May 2026
Announcements
Happy May, everyone! We hope you all enjoyed Mother's Day with your families.
- Please help us welcome our newest team members: Debbie & Shanna!
- Let's also recognize April's Perfect Attendance Awardees: Malcolm, James, Ramona, Ben, Crystal, Kristina, Raven, Dana, Mario, Gracie, Katie, Eric B, & Kyle! Great job, everyone!
- Our Summer Bash will be an evening pool party at Tiger Typhoon on the last weekend of August. We'll provide more details when the plans are more solidified.
- Everyone should be working on their apprenticeship classes in Relias. Please remember to notify your manager each time you complete 50 hours, so you receive your raises. GET THAT MONEY!
- The PCGH Policy & Procedures manual was updated this month. New copies will be emailed to each of you. Additionally, each updated policy will need to be reviewed & signed by all employees by 5/31/26. They will be put in the staff books this week.
- Also, shot out to DSPs for creating opportunities for all of our houses to get together on the weekends! What a great way to promote meaningful relationships between our individuals! We appreciate you all for going above & beyond in that aspect!
Staff Spotlight
Kyle Jefferies
We are pleased to announce Kyle Jefferies as our April Employee of the Month! Kyle has excelled in the following areas:
- Attendance
- Timeliness
- Documentation
- Performance
- Training Completion
- Shift Coverage
- Team Event Participation
- Positive Feedback from Teammates & Immediate Supervisors
- Displaying Company Values (Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Trust, & Teamwork)
Great job, Kyle!
The Importance of Direct Support PROFESSIONALs (DSPs)
The Importance of DSPs
Every day across the nation, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play a vital role in America’s workforce and economy by providing necessary supports and services to people with disabilities of all ages, including supports related to employment. DSPs are part of the broader workforce of Direct Care Workers (DCWs).
As skilled professionals, DSPs support people with disabilities to participate in their communities, including through employment. For example, they may serve as job development staff to assist in finding and/or customizing jobs or as job coaches who provide direct employee assistance on the job. They also provide other services, such as help with activities of daily living.
The Role of a DSP
Historically, DSPs primarily served as caregivers for the people they supported. In the past few decades, however, the needs of those served began to change, and the roles of DSPs began to change as well. Today, the role of a DSP goes beyond caregiving and focuses more broadly on supporting people with disabilities to participate fully in their communities, live in integrated settings and seek competitive integrated employment (CIE). Some of the roles of a DSP include (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/individuals/DSP):
Supporting engagement with the community by:
- Providing support in more individualized settings
- Helping find new hobbies & interests
- Promoting healthy friendships & relationships
- Researching & attending local events
- Providing transportation
- Joining social groups
- Attending religious services
- Using creative thinking for accommodations to help people with disabilities be more independent
Providing caregiving and support with activities of daily living, including:
- Medication administration
- Hygiene support
- Medical appointment support
- Explaining & following doctor recommendations
- Mobility assistance
- Promoting healthy choices
- Ensuring safety
- Teaching life skills (budgeting, cooking, cleaning, self-advocation, etc.)
- Modeling & encouraging social appropriateness
Working with the people they support to Advocate for rights and services, such as:
- Accessing resources and opportunities in the community
- Working with the employer to customize job duties
- Providing emotional support
- Supporting volunteer opportunities
These are just a few examples of how DSPs, emphasis on the "P," use their training & skills to help shape the lives of our individuals. Please view the following videos for more information:
Birthdays
- Machelle 5/2
- Sara 5/8
- Zachary 5/29
- Gracie 5/29
Anniversaries
- Benjamin Reed 5/6/24
- Robert Peetz 5/5/25