TRC’s Resa Rosen-Murray honored by NYS Justice Center

The Resource Center’s Resa Rosen-Murray was honored with a 2024 Code of Conduct Award by the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

The award ceremony took place at The Resource Center’s Senior Adult Day Habilitation Program in Jamestown. The program is for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so holding the ceremony there gave Resa’s colleagues and the program’s participants the opportunity to celebrate with her.

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.

“Our Code of Conduct Award is our way of paying tribute to those who go above and beyond in their daily work lives, and lead others by example,” said Justice Center Acting Executive Director Maria Lisi-Murray. “Reading about Resa, I can tell she makes each day uniquely special – both for her staff and the individuals she serves. Thank you, for being a champion for our mission.”

Resa was selected for her leadership and loyalty to her work at The Resource Center – a career she’s held for 44 years. Those who work with Resa describe her as thoughtful, respectful, and never without a smile. An artist at heart, Resa displays her musical talents once a week for program participants, creating a warm, welcoming environment for those she serves.

Half of her career has been spent at TRC’s Senior Adult Day Habilitation Program in Jamestown, where she is a Direct Support Professional Lead. Resa is a strong advocate for the people she supports and will continue to push until a person’s needs are met. Her commitment to those she supports extends beyond the walls of the day program, as she has visited one of TRC’s homes to ensure residents are receiving the supports they need; if she notices something is amiss, she works with staff to address the situation. In such instances, Resa is viewed as a valued mentor to new employees and is able to call on her vast experience to demonstrate the proper ways that things should be done. Co-workers admire her professionalism, her dedication and her ability to lead by example.

 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. Resource Center officials are proud Resa was chosen to receive the Code of Conduct Award.

“The Resource Center is truly fortunate and blessed to have Resa on our team. She is a shining example of commitment, dedication and a fierce advocate,” said Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer. “She cares deeply and centers her time and energy to ensure the betterment of the lives of the people we support. We are a better organization because of Resa and the example she provides to all.”

“Resa is a wonderful person and a dedicated and compassionate worker, and she is worthy of recognition by the Justice Center,” said Joanne Bevan, Assistant Executive Director. “Resa invests time into forming good working relationships with those she supports. Through this investment, she learns what is important to each person and uses that knowledge to help people advocate for themselves and reach their goals. Resa’s first concern is always for the people that we support. She is always professional and treats all she comes in contact with professionally. She epitomizes The Resource Center’s mission statement, values and beliefs.”

Officials from the NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities and The Arc New York also attended the event and praised Rosen-Murray on her selection for the Code of Conduct Award. Joshua Christiana, The Arc NY’s Director of Quality, Compliance and Chapter Relations, noted the organization’s 35 chapters have a combined 30,000 employees, and Resa was the only one to receive a Code of Conduct Award this year.

Maria Torgalski, OPWDD Regional Field Office Director, praised Resa and other DSPs for their commitment to prioritizing the safety of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities while also supporting them to experience the dignity of risk.

L-R, front, Joanne Bevan, Assistant Executive Director, TRC; Henry, self-advocate; Resa Rosen-Murray; Jamie-Lyn McCormick, Senior Quality and Compliance Specialist, The Arc New York; Denise Jones, Chief Executive Officer, TRC; back row, Robert Miller, Executive Deputy Director, Justice Center; Anthony Fistola, Assistant Chief of Investigations, Justice Center; Maria Torgalski, Director – Region 1 Regional Field Office, NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities; Joshua Christiana, Director of Quality, Compliance and Chapter Relations, The Arc NY.