Antoinette Freeman

Nov 1, 2009

Dear Antoinette,

Prior to joining the Hoffnagle team in June, you served for many years as a Flex staff in residential services; this gave you a great deal of experience dealing with many different personalities, ability levels, and challenges. Fortunately, you also had positive experiences supporting individuals in SPIN's Behavioral Health Unit. So when the call came to support the three ladies at Hoffnagle Street, you drew on your four years of super training and became part of the Hoffnagle team.

Hannah, Jinnell, and Stephanie are unique and wonderful women who could keep an army of DSPs busy. Each have moved from a restrictive setting to a CLA environment and each has had to learn the fine art of balancing choice and independence with responsibility. Not so easy for young twenty somethings. And then there is the issue of three young twenty somethings learning to live together….think dorm nightmare! Well Antoinette you were not to be deterred by all of this and you calmly and patiently used all of the positive approaches known to woman and helped each young woman learn to deal more appropriately with each situation as it arose. You've also introduced them to healthy eating by visiting a produce store, the wonderful benefits of reading by obtaining library cards and the everyday fun of watching animals at a nearby farm. Your secret weapon seems to be guidance rather than telling them what they should do. A smart move since most twenty somethings don't like "being told."

So it is my honor to present to you the Employee of the Month award and to thank you on behalf of the Board of Directors, your fellow employees and Hannah, Jinnell, and Stephanie for your professionalism, your wisdom and your caring concerns for the ladies and your Hoffnagle team. We appreciate the role model you are in carrying out the mission of our agency.

Sincerely,
Trina Losinno
Executive Director