Johnna Skinner Honored With Award of Excellence in Direct Support Services
Library: News Release
Phone: (405) 521-4972, Cell: (405) 301-6676
email: kevan.goffparker@OKDHS.org
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’ Specialized Foster Care Provider Johnna Skinner with an “Award of Excellence” in direct support services.
Skinner was nominated by DDS’ Dixie Roden who works in DDS Specialized Foster Care because of her excellent work as a certified foster parent since 2009. Roden said Skinner is also a teacher in Hanna, Oklahoma, and advocates for her foster son and others with developmental disabilities. She also serves as a volunteer guardian for another individual. Roden said Skinner’s foster son has grown more independent and matured during the time he has lived in the Skinner home.
“Johnna and her husband consistently nurture and shape their foster son in a loving manner in the way they treat him, discipline him and love him,” Roden said. “They provide good independence support for him as he has grown from a little boy into a teenager. He has a lovely and peaceful home with two foster parents who love him.”
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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