at the Westminster site. Having this information supports caseload transitions and better outcomes.

These extra tasks are big and necessary to keep the work moving forward. Thank you, Karen, for all your hard work. Everyone benefits from your actions.

Megan Lewis, nominated by Alyssa Albright

Megan Lewis is someone who throughout the course of the pandemic has consistently gone above and beyond.

Megan started in the Day Program right before everything shut down in 2020, and was subsequently reassigned to work residentially with the person she supports as a 1:1 during her usual work hours. The person Megan supports has intense needs that need to be met, and can be aggressive when his needs are not met or when his structure is disrupted. When this person that she supports moved into one of the houses that I oversee in the spring of last year, I was able to see firsthand how much care and dedication Megan shows to the people she supports. From the first time she brought this person over to see his new living arrangements, she was in constant communication with myself and the house manager at the time, to ensure everything was in order for him. She organized visits to ensure he would be comfortable in his new environment before his move, and helped this person’s family feel more at ease with the transition as well.

Since then, the house has had many (many!!) staffing changes, and for the majority of the time Megan has been working there, there has not been a Residential Supervisor. Without missing a beat, Megan has stepped up and stepped in, not only for the person she supports, but the whole house – ordering medications, ensuring doctor appointments are held, even assisting with the schedule if urgent changes are needed. Megan has worked countless hours of overtime at the home over the past several months, and on more than one occasion has moved personal plans when emergency staffing situations have occurred. Megan has volunteered to work holidays, and made Thanksgiving dinner for the person she supports to make sure he had a genuine holiday experience until he was able to go visit his family.

More than just the person she is assigned to work with, Megan is well liked by the other individuals at the home, to the point that they ask when she will be working upstairs with them again. This is true of anywhere Megan works, because despite all of the overtime she does at this home, Megan has still stepped in to assist in other programs as needed, and is well liked by both her peers and the people she supports anywhere she goes. Megan has been such a valuable asset not only to this home, but to Penn-Mar as a whole, since she wholeheartedly embodies all of our core values.

Amie Newton, nominated by Kim Kucherer

I am nominating Amie Newton for the HEART Award. Amie tirelessly goes above and beyond in supporting the people and assisting the team in being aware of events and needs of the program. She is our IT stand-in and go-to person for techy things. Amie does all the grocery shopping and this has not been an easy task recently. This often entails multiple stores to find requested items of the people she supports or to complete the multiple dietary requirements within the program.

During the holidays every year, Amie goes above and beyond to shop for just the right gifts that each person she supports would love to receive. She wraps them all and puts them under the tree and wears her Elf or Santa hat while they open their presents. They enjoy her enthusiasm and look forward to Christmas morning.

Amie completes things as soon as she is aware that something needs done. Whether it is contacting doctors’ offices or researching a purchase that an individual would like to make and including several options to limit the cost or make a choice.

Amie has recently assisted with getting a constipation diagnosis that did not present the “standard” way. She asked the questions and got testing ordered to assist the person she supports with a major health issue. He is now on a bowel protocol that is working well for him. If Amie feels that something is not working the way it should, she reaches out to the doctor to investigate a possibility to make a change for it to work better.

Amie respects the wants, desires, and choices of the people she supports. She often uses the words “This is what I think would be a good choice, but, ultimately the choice is yours to make. Let me know what choice you want to make.” The people she supports enjoy her attention to their wants and needs and her sense of humor. She asks them what they would like on the menu each month and frequently does the cooking.

Amie makes every effort to assist the team when necessary and is eager to help in any way she can. She has worked almost daily for several months due to open positions in the program. She honors her commitments and completes all tasks she has promised to complete. If she says she will be there, she will be there.

The program is always in good hands when Amie is there. She is hardworking, dedicated, and deserves the HEART Award.

Samantha Roser, nominated by Adam Zayed

I would like to nominate Samantha Roser for Penn-Mar’s HEART Award. I believe that Samantha embodies what it means to provide person centered services.

Samantha works as a DSP on our Southwest Team in Westminster. In her role she supports many of our individuals, including one gentleman in a 1:1 role. While working in home and community-based services can be difficult, this role is especially difficult due to the challenging behaviors of the gentleman she supports. Due to difficulties communicating his wants and needs and his need for consistent sensory stimulation from his environment, the gentleman often throws furniture, breaks items, and tosses over trash cans and tables. This happens constantly throughout the day and he moves quickly, so Samantha really has to be on her toes and aware of the environment at all times. It has been difficult to keep consistent staff due to the high demand for 1:1 attention and the intense activity level. When he did have staff, they stayed in the home and focused on managing the behaviors. You could imagine how these types of behaviors would make introducing an individual to their community incredibly difficult, especially when those behaviors are regularly disrupting the environment you are introducing him to. This changed when Samantha began working with this person.

