Staff Member of the Month
April 2012: Carmen Chum & Nancy Jensik
This month, DSP of the Month honors are shared between two Portland staff. Carmen and Nancy have both gone above and beyond in April helping the apartments they work in prepare for the move to Scarborough. A move is a big undertaking and their managers felt they contributed a lot of effort to packing and organizing the consumers in prepping for the move and unpacking and organizing once the move happened. Both Carmen and Nancy work with consumers that present challenging behaviors that can be tough to deal with. Both of them have done very well in keeping the consumers active and handling any behavioral incidents with positive de-escalation techniques.
Carmen has been with the Residential program since April of 2011, and had been the DSP of the Month once before, but has been nominated several times for her consistent work ethic, professionalism, and the positive impact she has on the consumers. Nancy is new to our program and has been with the Residential program for just over a month. She works in one of our most challenging apartments and has done great acclimating herself. She has brought consistency in her approach and has followed through with implementing consumer plans while constantly de-escalating behavioral issues. Nancy has brought up suggestions and seems to be enjoying her role in the apartment. Her efforts and consistency have been a big asset that needed a strong day/evening staff that could be relied upon to work positively with the consumers. The program thanks both Carmen and Nancy for their efforts through April!
March 2012: Cheri Cluff
Cheri has been a member of the Residential Program since March 12, 2007. She has always been, and continues to be, a stand-out staff in any role she has had within the program from DSP, House Manager, and currently DSP Team Leader of the Kennebunk Program. Cheri leads the Kennebunk staff and handles the day-to-day logistical coordination of activities and appointments for a house that doesn’t have a direct manager.
Cheri is always willing to help out and makes sure the two consumers she supports have the best experiences each day she works. Cheri is held in high regard by her peers for her work in the house. Cheri’s efforts can’t be quantified, but what she brings to the table each day, month, and year has her name consistently come up as a stand out staff. Thank you Cheri for your efforts and keep up the great job in Kennebunk.
February 2012: Brian Quinn
Brian joined the Residential Program on 12/6/10. He was slotted to work out of the Gorham residence in the downstairs apartment where he worked with one consumer through January of 2012. Brian was asked to change to a different apartment in the Gorham complex at the end of January. The new consumer that he would be supporting had significant needs compared to the consumer he had been with previously. Brian was open to the change and stepped into the new role and fit in right away.
Since making the move, Brian has been an excellent addition to the upstairs apartment during the day shifts. He has been very active in getting the consumer out into the community and accessing resources such as the YMCA pool and other desired activities that can be difficult to engage in due to behavioral concerns. Brian has been able to manage the behaviors, engage the consumer in preferred activities in group settings which in the past had been troublesome.
Brian’s approach and willingness to adapt to a very different position in terms of DSP duties and the consumer's level of functioning has been very valuable. Brian has formed a positive rapport with the consumer in a short time, which is unusual for this consumer. We appreciate Brian’s willingness to be flexible in changing primary consumers and are grateful for his motivation to engage the consumer in more activities that had been done but not as frequently in the past due to behavioral concerns.
January 2012: Steve Virgilio Sr.
Since joining the program almost two years ago, Steve has been active in the Portland apartments. He has also provided coverage at the Gorham house. Steve focuses on making sure that the consumers he works with are active in their local communities. He locates free activities that open them up to new opportunities for recreation. He has even utilized his own pass to the YMCA to bring the guys to use the gym for basketball, weight training and swimming on a weekly basis. Steve is a good listener and a strong advocate for, and assists consumers with, finding employment. Steve is an excellent role model for the consumers he works with and is truly invested in assisting the consumers to make improvements in their daily lives.
December 2011: Marci Douglas
Marci has been employed by the Residential program since 6/6/06. She worked as full time DSP for several years prior to dropping to per diem status, while working at a day program in the community. Marci returned full time to the Gorham Residence a couple of months ago and has made a successful transition into the house. Marci is working with a challenging consumer who requires a lot of patience. She has been an influence on her peers by bringing a fun sense of humor to the house which lightens the mood for all.
