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.

