National Caregivers Day, celebrated on the third Friday of February, is a special occasion dedicated to recognizing the incredible efforts of caregivers who provide essential support to those in need. This year, it falls on Friday, February 21st, 2025.
At Jay Nolan Community Services, we take the opportunity to honor our incredible workforce of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) on this special awareness day every year. DSPs play a vital role in the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with caregiving being just one aspect of the amazing work that they do. Their diligence, dedication, and compassion make a real difference in people’s lives every day.
Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of our organization. They work tirelessly to ensure that the individuals we serve receive the highest quality of care and support. From assisting with daily tasks to mentorship and guidance, DSPs are there every step of the way, helping individuals with various developmental and intellectual disabilities lead fulfilling and independent lives.
On this National Caregivers Day, we want to celebrate and honor our DSPs for their unwavering commitment to our mission. Their efforts often go unnoticed, but their impact is immeasurable.
Celebrating Our Amazing Direct Support Professionals:
As part of our celebration, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding Employees of the Month from the previous year. These individuals have gone above and beyond in their roles, demonstrating exceptional dedication and care.
Jasmine (Employee of the Month – October 2024)
In three words, Jasmine describes her job as: fulfilling, rewarding, and perseverance. For fun, Jasmine and the person she supports like to cook new things. They also enjoy going to new places and meeting people. Currently their favorite place is the Bowling alley, however, they also love making plans and seeing the people they have met out in the community.
“When I first started working with the person I support, she was very shy and withdrawn from scenes. She would stay back behind me and insist I talk for her, now she has blossomed into a social butterfly. She goes ahead of me and she speaks for herself. Seeing her progress has been the best reward of this job. Not only do I teach her things but she has also taught me things as well. I am honored be a Jay Nolan employee who focuses on core values and beliefs by empowering and enriching lives.” – Jasmine
Sung-Won (Employee of the Month – June 2024)
In three words, Sung-Won describes his job as: Love, Care, and Commitment. What Sung-Won and the people he supports do for fun is go for walks, runs, and hikes to stay strong.
“I am taking care of people in need physically, mentally, and spiritually.” – Sung-Won
Sam (Employee of the Month – June 2024)
Sam describes his job as: Rewarding, Uplifting, and Joyous. Sam enjoys writing music/playing instruments, going on road trips and other getaways and playing video games. And with those he supports, he likes to play games, cook and go on outdoor adventures.
“Being someone who has had quite a rocky life dealt to me, I am tremendously grateful for how much my life has improved overall in the past 4 years. I highly credit my work at JNCS as a catalyst to that improvement, pushing me to further my career in social services. I get tremendous satisfaction out of touching other people’s lives in a positive way on a daily basis.” – Sam
Sunny (Employee of the Month – February 2024)
In three words, Sunny describes her job as: compassion, trustworthy, and calmness. For fun outside of work, Sunny enjoys reading, learning, cooking, gardening, and volunteering.
“I’m most proud of myself and [the individual I support], I effectively led and managed in the volunteer field. This experience taught me a lot about the value of teamwork and highlighted the importance of nurturing everyone’s unique gifts and talents.” – Sunny
Fani (Employee of the Month – December 2023)
In three words, Fani describes her job as: Grateful, Joyful, and Fun. For fun outside of work, Fani loves to cut hair and does so as a second job. She also enjoys cutting the hair of the person she supports, if they want her to!
“What I am most proud of in this job is that I have learned a lot in this field and I really understand [the person I support]. I am so grateful for what I have and this job has changed my life. I will always remember the journey we have gone through together.” – Fani
Thank you DSPs!
We are incredibly proud of all our direct support professionals and their achievements. Their hard work and compassion embody the spirit of National Caregivers Day.
Let us all take a moment to thank and appreciate the caregivers in our lives. Their efforts often go unnoticed, but their impact is immeasurable. Happy National Caregivers Day!
Interested in becoming a Direct Support Professional? Apply Now to join our team!
