AWARDS, TRIBUTES & DISTINCTIONS RESOURCE CENTER EMPLOYEE HONORED AS NYS DSP OF THE YEAR
ANCOR chose Jen as a DSP of the Year because of her commitment to the people she supports.
“Whether assisting with money management to fulfill a dream of
purchasing a home or supporting the dream of motherhood, Jennifer works to ensure the people she supports achieve their biggest dreams and live their best, most meaningful lives,” ANCOR noted. “Jennifer builds trust with the people she supports to discover what’s most important to them. Her calm, judgment-free approach gives her the information she needs to present various scenarios in which they can accomplish their goals. No matter the choices they make, Jennifer commits to identifying the pathways, resources and supports required to transform the dreams of the people she supports into reality.” ANCOR’s Chief Executive Officer Barbara Merrill referenced the current shortage of direct support professionals nationwide and its negative impacts on the ability of service providers to meet the needs and desires of people with disabilities and their families. “This is the 16th consecutive year ANCOR has presented the Direct Support Professional of the Year Awards, and the third class to have been honored since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “The challenges presented by the pandemic have collided with a recruitment and retention crisis in our workforce to wreak previously unthinkable havoc on our system of home- and community-based supports. There has never been a more poignant time to celebrate people like Jennifer and the more than four dozen other DSPs who exemplify excellence in our field.”
Earlier this year, Jennifer Herron, an employee at The Resource Center (the Chautauqua County Chapter of The Arc New York) was named a NYS Direct Support Professional (DSP) of the Year by ANCOR (the American Network of Community Options and Resources). She and other honorees from across the country were recognized April 13 in Miami during ANCOR’s Annual Conference. Jen has worked for The Resource Center for two decades. Most of the people she supports as a life coach live independently with assistance from staff. Jen helps people navigate the challenges of living on their own and supports them in enjoying positive, self- directed lives. When people face important decisions, Jen helps them understand the available options and the likely outcomes of each. When people make decisions that have undesirable results, Jen works with them in a respectful way to assess what went wrong and determine how to move forward. “I want to thank all of my superiors for believing in me and thinking so greatly of me,” Jen said. “They really have my back, and I really appreciate all that they do.”
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