Ohio Valley Goodwill Honors Direct Support Professionals During Recognition Week!

Ohio Valley Goodwill is pleased to join the larger community in celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week September 12th-18th this year. Direct Support Professionals are the lifeblood of human service organizations like Ohio Valley Goodwill and provide the critical support services needed to enable the individuals with disabilities and our nation’s veterans whom the organization serves to fully participate in the larger community and attain personal success. Ohio Valley Goodwill employs dozens of Direct Support Professionals throughout its Employment and Training Center as well as satellite locations throughout the Tri-State area. As we all know, the past almost two years have been the most challenging many organizations have ever faced in dealing with the pandemic and the related impact on the individuals served. It is only thanks to the dedication and determination of our Direct Support Professionals; working in cooperation with our Leadership team; that Ohio Valley Goodwill has been able to work towards recovery of its critical programs and services.

In 2021, Ohio Valley Goodwill and its staff team were honored to be singled out for recognition with the Inclusion Award from long-time partner, Butler County DD, for its efforts to help individuals who lost their jobs in response to COVID-19; to find new positions and/or to return to existing jobs once re-opening efforts began. While community recognition by referral partners is invaluable, Ohio Valley Goodwill wants to publicly say THANK YOU to our team of Direct Support Professionals during DSP Recognition Week for their invaluable support and service.

In our award-winning Center for Advocacy, Recreation and Education (CARE) program, the Direct Support Professional team provide a variety of services to the participants including driving of vans, personal care assistance, personalized instruction and educational opportunities, facilitation of community connections and much more each and every day. Technicians in the organization’s Pre-Vocational programs support individuals in learning to perform work tasks, increase self-advocacy abilities, interpersonal skills and other related soft skills to help them prepare for community employment. Job Coaches in Goodwill’s Employment and Community Services programs help individuals to learn all of the requisite skills to become successful in community employment and were recognized for that effort in 2021 with the Ohio Success Award through Ohio Business Magazine.

As part of our Veterans Services programs, Goodwill Veteran and HUD Case Mangers along with the Placement Assistance team provide outreach, case management support, housing and job placement, supportive services as well as facilitate connections with needed resources for veterans and others challenged with homelessness.

All together, all of Goodwill’s Direct Support Professionals are an invaluable asset to the on-going success of the organization’s Employment and Training operations and the ability to assist hundreds of individuals to achieve community employment and other personal goals each year. Our most sincere gratitude to our Direct Support Professionals during Direct Support Professional Recognition Week. You help to make our mission of service possible.

For more information about Ohio Valley Goodwill’s programs and services for individuals with disabilities, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/services. For more information about employment opportunities, please visit www.cincinnatigoodwill.org/careers. We are currently hiring for Direct Support Professional positions.

We salute the following DSP Professionals:

Pre-Vocational: Halimah Abdullah; Precious Austin; Maryanne Camp-Bedel; Nicole Chandler;   Arthur Ferguson; Nino Giancola; Tonya Isaacs ; Jacqueline Leathers;   John Looby; Ann Mackzum; Brenda Matthews; Summer McGriff; Darlene O’Hair; Kristen Pelletier; Anita Roberts; Michelle Ruschman; Paula Smith; Barb Spires; Kim Steele-Payne; Alexis Stone; Katina Webb;   Mary Wellen;
Lisa Williamson.

CARE: Vickie, Bronson; Randall Clipson; Sandra Holden; Lois Kramer; Leroy Smith.

Employment Services: Ashley Chouteau; Catherine Kline; Hana Hayes; Jennifer Williams; John Pieratt; Justin Marrow; Kelsey Holbrock; Kip Miller; Kris Stewart; Lisa Martin; Mackenzie Koons;
Matt Byrum; Nicole Stanford; Nino Giancola; Pam Spencer; Rachel Lednik; Rebecca Richmond; Rickey Younger; Shelley Darkwa; Victoria Draise; Willis Lorensen

Veterans Services: Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) : John Fraley; Ryan Griffin; Ashleigh Holmstrom; Dennis Koenig; William Wason.

Housing and Urban Development (HUD)- Melanie Brown; Candace Ensley; Jan’el Gentry;   Kory Magee.

Veterans Administration (DORM)-   Paula Lee; Gregg Weikert;   Tim Weston.

Placement Assistance Center (PAC)- Sharon Albright; Marie Mahan.

Thank you for your dedication and your service.