Norman Pam Linton Honored With an Award of Excellence and Best of the Best Award in Direct Support Services

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) held its 28th Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities recently in Norman. During the awards ceremony, DHS recognized DDS Foster Parent Pamela Linton with an “Award of Excellence” and “Best of the Best Award” in direct support services.

Linton was nominated by Lari Huey, a supervisor in DDS’ Specialized Foster Care Agency Companion Program who works in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, serving Area III’s 35 southern counties. She said she considers Linton and her husband, Gary, as the heart, soul and conscious of the Specialized Foster Care Agency Companion Program.

“Pam and Gary want someone who needs a family and they work a program and a lifestyle out to fit the person who comes into their home,” Huey said. “They just become what that person needs and they give so many gifts. Pam is the most nurturing person you’ll ever meet and she brings that component.

“Gary brings his quick wit and his advocacy. Together the balance they bring, the emotion, the compassion and the passion, it is what makes us in the DDS business get excited and keep motivated. They make us want to be better people in general,” Huey said.

Linton worked as a licensed registered nurse at the J.D. McCarty Center when she met a young child named D.J. She became a certified DDS foster parent in 1993 and the couple later adopted D.J. Not long afterwards, Linton gave birth to a daughter. Through the years, the Linton’s have opened up their hearts and home to several long-term individuals with developmental disabilities, including Kyle, Shawn, Walter and Phillip.

“I’m more laid back, but my husband is totally opposite, so I think the combination works,” Linton said. “I do certain things better than he does; he does certain things better than I do and we just kind of click. If you’re married, both people have to agree on doing this because you take in these young men and they just become a part of our family.”

Michelle Paty is a former foster care specialist who worked with the Lintons prior to becoming a planning care reviewer for DDS in Pauls Valley. She said the Linton’s have modified their home to be wheelchair accessible and made other accommodations for D.J. and the individuals they foster.

“Their home is made for the individuals they care for,” Paty said. “Everything is for their convenience, comfort and happiness. They take excellent care of them and it is so evident that they’re in it for the people they serve, not just for themselves.”

Barbara Butin is a DDS foster care specialist who has worked with the Lintons for the past several years said being a DDS foster parent can be a tough job, especially when one of the individuals you care for moves or passes away,” Butin said. “Shawn passed away in 2006, but survived much longer than was expected. More recently in February, their foster son, Walter, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

“It’s a tough job and not everyone can do it. These are strong, dedicated loving people … true people. It’s a great loss of their family, but they’re strong and they’re dealing with it, but it is very hard.”

Linton said Walter lived with her family for 19 years.

“He just had such a kind heart,” she said. “He was another little guy that when he came to live with us, I think he weighed about 40 pounds and he was about 12 years old. He finished high school and worked at the ABLE Workshop before moving onto ReRun Junction.
“He loved it there and loved getting up and going to work. He didn’t even like having a day off. He was just a really funny guy. We miss him.”

Linton said each individual with developmental disabilities that she fosters with her husband becomes a part of their family.

“You have to keep in the back of your mind that at any day they could be taken, too, or sent home to their biological family,” Linton said. “Other things can happen that they have to leave. You just have to love them as long as you can and if you have to let go, you have to know how to do that, too.

“You just do the best you can for them while they’re here, teach them all that you can teach them and hope that when they leave, they take something with them.”

A direct support service professional is someone who works as a direct care worker for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. These workers can include habilitation training specialists, job coaches and group home staff, as well as habilitation aides, workshop staff, and agency companions or as specialized foster parents.

The criteria for winning an Award of Excellence focuses on a nominee’s tenure, experience, relationship to the individual(s) and the families they support, leadership, advocacy and their success in supporting people to be included in the community. “Our award winners say they absolutely cherish the people they serve,” said JoAnne Goin, director, DDS. “They’re practical, determined and compassionate folk who treat their individuals like dear friends and family, all the while encouraging and teaching them how to become more independent members in the communities where they work and live.

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Pamela Linton accepts an "Award of Excellence" and “Best of the Best Award” from DHS Director Ed Lake