Marci has a good work ethic and is a “go getter.” She is always busy and willing to do any projects. Her interactions with the consumer and family make weekly visits an enjoyable time for all and this has made a positive impact. The program is glad to have her back as a full time staff.
November 2011: Valerie Currier
Valerie joined the residential team on 10/31/11. Valerie took a DSP position in a brand new program that was opening up in Portland. Valerie since starting the week the program opened has proved to be a very strong asset. Her efforts to assist her manager in establishing a routine and taking on any task asked of her in a positive manner has been greatly appreciated. Valerie has shown initiative in tackling projects on duty to make the living environment more friendly and comfortable to all. Her efforts to make sure the community is being accessed for activities has been excellent. Though Valerie has been with us only a month she has made a strong and positive impact on the consumers life who has stated many times she is truly enjoying her new placement and the family has shared the same opinions. A lot of that comes from Valerie’s efforts to provide excellent direct care and to help out her manager with other assigned tasks. We are glad to have Valerie on the team here at WFS!
October 2011: Candice Weiss
Candice is a DSP at our Scarborough home. Candice has been with the Residential Program since 4/28/08. Since starting at WFS Candice has played a key role in the Saco, Biddeford, and currently the Scarborough House. Candice brings a positive energy to work with her and has always been very flexible at the programs she works in. As of late Candice has worked on planning many extra activities and facilitating the follow through and hosting of these events. Her efforts and continued communication with managers has made her stand out as going above and beyond. We hope that Candice will continue to strive to do the extra things to help improve our consumers lives through fun activities on top of her always caring DSP time. Thanks for all your efforts this past month and for the years you have been with the program!
September 2011: ERA BERRY
Era started with the Residential program on 8/8/11. Since joining the program Era has worked in a number of the Portland apartments and is now based primarily out of our Gorham residence. Era has been extremely flexible in filling shifts at many of our residences as needed. Era has taken the initiative to step up the maintenance of the Gorham residence with a thorough top to bottom cleaning of the main house. The willingness to stay busy and fill downtime on shifts with productive tasks is much appreciated. Era’s strong work ethic to always help and go above and beyond is refreshing to see and very welcomed. Era has also made homemade meals and brought them to work to share with everyone. Overall, Era has brought a fresh breath and some new life to the Gorham residence. Her performance has been exceptional and we are glad Era has joined our team.
August 2011: MARY OTTO
Mary Otto has been recognized as the DSP of the month for August 2011. Mary has worked in the Residential Program since 6/30/2008. Over the three years Mary has been with us she has been a full time and part time staff. Mary comes to work every shift with a positive attitude and a very strong work ethic. She truly cares about the quality of her work and puts all she has into enriching the consumers lives she works with. Mary primarily works in our Portland apartments and the four consumers she works with all enjoy her and ask for her often. Mary has been able to form great relationships with the consumers and is able to work with them through situations easily that others may struggle with due to her connection with the consumers. Mary is held in a high regard by all of the Portland managers for her flexibility, willingness to handle any task, initiative to improve the living environments, assistance in coverage last minute, and all the while her quality of work is always very high. It is a pleasure to have Mary working in our program.
July 2011: RONNIE JOHNS
Ronnie Johns has been selected the DSP of the month for July. Ronnie has been with the residential program since 5/2/2011. Even with being in the program a short time Ronnie has become a reliable staff. He started at our Gorham residence and then made an internal transfer to our Portland apartments. Ronnie has been willing to help fill hours at several houses and is very flexible with helping out whenever he is needed. This month two different house managers brought up positives around Ronnie’s professionalism at work from assisting in the large beach luau party without being asked and the handling of a behavioral situation with a consumer at an out of state activity. Ronnie has been a great addition to our program for the short time he has been with us. We hope to see him continue to grow in his role as a DSP and continue on the positive path he has started on over the last few months.
