Submitted By: Tonya Self, RHA Health Services
Carla Garrision Greene never tells the people she supports that they can’t pursue their dreams. Instead, Carla works to empower people to make their dreams come true. Carla is a Direct Support Professional for RHA Health Services, a CQL-Accredited organization providing a broad range of person-centered, integrated, and high-quality supports to thousands of people in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
During a Personal Outcome Measures® interview with Mary, a person receiving supports through RHA Health Services, Carla discovered Mary’s passion for the election process. After observing campaign activities and at one point being turned away from a voting site, Mary made clear in her interview that she wanted to vote in local and national elections.
At an event in Atlanta, Georgia hosted by The Arc, Carla was able to learn more about supporting people to become registered voters. She is now using that knowledge to teach people about campaigns, voting, and elections. Due to Carla’s efforts, Mary is currently in the process of becoming a registered Georgia voter.
In addition to voting, Mary highlighted a very ambitious personal goal in her Personal Outcome Measures® interview – to become President of The United States of America! This goal is currently taking the form of a September 2019 election, where Mary is campaigning to become the President of the local Residence Council for RHA Health Services. Carla has been supporting Mary to carry out her campaigning aspirations through door-to-door visits, visiting with voters, a debate speech, the creation of promotional posters, and more.
Carla has helped evoke a sense of excitement and thrill for Mary as she runs in the local election. Not only has Carla’s support helped spark hope for Mary, it has also raised the level of competition among candidates to become President of the local Residence Council.
Along with supporting Mary’s goals involving civic engagement, Carla has also worked hard to help her participate in the life of the community through various events. These include their local Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, ‘It’s Spooky To Be Hungry’ campaign, ‘Flip Flop Drop’ for the Salvation Army, and more.
Thank you to Carla for her dedicated support of Carla and many others at RHA Health Services!
2019 National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week
This article is part of a campaign during the 2019 National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week, to acknowledge Direct Support Professionals who are demonstrating excellence through the use of CQL’s Personal Outcome Measures® and/or NADSP’s Code of Ethics/Competency Areas. This campaign was developed through a partnership between CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership, The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), and The American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR).
Carla Garrision Greene: Outcomes On The Ballot