Employees of the Quarter
This Platte Worker Scores Real Touchdowns
Trquinne (pronounced Tri-qwan) Jones isn’t playing football right now, but he’s nevertheless scoring touchdowns for Platte County.
Jones, called “Tike” by his friends, came to the area from his home in New Jersey in order to play arena football. A running back and outside linebacker, he found the effort more challenging off the field when the team that had scouted him closed its Kansas City operation.
He was not without resources, however. Having settled in Atchison, Ks., Jones had already begun working fulltime for an area organization that served people with developmental disabilities. Later, he pursued similar work with an organization in Leavenworth. He found the field suited him well, so when a friend found similar work with the Platte County Board of Services he decided to follow.
“It’s a great company to work for,” he said. “I worked for similar agencies in Leavenworth and Atchison, but this is my favorite. The third time really was the charm.”
Appreciation for his work goes both ways, too. Jones has worked for PCBS since 2008, when he began as a habilitation counselor in the organization’s Day Habilitation program. Now a supported living counselor, he assists three men with disabilities at an individualized supported living program in Kansas City North. Helping them with everything from balancing their budgets to community involvement, he has proven so good at the work he recently earned the PCBS Employee of the Quarter Award.
“I was surprised,” he explained. “To do a job you really like is rewarding itself, so this is really fantastic.” Interestingly, Jones’ friend who told him about PCBS is Neil House, a Leavenworth resident who was the 2009 PCBS employee of the year.
Jones’ unusual first name was given by his godmother, who is part Cherokee and chose the word which means “special in three ways.” He moved to the region in 2005 and still hopes to play some more football, although it’s obvious that will not replace his work in Platte County.
“It’s just rewarding to become involved with people and see them grow,” he said. “It’s so great you don’t even mind the commute. You look forward to it every day. Not everyone can say that so I’m really lucky.”
Platte Worker Is “Making a Difference”
Neil House hasn’t move far, but in many ways he’s on an epic journey.
House worked seven years for a Leavenworth, Ks., agency that serves people with developmental disabilities. Last summer, a friend recommended he consider similar work with Platte County Board of Services. House decided to give it a try.
“I thought, ‘If I don’t like it, I can quit,’” he recalls. “But I just love it. You’re coming to work and making people happy. You’re making a difference. That means so much.”
House is a teaching counselor with the organization’s Day Habilitation Program, which provides a variety of services and learning experiences for people with developmental disabilities. Everything from in-house lessons on crafts or hygiene and social skills, to volunteer work in the community are included. House also drives a van that helps transport some of the persons served to and from their homes.
While that description sounds straightforward, the work is anything but predictable. Volunteer work can take persons served into the community to help programs such as Harvesters or Meals on Wheels. These are jobs where both the clients and those in the community learn and benefit.
But most of all, he’s gotten to know many of the 40 Platte Countians who are served by the day program—people who may have developmental disabilities but also possess strengths, weaknesses, personalities and more of those traits that make each of human.
“I’ve built relationships with each person,” he said. “I really enjoy it.”
Recently selected as the Platte County Board of Services’ Employee of the Quarter, House admits he did not set out to make a career in human services. However, an initially temporary job with a man with cerebral palsy led him to the Leavenworth post, from where he later joined the Platte County Board of Services. “It’s nice to be making a difference. I was surprised by the (employee) honor. I just do what I do.”
Not all his efforts are quite as appreciated, however. House remains a resident of Lansing, Ks., and is a confirmed University of Kansas fan, despite being pretty well surrounded by M.U. devotes. “Yeah,” he laughed, “I’m catching a lot of grief on that.”
Outside of work—and being a Jayhawker—House is engaged to be married and enjoys painting in watercolor and especially acrylics.
Teaching Counselor Focuses On Real-World Learning
Recently honored with the PCBS Employee of the Quarter award, Raquel Thomas works weekends at Raintree House in Parkville where she helps guide four women with developmental disabilities through the challenges of everyday—and sometimes not so every day—living. The “homework” can involve everything from life skills and cooking programs to helping with medications and money management. More importantly, Thomas obviously focuses on real world issues that often spell the difference between being alive and living.
“Since one of the residents spends most of her weekends at the group home, she and I are out a lot,” Thomas noted. “But generally persons served are very independent and can do most things for themselves. It’s really a matter of being there for them and really listening to what they want.”
“Variety” is probably the most apt description of the women’s activities, and Thomas helps there, too. Some of the residents attend formal programs such as the College Experience for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (CEADD) at Maple Woods. Others enjoy movies while eating out is big favorite.
Thomas has worked for the Platte County Board since 1997 and finds the weekend hours perfect for her schedule, which includes weekday work with a bank. Previously employed in home health, she found Platte County Board of Services an excellent match.
“It is like a family,” she said. “I’ve known some of the residents for 13 years. If I take time off I really feel like I’m coming home when I return.”
