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**Direct Care Staff Award
Millicent Hicks, Program Assistant, Adult Day Care of Chester County, Kennett Square, PA This award recognizes direct care staff members who demonstrate outstanding person-centered skills, effective communication techniques, dedication, creativity and teamwork attitude. This individual serves as a model for others who choose this profession. Nominees may include nurses, program assistants, bathing assistants, and drivers.  The role Millicent Hicks has played in the success of the program at Southern Chester County Center stands out and needs recognition. Millicent has worked at Adult Care of Chester County since January 1998 and, fortunately for the folks in the Southern Chester County community, she agreed to transfer to the new site to help get it off the ground. During the past five years, she built a strong program. Cheryl, Kay, Susana, Ruth Ann and Judy have joined the team at various times over the past five years and, although each adds an important component, Millicent has been the constant. Her creativity, enthusiasm, high energy level and a love of the participants with whom she works inspires and motivates others. She exemplifies dedication and service over and above the norm. Millicent has truly been the Activities Coordinator and has taught the rest of the team that everyone in the program has strengths and that the key to a successful program is finding those strengths through activities.
Millicent thinks nothing of getting to work an hour early (which means 5:30 a.m.) to get a project ready for the day or to put up decorations that the participants made. Millicent creates new ideas for activities on a regular basis and keeps life interesting. In addition to working full-time plus, several years ago she volunteered her time to take charge of the decorations for the major fundraising event for Adult Care of Chester County. Most recently, she approached the director about how she might get names and addresses of other centers to get a postcard exchange going. The result has been amazing, with people around the country participating and sharing with postcards with other centers. The request was sent out in August, but postcards are still arriving and the participants are having a wonderful time talking about the postcards and their experiences in the areas from which the postcards originated. Millicent's dedication to and attendance at the center is exceptional. Through a major health challenge of her own and caring for aging parents, her attendance is excellent. We often wonder how, as a grandmother and family caregiver, she gets her energy and when she sleeps. She is amazing! Written by Pat Shull and the Administrative Team at Adult Care of Chester County
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