Heritage Christian Services is currently in the middle of a banner year. In June 2024, the agency marked 40 years of service in the community. They continue to scale their services to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, while committing to the mission and vision of the agency’s founding families.

The Homes with Heart campaign encapsulates this spirit, as the agency seeks to renovate, rebuild or purchase homes that can support people through end of life care. 12 homes are included in the campaign, with eight scheduled for completion by the end of 2024. Essential to the agency are its staff members, especially the direct support professionals who walk alongside people with disabilities on a daily basis, supporting them as they achieve what is meaningful to them. This week, Heritage Christian Services and many agencies like it celebrate National Direct Support Professionals Week, honoring the compassionate and diligent work direct support professionals perform on a daily basis.

Today, we are joined by Marisa Geitner, president and CEO of Heritage Christian Services and a former caring professional in her own right, and Jeanne Vitt, a parent of a gentleman who chooses supports at Heritage Christian Services who will speak to the impact of caring professionals on his family’s life.