NYS Justice Center honors Ability Beyond staff with Code of Conduct Award

NYS Justice Center honors Ability Beyond staff with Code of Conduct Award

State agency charged with protecting 1 million vulnerable New Yorkers spotlights Chappaqua

care worker 

The New York State Justice Center is pleased to announce that Gavin Vincent, Assistant Program Manager at Ability Beyond in Chappaqua, NY, has been selected as a recipient of the Justice Center’s Code of Conduct Award for the 2024 program.

Those honored with a Code of Conduct Award truly embody the Justice Center’s founding principles and ethical standards outlined in the Code of Conduct for Custodians of People with Special Needs. As stated in the code, signed by all staff under Justice Center jurisdiction, award recipients have upheld their commitment to helping help people “live self-directed meaningful lives in their communities, free from abuse and neglect, and protected from harm.”

Awards are compiled by the NYS Justice Center each year. Winners are selected by the Justice Center’s Advisory Council – a group that provides guidance to the Justice Center in the development of policies, programs, and regulations. The council consists of service providers, people who have or are currently receiving services, their family members, and advocates.

“The Justice Center’s mission to protect the safety and dignity of individuals with special needs would not be possible without a dedicated, compassionate workforce,” said Justice Center Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray. “Turnover rates for jobs in the health and human services space are exceedingly high. This reality makes it difficult to maintain a committed team that’s trained on proper care standards. To see someone like Gavin who has been with Ability Beyond for more than seven years and has invested in his professional growth is an employment model worth emulating. Thank, you, Gavin!”

Since joining Ability Beyond in 2017, Vincent worked his way up from Direct Support Professional to Assistant Program Manager for the Youth Development Day Program. He is described by colleagues as calm, patient, and nurturing and someone who understands how to create a supportive environment for both those he serves and his coworkers. Always willing to lend a hand, Vincent is engaged in several internal resource groups that focus on recruiting new staff and educating existing teams. His can-do attitude and individualized approach to care make him an ideal fit for this honor.

“We are beyond proud of Gavin for this well-deserved recognition,” said Jane Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer at Ability Beyond. “His dedication and empathy speak volumes about the kind of team we foster—passionate about learning and growing to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.”

The Justice Center received more than 100 nominations for this year’s program. Five winners were selected from more than two dozen finalists. Each submission highlighted the dedicated members of our State’s human services workforce.

For more information on this year’s awards, please click here.

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About the Justice Center

The Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (Justice Center) was established in 2013 by the Protection of People with Special Needs Act. The agency was created to restore public trust in the institutions and individuals charged with caring for vulnerable populations by protecting the health, safety, and dignity of all people with special needs. Through investigation, education, and action, the Justice Center creates a safer environment for more than 1,000,000 individuals receiving services across six State Agencies.

About Ability Beyond

Ability Beyond, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to discover, build, and celebrate the ability in all people. To fulfill this mission, we provide health and human services to adults with disabilities throughout Connecticut and lower Hudson Valley, NY. Founded more than 70 years ago, Ability Beyond is headquartered in Bethel, CT, and Chappaqua, NY. Ability Beyond provides a wide range of services for more than 3,000 people, including numerous residential alternatives, employment training, career counseling, job placement services, cognitive and life skills instruction, clinical and therapeutic support, and volunteer and recreational activities.