FREE’s Workforce Development Program Recognized with the 2020 Moving Mountains Award for Best Practices

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), was recently awarded the 2020 Moving Mountains Award for best practices in workforce development. The prestigious award was given on behalf of partner organizations The National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota and American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR).

FREE’s Center for Learning and Professional Development (CLPD) was honored with the award for its commitment to ongoing education for its employees.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive the Moving Mountains Award,” said Robert S. Budd, CEO, FREE.  “By offering our workforce a multitude of opportunities to continue their education and development, we believe that the people we serve will also be the beneficiaries.”

FREE’s commitment to ongoing learning for its direct support professionals (DSPs) and other team members includes a learning management system that offers 600 online courses, tuition reimbursement program and other benefits. DSPs are provided with many career development offerings to support their training and career growth and the professionalization of the direct support role.

FREE benefits and supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury.

The Moving Mountains Award ceremony will take place virtually, during NADSP’s “From Praise to Promise” event during National Direct Support Professional Recognition Week on September 16th in a session sponsored by ANCOR. In addition to receiving the award, each organization will be providing an overview of their winning program and the results they have yielded.

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE)

Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE), founded in 1977, benefits and proudly supports more than 4,000 individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental illness and traumatic brain injury. It is the mission of FREE to help individuals of all abilities realize their full potential. FREE provides a diverse array of supports and services including housing; recovery services; transition to work; employment; day, community and family services; respite; crisis services; education and after school support; specialty health services; and advocacy.

The Family of FREE Network collaborates with a variety of diverse 501(c)(3) nonprofit partners on educational, vocational, rehabilitative and a myriad of other creative initiatives to enhance the local communities and the lives of more than 35,000 people that reside within them. Each of the valued partners of the FREE Network has a unique mission, vision and strategic goals that are aligned in purpose, and embody the spirit of the meaningful work we do every day. For more information, please call 516-870-1614 or visit www.familyres.org.