Hats off to our West Michigan Home Care program, based in Grand Rapids, which received the Best of Home Care 2012 award from Home Care Pulse, a company that surveys our home care clients and staff. And the Lansing office our our Children and Family Services program is a winner of the 2012 Best of Lansing Awards in the Human Services Organizations category. The Lansing Awards program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the area for enhancing the positive image of small business through service to customers and the community.    

Jimmy Plaskiewicz, a client of the Southeast Michigan In-Home Services program, received the Life Time Achievement Award from Monroe Community Mental Health on May 19. “JP” lives in his own apartment in Monroe with support from In-Home Services staff. He has worked at Taco Bell for more than 20 years and is active in a variety of sports including bowling, hockey, soccer and basketball. “JP is a joy to work with, and the Monroe County In-HomeServices staff are very proud of his accomplishments,” said Sue Start, regional director for In-Home Services.

Lutheran Social Services was named “Outstanding Provider of the Year” and seven Lutheran Social Services staff were honored October 8 at the annual awards dinner of The Mon-Arc of Monroe, an advocacy group for persons with disabilities. All award winners were nominated by people in the community. Laurie McKinney, support services supervisor in In-Home Services, received the Distinguished Service Award. Staffers Rita Livingstone, Jean (Margaret) Davis, Stephen Hakeous, Elizabeth Carroll, Candice Miller and Savanah Donnelly received Outstanding Caregiver Awards.