Position: Developmental Assistant III
Years of Service: 29
Charleen Chambers-Martin was named one of the Brooklyn DDSOO’s 2024 DSPs of the Year due to the exceptional quality of her work and because she is a team player.
She became a residential manager – a Developmental Assistant III – in 2022 after working for OPWDD for several years and holding such positions as DA, Developmental Disabilities Secure Treatment Assistant (DDSCTA), and DAII. In all roles, Charleen has proven herself to be an exceptional worker.
“When she became a residential manager in charge of managing two homes, Charleen realized it was a different ball game,” says Winifred Obi, Team Treatment Leader and Charleen’s supervisor who nominated Charleen. “She found it overwhelming, but with proper guidance, she was willing to learn and grow – she chose to swim rather than sink.”
Whenever Obi is out, she says Charleen has proven to be a good support for covering TTL duties so that nothing falls between the cracks.
“While her counterparts are struggling with their duties, Charleen has mastered the work,” Obi continues. “She makes sure the books – both physical and electronic – are completed accurately and on time."
“Furthermore, the evaluations of the direct care staff working in the two houses are always turned in on time,” Obi says. “Charleen is constantly working to improve areas that were not her strong suit.”
In the two short years since she has been a residential manager for Cluster 3 Group of residences in Brooklyn, Obi says Charleen has gone far in absorbing the core discipline imparted to her by her TTL. While she still has a lot to learn in our ever-changing environment, she has made her mark.
“Charleen is a reliable staff member to have on one’s team,” Obi says. “She cares about the quality of her work and has proven to be a team player. She is a team leader’s delight because she is very supportive of the team goal.”