She has never allowed this behavior to become a barrier to providing meaningful opportunities in his home and in the community. Rather than get frustrated or upset, Samantha has maintained a level head and tried to focus on what the behavior is communicating. Rather than regularly correcting the individual’s behavior, Samantha is consistently investigating her environment to look for potential triggers and recognizes his need to be busy and engaged. Additionally, it would be easier to stick to short activities in the home, however Samantha has focused on keeping the gentleman engaged by leaving the house and finding things to do in the community. This is a gentleman that sees everything as a sensory opportunity. He often knocks things off of counters, tears things from the walls, and knocks over chairs. This has not stopped Samantha from helping him participate in community activities. She uses her skills to set things up for success by planning ahead of time, looking for triggers, and being willing to take risks with him. As they have developed a rapport and as Samantha has grown to better understand his communication, his challenging behaviors have actually decreased, and he has experienced a more robust and quality service. His quality of life is enhanced because he is able to go new places, be around other people, and enjoy his community.

Samantha’s approach demonstrates the major difference between being a support professional and a caregiver. She could easily protect the individual from his behaviors by limiting him to his home. Rather than allowing his behaviors to become a barrier, she has focused on how to support him to overcome this challenge and thrive. It is for this reason I think Samantha is deserving of the HEART Award.

Kandace Skursky, nominated by Donna McGuire

Kandace Skursky supports Woody Higgs in the home and community. Kandace is a strong DSP who has been a huge support for Woody and us, showing trust, and respect, to all of us. Woody has flourished while supported by Kandace – even with the challenges with COVID. I have shared this many times, but she has done so much and treats him like he matters. Kandace openly shares her concerns about Woody regularly, which shows how much she wants him to succeed. We never have doubts when he’s with her because we know she won’t let anything happen to him. I am the original over-protective mother, and I only trust a handful of people with my son – but I completely trust Kandace when she is providing supports.

Woody and Kandace have built such a bond in their 1:1 time, we sometimes feel she knows him better than us. Kandace gets him out when we can’t, and he can’t wait to stroll through the store with her and get his favorite drink while there – root beer! As a family, we travel to our favorite Ocean City spot frequently. Woody does not always enjoy this as he knows he will miss services!

Kandace has supported him how to play board games, do crafts and so much more. These are things he was never interested in, and she has helped him grow on so many levels. His speech has improved so much! His primary doctor noticed it the last time we were there, and we can only thank Kandace on how she has been supporting Woody to reach his daily goals. His doctor understood about 90% of what he was saying, which 1 year prior during his physical it was only about 70%. This is due to Kandace taking him out and really taking time to support him by talking, engaging, and working one-on-one with him.

Kandace goes the extra mile to make up homework sheets for him to do over the weekends or when she isn’t with him, which has helped him grow as an individual. She taught him how to dye eggs and now he asks to do it a lot and they do! We have tried to do these things for years, but he just wouldn’t stay interested. He would play games for about 10 minutes and now he sets up the board games, including bingo before she gets here each day to start services.

Woody has always been an outgoing and loving young man and I believe Kandace has helped Woody shine brighter. Kandace has grown with us since supporting Woody; she has become a strong communicator and excelled in her role with us.

John Yurkiewicz, nominated by Natasha Miller

John consistently demonstrates how much he cares by doing whatever it takes to support a team member when they have a technology or computer issue. But this is nothing new for John. Over the years, team members have consistently praised John as the “go-to” guy when there is a technical problem and they need to get it fixed as soon as possible. He responds within hours and often in-person, regardless of the location. His physical presence at these times is reassuring and calming, and almost always the problem is solved in short order.

John’s ability to problem-solve issues with team members who have limited understanding of technology is done with respect, dignity, and empathy to each person. He has a very supportive, caring and gentle approach to interactions with people, and no problem is too small, or question too basic for John to take his time supporting you through a solution. Though John’s role requires him to work beyond business hours, he does well with being quick to solve issues, even if it’s a weekend, or a day off for him.

Over the past several months, John has been involved with many projects to support our ever-changing day services. He worked with two of our team members out of the Maryland Line Day Program with testing devices that would be of benefit to them to provide services both in and out of the program. When they had questions, or frustrations with a device, he helped them understand or problem solve the issue so they can make a well-informed decision of what type of devices are best.

I recently was in dire need of additional technological support in our program as we expand our services. John took the time to walk through the building with me, offer suggestions to improve the services, and got everything set up and ready before our deadline. This was incredibly important and helped take a large weight off my shoulders. John could have easily asked me questions through email, but instead he made it a point to really involve himself in this project. It is easily seen that John wants to ensure our program runs in the best way with the resources we have for everyone we support.

John is a necessary and much appreciated member of this organization, and the reasons above are just a few of why he is worth recognizing for this award.

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