32 | MARCH 30 • 2023
A
s the country marks
National Caregivers
Day, honoring
individuals who provide
personal care and physical
and emotional support to
those who need it most,
Keneisha Hardrick, a JARC
Direct Support Professional
(DSP), is one of many
caregivers dedicated to the
well-being of the people she
serves.
Throughout the week, you
will find Keneisha at her
job assisting with personal
care, feeding, cooking and
cleaning, as well as preparing
for outings, activities and
other fun events for the
adults she provides care
for at JARC, a nonprofit
organization serving
adults with developmental
disabilities in Metro
Detroit via group homes,
independent living support
and in-home respite care. For
nearly a decade, Keneisha
has been providing vital care
and helping the people she
serves to live their best lives.
In addition to essential
caregiving duties, another
aspect of Keneisha’s
responsibilities is to ensure
the people she serves at
JARC can enjoy a variety
of community engagement
opportunities.
“The people we serve are
amazing, and many are so
full of life! There’s always
something going on at the
homes, whether it’s a visitor,
an activity or they’re heading
out somewhere,” she said.
Keneisha has had the
pleasure of working in
several JARC homes over
the years. She has recently
enjoyed working at the
Nusbaum Home and now at
12th Estates.
After ensuring that the
people under her care
have all their needs met,
Keneisha’s favorite part
about working for JARC is
getting them out and into
the community to help them
live their lives to the fullest.
She loves accompanying
them out to dinner, shows
at the Fox Theater, sporting
events, JARC events and
much more. Keneisha enjoys
sharing new experiences
with them and values
JARC’s commitment
to providing the
people they serve
with opportunities
to participate in
activities, practice
hobbies and to try
something new.
As part of National
Caregiver’s Day in
March, JARC celebrates,
appreciates and honors all
their vital caregiving staff
members who are dedicated
to fulfilling JARC’s mission
of enriching the lives of
people with disabilities
through gentle and loving
support, valued relationships
and engagement with the
community.
March also marks National
Developmental Disabilities
Awareness Month, which
aims to shine a spotlight
on the disabled community
and demonstrates how
people with developmental
disabilities live normal lives.
“The most significant
responsibility that anyone
can have is the safeguarding
of the life of another person.
Our caregivers take this
responsibility on each and
every day,” said JARC CEO
Shaindle Braunstein.
An important part
of Keneisha’s job is her
relationship with her JARC
coworkers. They spend a
significant amount of time
together each week, working
hard to provide the best
possible care for those living
in the home. She says that
when a fellow staff member
isn’t feeling well or needs
help, everyone is quick to
step in and lend a hand.
Keneisha describes
her relationships with
her colleagues as a
family.
Keneisha says the
one aspect of her job
that sets JARC apart
from other providers
is the way JARC cares
for the people they
serve. “Everyone goes
above and beyond their job
descriptions, which makes
me proud to be part of the
team. Most facilities don’t
really take heed to what
those they serve enjoy, and
JARC pays a lot of attention
to that. They always put the
people they serve first.”
Anyone interested in becoming a part
of the important work JARC does or
knows of someone who may be, visit
www.jarc.org/career to explore career
opportunities.
OUR COMMUNITY
JARC celebrates vital staff members.
The Importance
of Caregiving
JN STAFF
Kaneisha
Hardrick
Kaneisha
with Nicole,
a person
JARC serves.