Tulsa Job Coach Constance Hogan Honored with a DHS Award of Excellence

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) held its 29th Annual Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities recently in Norman. During the awards ceremony, DDS recognized The Bridges Foundation’s Job Coach Constance Hogan of Tulsa, Okla., with both an “Award of Excellence” and a “Best of the Best” award in direct support services.

Hogan was nominated by her boss at The Bridges Foundation, Karie M. Jordan, who is the president and CEO of the nonprofit. Jordan said Hogan works with five service recipients with developmental disabilities at the local PepsiCo Bottling Company where she assists her team with the recycling and reclamation of products.

“Constance has provided five years of support to these individuals at PepsiCo and has advocated on their behalf with the company,” Jordan said. “She’s breaks down barriers to employment and brings awareness of her team’s talents and strengths. She works diligently teaching and training her team to increase their skills and many of the workers can now do multiple job tasks, including reading, safety awareness and identifying key markers in achieving their goals.”

She said Hogan also often works outside the scope of her work responsibilities to ensure the safety of each individual and she stays in close communications with their families in order to safeguard their success both at work and at home.

“PepsiCo is a high pace, fast moving manufacturing employer,” Jordan said. “Constance is responsible for not only achieving client success, but for maintaining the strict standards of the employer contract. The Bridges Foundation’s work crew continues to achieve their goals and maintain PepsiCo’s standards and the company is proud of the Bridges crew and enjoys their working partnership.”

During the Governor’s Conference on Developmental Disabilities, DDS honored 20 direct support service professionals from around the state with an “Award of Excellence.” Five of the winners are then selected as “Best of the Best” winners by a committee for additional recognition because they are considered the “best of the best” in the state.

The theme for this year’s Governor’s conference is “A Journey to a Good Life.” It reflects the understanding that approximately 60,000 Oklahomans with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities and their families are searching daily for answers before making important decisions that will affect their future.

Oklahoma DDS Director JoAnne Goin said the criteria for winning an “Award of Excellence” and “Best of the Best” award focuses on nominees’ tenure, experience and their relationship to the individual(s) and the families they support. Additional skills in leadership, advocacy and their success in supporting people to be included in the community are also considered.

“Our award winners say they absolutely cherish the people they serve,” Goin said. “Direct support professionals are practical, determined and compassionate support staff 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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