September Updates: DSP Recognition Week, Regional Expansion & More

ebush08

Sep 5

5 min read

A message from our CEO

This September, I find myself reflecting on how EIG has been able to expand our services and continue providing exceptional care to the individuals we support. At the heart of it all is the work happening every day in our homes and out in the community. Our DSPs are at the center of what we do, and none of our growth would be possible without you.

DSP Recognition Week is September 13–19, and one of our priorities this year was making sure we took the time to recognize the people doing this work every day. I see the dedication, patience, and compassion you bring to the individuals we support, and I want you to know that your work does not go unnoticed.

I'm happy to share that we have several things planned throughout DSP Recognition Week to celebrate our DSPs and show our appreciation for everything you do. I hope you enjoy the week, and most importantly, know how much we value the role you play at EIG.

Thank you for everything you do.

— Martin Johnson

COMPANY UPDATES

NADSP Support Hours

Currently working toward your NADSP Certification or completing your e-Badges? Jared will be available for dedicated office hours to assist employees with submissions, questions, and anything else you may need throughout the process.

Tuesdays: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Wednesdays: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Stop by during these hours for support as you work toward your certification!

Expansion into the North Hills Region

We are excited to announce the opening of our North Hills Region, including two new Community Living Arrangements (CLAs) in the North Hills area. This expansion gives us the opportunity to support more individuals and families while continuing to grow our services throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area. We look forward to welcoming our new individuals and staff to EIG!

Lifesharing at EIG is Growing

We're excited to share that EIG has welcomed two families into our Lifesharing program. This is an exciting step in the continued growth of our services and our ability to provide individuals with more options for meaningful, person-centered support.

We look forward to continuing to grow the program and welcoming more individuals and families to EIG.

Coming Soon: EIG Client Committee & Town Hall

We are working to create new opportunities for the individuals we support to share their ideas, feedback, and experiences directly with EIG. More information about our upcoming Client Committee and Town Hall meetings will be shared soon.

DSP Recognition Week at EIG

We’re excited to celebrate DSP Recognition Week, September 14–18! This year, we’ll have daily gift basket drawings, free EIG T-shirts, and the Street Fries Food Truck on September 17th.

Thank you to all of our DSPs for everything you do!

August Highlights:

August gave us two great opportunities to get out, have fun, and spend time together! On August 7th, individuals and staff enjoyed a day at Kennywood, followed by our Summer Picnic with Creative Dialogues on August 14th. We may have had some rainy weather for both events, but that didn't stop everyone from showing up and making the most of the day in true EIG fashion. Thank you to our staff, individuals, and everyone who helped make both events such a success!

Employee Spotlights!

This month, we're proud to recognize Gena Long for her dedication, reliability, and the genuine relationships she's built with the individuals she supports. Gena has been with EIG since 2018, making her our longest-standing DSP!

Over the years, Gena has become someone we know we can send just about anywhere. She's always willing to fill in at different homes, she's on time, and when she's working, you can expect the job to be done right. But what stands out most about Gena is the way she connects with people. Even individuals who are typically more guarded or have a hard time trusting staff seem to let their walls down with her.

There really isn't a "hard" individual to Gena. She takes the time to understand people, builds trust naturally, and has developed some of her strongest relationships with individuals who have more complex needs. At the end of the day, Gena is here for the individuals, and that shows in the way they respond to her. After eight years, she's supported a lot of people across EIG, and the relationships she's built along the way say more about the kind of DSP she is than we ever could.

Thank you, Gena, for everything you've given to EIG over the past eight years. We appreciate your consistency, your willingness to help wherever you're needed, and most of all, the care you give to the individuals we support.

We're also proud to recognize Anthony Williams for the positivity, flexibility, and willingness to help that he's brought to EIG in more than one role. Anthony started with EIG as a DSP and has since taken on a new role as part of our Maintenance Department, where he's become a huge asset to the team.

One thing that has stayed the same through both roles is the way Anthony approaches his work and the people around him. As a DSP, he was someone who wanted to make sure everyone was good - both his coworkers and the individuals he supported- and would do whatever he could to help make that happen. He advocates for both the individuals we support and his coworkers, brings positive energy with him, and when a problem comes up, his first instinct is to figure out what he can do to help.

Anthony is someone who rolls with the punches. He's willing to work through difficult situations, help people find common ground, and take things as they come without losing the attitude that makes him so easy to work with. That same mindset helped him make the jump into Maintenance and really excel in a completely different role.

Even though his day-to-day work looks different now, the care behind it hasn't changed. Anthony understands that keeping our homes running and taking care of the things that need fixed is another way of taking care of the people who live in them.

Thank you, Anthony, for being willing to grow with EIG, take on something new, and continue finding ways to make things better for the individuals and staff around you.

We're proud to recognize Darshaya Garner for the heart, dedication, and leadership she brings to her role as a PC. Darshaya is someone who truly gets to know the people she supports. She pays attention to the little things, knows what they enjoy and what motivates them, and makes sure they have opportunities to get out, stay involved, and live lives that are meaningful to them.

But you see Darshaya's heart the most when things aren't going well. She takes the progress of the individuals she supports personally, and when someone is struggling, she struggles with them. She'll try something, regroup when it doesn't work, and keep trying again. She'll ask questions, speak up, and stand her ground when she feels strongly about something. Even when she's frustrated or discouraged, giving up on someone just isn't an option for her.

She brings that same commitment to leading her home. Darshaya stays on top of what needs done, supports her staff, and leads by example. She doesn't make excuses, and she won't ask someone else to do something she isn't willing to do herself.

The women Darshaya supports know how much she cares about them, and you can see it in the trust and respect they have for her. Their good days matter to her. Their hard days matter to her. And through both, Darshaya continues to show up and give them everything she has.

Thank you, Darshaya, for caring as deeply as you do. The heart you put into this work doesn't go unnoticed, and neither does the difference you make in the lives of the people you su