Pauls Valley Sheila Dews Honored With an Award of Excellence 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 the Garvin County Community Living Center’s Market Job Coach Sheila Dews of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, with an “Award of Excellence” in direct support services.

The Garvin County Community Living Center, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation committed to serving people with developmental disabilities and its CEO, Cathy Cash, nominated Dews for the award. She said she nominated Dews because she leads by example working alongside her crew of individuals with developmental disabilities as they solve problems and create solutions while completing tasks.

“Sheila and her crew are in the community’s eye every day,” Cash said. “She instructs her crew on a daily basis regarding appropriate interactions, effective communications and acceptable sales approaches. Every appropriate interaction with a customer moves our clients one step closer to a natural integration into the community.”

She said every individual that Dews supervises is actively involved in their community.

“Some are involved in the Round-Up Club, a couple are fish-a-holics and can often be found at the city lake fishing off the dock and a couple of the guys go to the monthly Pauls Valley Opry on a regular basis,” Cash said. “They are all active in our weekly Travel Club (adult education) and our People First organization. Sheila encourages their participation, listens and responds to their stories. She also lets the guys fish at her pond and has helped transport them to rodeo events.”

Dews provides birthday parties for each of her clients at work, surprise pizza parties and she brings them home-canned goodies. Cash said Dews’ physically-demanding job also means she works with her team no matter what the weather.

“Sheila is very thoughtful and enjoys sharing their good times and is helpful when they are dealing with tough times,” she said. “She and the guys sell produce in the sweltering heat of Oklahoma summers and Christmas trees on freezing cold December evenings. Sheila will not ask her crew to do anything that she can't or won't do, so she is always right beside them regardless of the elements.”

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 folks 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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Sheila Dews accepts an “Award of Excellence” from DHS Director Ed Lake.