June 2011: MINDY DUNLAP and CARMEN CHUN
Mindy Dunlap has worked in the Saco house for almost a year. Mindy has been a very active member in keeping the consumers engaged. Recently with a new consumer moving into the program Mindy has become the primary afternoon staff. Mindy has taken on a very active role in keeping her consumer engaged in the community while handling many of the day to day logistical needs. Mindy has been very good at making sure the flow of communication is occurring between her, her peers, and her supervisors. Overall, being the primary staff with the consumer has enabled Mindy to step up and take a lead role in the consumers day to day life.
Carmen Chum has worked for the Portland location for just a few months. Carmen has recently moved into a full time position from a part time position. Carmen primarily works with a consumer that has recently graduated school and is waiting for a day program. Carmen has been able to keep the consumer active and engaged during the days. Carmen’s ability to work with a consumer who has posed behavioral problems to many staff has found success with her approach in interacting with the consumer and we hope that pattern will continue. Carmen has been a solid addition to the team at the Portland apartment for the few months she has been with the residential program.
May 2011: MILLARD DEKALB
Millard has been selected the DSP of the month for May by the team of House Managers. Millard has worked at the Scarborough residence as a DSP since 7/13/2009. With being just shy of two years in the program Millard has proven to be a reliable and consistent DSP staff. Millard has formed excellent relationships with both consumers he works with. One consumer requests Millard quite frequently to spend time with. Millard takes the initiative to complete tasks and ensures the programs routines run smoothly each shift he works. Millard’s even demeanor and sense of humor make him a great pairing with the consumers he works with. Millard is also well liked by his co workers and relied on to help out on shift in any area needed. We are glad to have Millard in the program and his work ethic has made him stand out as a crucial member of our programs team.
April 2011: SUE UNDERWOOD
Sue Underwood has been selected the DSP of the Month for April. Sue has worked in the Residential Program since February 19, 2008. Over the years, Sue has worked in several of our residences and formed positive relationships with many of the consumers. Currently, Sue works at our Scarborough residence. Sue comes to work each day with a positive attitude and is always more than willing to help out in any task asked of her. Sue is a very caring person and truly has the consumers she works with best interests at heart. Sue is very supportive of her co-workers and is always willing to give that extra effort to go above and beyond the requirements to ensure the residence is running efficiently and all supports are being provided. We thank Sue for her efforts and congratulate her on being selected DSP of the month for April.
March 2011: KAREN ADAMS
Karen Adams has been selected the DSP for the month of March. Karen has been an employee of the WILO program since 2-13-06. Over that period of time Karen has worked in many of our programs and formed positive relations with the consumers she has worked with. Karen is someone that is always flexible and willing to take on more tasks and ensure the final product is well done. Karen has been one of the core staff in the Saco program since she was asked to transfer there over a year ago. Karen’s been able to help the Saco program run successfully without a direct House manager on site. Her efforts to help coordinate appointments, work extra hours when needed, and take on some administrative tasks makes her stand out from her peers. Karen’s efforts are hard to match and we appreciate all of her efforts out in the Saco program.
February 2011: PATIENCE BERRY
Patience Berry has been selected the February DSP of the month for the Residential Program. Patience has worked for the program since 10/9/07. Patience works in one of the Portland apartments and has been a very reliable and consistent staff in the delivering of services to two consumers one of which has significant behavioral and boundary issues. Patience is a staff that is relied on to always take the extra effort by setting the example for new staff, complete tasks assigned, makes sure the apartment is always well kept, and that day to day logistics in the evenings/mornings go as scheduled. Patience plays a very active role in the programming and continues to be a reliable and positive presence in the consumers lives.
January 2011: GARTAY YEKEH
For the month of January 2011 the Program Supervisors have voted Gartay Yekeh from Apartment I-11 in Portland as the Direct Support Professional of the month. Gartay has worked for the Residential Program since 6/1/2009. Over the past month Gartay has been very diligent in completing his tasks, exhibited a lot of patience and tolerance with addressing challenging behaviors, and shown tremendous growth in his level of responsibility and accountability while on shift. Overall, Gartay’s work performance as a DSP has been on the rise and his ability to adapt and be flexible has improved his work ethic and therefore made him stand out as the supervisors selection for DSP of the month. Congratulations, Gartay!