Trenton, NJ – Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris presented awards to four department employees from Essex County for individual and/or team awards this year at the State’s Public Service Recognition Program.  There were 29 honorees in all from DHS.

Velia Green of Newark, is a Human Service Assistant at Woodbridge Developmental Center who recently became the primary group leader for women with various disabilities.  Linda Gibbons of Nutley, is Supervising Program Support Specialist I overseeing Regional Permanency, Kid Connection, IV-E, and was recently named Regional lead person for Child Family Service Review.  Both received a Co-Worker Recognition Award. 

Team Partnership Awards went to Pamela Riley and Khalilah Shabazz, both of East Orange.  Both are Cottage Training Technicians at North Jersey Developmental Center in Totowa, which initiated a Groups for Environmental Management (GEM) program that incorporates a system of facilitated team meetings to promote employee empowerment, environmental awareness and quality of life improvement for their clients.  An integral part of being able to hold group meetings rested on the creation of the Training Relief Team (TRT).  The TRT rotates from living unit to living unit relieving staff of their client service duties so that they can attend GEM sessions together, resulting in NJDC being able to increase its staff training 200 percent.

Over 1,500 state workers gathered at the Trenton War Memorial for the Annual NJ State Public Service Recognition Awards Ceremony, which included a pre-ceremony breakfast, compliments of the NJ Department of Personnel, which organizes the annual event.

Representatives from 26 state departments and agencies meet monthly throughout the year to identify programs, awards and events to recognize and honor public employees.  The program culminates in an annual statewide celebration to honor public service award recipients, held during National Public Service Recognition Week in May.  Program award categories include Longevity, Co-Worker Recognition; Team Work Partnership, and Customer Service Excellence.  The State award categories include Heroism, Exceptional Service, Community Service, and Professional Achievement.  This program also includes a national award coordinated by the National Public Service Roundtable in Washington, DC.

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