Community Care Network’s Earle named Vermont Direct Support Professional of the Year

Community Care Network’s Earle named Vermont Direct Support Professional of the Year

Rutland, Vt. – Community Care Network (CCN) is pleased to announce that Jillian Earle, Direct Support Professional with CCN’s Project SEARCH program, has been named Vermont’s Direct Support Professional of the Year by ANCOR, the nation’s leading advocacy organization for community-based providers supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Earle, who has served Community Care Network, its clients and community partners in this role since 2021, was one of 54 individuals selected from across the United States for recognition from a record-breaking pool of 500 nominations received by ANCOR for its annual Direct Support Professionals awards.

“Jillian’s dedication as a direct support professional has been truly transformative for the individuals she works with,” said Kathi Austin, Employment Supports Manager with Community Care Network. “Through her guidance and unwavering commitment, she helps prepare individuals for meaningful employment, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed. This recognition is a testament to her impact – not only on those she supports, but also on the greater mission of fostering inclusive workplaces.”

Earle, along with all other 2025 ANCOR honorees, will be recognized at the upcoming ANCOR Connect conference and awards breakfast in San Diego, California on April 9.

“I am very proud to be a direct support professional and am grateful to have the opportunity daily to make a positive impact on the lives our clients and the broader community as a whole,” said Earle. “Every day I am inspired by the growth of our clients – from their first day in our program when they are quiet and unsure of themselves, to their last day when they receive their certificate of graduation and carry the confidence and skills needed to succeed in employment. To be recommended for this award by my peers is a great honor to me, and I am incredibly thankful for the support from of all of my co-workers with the Project SEARCH and Community Care Network teams.”

Since 2007, ANCOR has presented the Direct Support Professional of the Year Awards with support from Morrisville, North Carolina-based Relias, one of the association’s Diamond-level National Partners. The annual awards program aims to recognize outstanding individuals who deliver long-term services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Throughout the year, ANCOR highlights the award recipients’ compelling stories to demonstrate the valuable role direct support professionals play in ensuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to the countless benefits of community life.

For more information about ANCOR and its 2025 Direct Support Professional of the Year Awards, visit www.ancor.org.

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About Community Care Network: CCN is comprised of Rutland Mental Health Services and Rutland Community Programs. The programs of Community Care Network serve more than 3,500 people each year throughout Rutland County across the areas of behavioral health, developmental disabilities, substance use recovery, senior and volunteer, and early childhood education services. CCN is focused on enhancing the health and well-being of those it serves through responsive, innovative and collaborative services that offer support across the lifespan. To learn more, visit www.rmhsccn.org.