Direct-Caregivers Recognized for their Dedication to Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

MANHATTAN, NY (09/10/2007)(readMedia)-- Direct-care workers who care for the developmentally disabled – many times working above and beyond the call of duty – will soon get the recognition and attention they deserve. They will also get a much-deserved educational opportunity.

OMRDD staff has worked hand-in-hand with the School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University to design the Extraordinary Caregiver Recognition Program, a comprehensive training program to help direct-care workers cope with the stress of what can be a very demanding job. The two-day Extraordinary Caregiver Recognition Program, which includes a series of education and training workshops, will be offered on September 10th and 12th at Stony Brook Manhattan, 401 Park Avenue South. A certificate ceremony is slated for September 12.

“Providing our work force with valuable educational opportunities and training is a goal of my administration,” said Diana Jones Ritter, OMRDD Commissioner. “In doing so, OMRDD can continue to be a leader in our field, offering our caregivers an opportunity to improve the quality of their lives, which ultimately improves the lives of those individuals in their care.”

Commissioner Ritter also will be a guest speaker at the September 12 certificate ceremony.

Through the program, the School of Social Welfare offers a wide range of practical subjects, such as: family relationships, health, finance, diversity and multicultural issues. There are no written tests or reports; instead, participants attend practical, interactive workshops designed to help experienced caregivers address difficult day-to-day challenges.

“These workshops, which will eventually be offered to caregivers statewide, were designed as a path for increased compensation and educational opportunities for direct-care workers,” said Thomas M. Cassidy, M.A., clinical associate professor, School of Social Welfare at Stony Brook University and coordinator of the Extraordinary Caregiver Recognition Program.

For more information about the recognition program, contact the School of Social Welfare. For more information about OMRDD and its direct-caregiver opportunities, contact Kara Smith, Director of Public Affairs at 518-474-6601.

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