Curtis Graham is DHHS winner of State Employee’s Award

Curtis Graham, a health care technician at the O’Berry Center in Goldsboro, is the Department of Health and Human Services’ winner of the 2006 State Employee’s Award for Excellence.

Graham is recognized in the category of Human Relations. The Awards for Excellence program was created in 1982 to honor state employees for outstanding achievements in one of five categories: Human Relations, Innovations, Outstanding State Government Service, Public Service or Safety and Heroism. These awards are the highest honor a state employee may receive for dedicated service to the state and citizens of North Carolina.

Clinton Lee, a group home manager at the center and Graham’s immediate supervisor, described Graham: “He’s an all-around good guy. He’s dependable. He has a great attitude, good rapport with the individuals he works with. He’s quick with a joke, very even tempered and consistent, and that’s what works around here.” Lee said he’s worked with Graham for 16 years.

Lee’s supervisor, Jerry Phillips, nominated Graham for the recognition. “Over the past two or three years we’ve experienced several admissions of individuals who have been in crisis in the community and they’ve all come into the unit where Curtis works,” Phillips said. “He works with them to get their crisis under control, and has returned a few of them back into the community. He’s a good guy. We’re lucky to have him.”

“This is a great honor,” said Graham, 54, a native of Smith’s Chapel who now lives in Dudley with his wife, Debra. “It really has made me happy. It’s nothing that I have strived for. It’s good to know that people appreciate your efforts.” Graham said that on Jan. 1, 2007, he will have worked for the state for 28 years.

He works in one of the group homes on the campus of O’Berry, providing “care for the residents, insuring that they are safe and that their self-help skills are met. Some need training. Some you monitor. Some need assistance.”

Graham’s nomination notes some of the conditions under which he works: “This past year, our Center has become home to an increased number of individuals with volatile behavior issues who have come to us because the community has been unequipped to serve them and help them with these difficult behaviors. Dually diagnosed with developmental disabilities and mental illness, these individuals respond with violent outbursts, kicking, hitting, biting, and continually attempting elopement. Under Curtis’ guidance, these individuals have greatly improved their ability to modify these behaviors. Arriving out of control, they will stabilize quickly under his gentle and unfailingly positive direction. Even under the most challenging situations, Curtis never raises his voice, but maintains an easy going manner that individuals respond to intuitively.”

The award will be presented to Graham during a ceremony in Raleigh on Oct. 16.

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Last Modified: October 3, 2006