Allies recently celebrated the fourth class to successfully graduate from the New Horizons: Essential Managerial Skills training course.
The 2024 graduating class includes 15 graduates who completed all 12 modules of the training curriculum. The modules include an introduction to management styles. In addition to the introductory module, the course includes lessons to assist participants in their every day management duties. Some other modules that learners participate in throughout the course include “Management and Communication Styles,” “Management and Diversity,” and “Management and Problem Solving.”
“The curriculum’s emphasis is twofold, aimed at enabling community support managers to cultivate facilitative and influential relationships with their community support staff in group home settings, as well as promote competency by directly imparting managerial essential skills to the community support staff members,” Ricky Alfaro, training and development specialist at Allies, and creator and administrator of the New Horizons curriculum, said. “The primary objective of the New Horizons Curriculum is to furnish Allies residential and day services managers with the requisite skills and knowledge to perform competently when engaging with community support staff.”
To participate in the New Horizons class, managers must be recommended by their immediate supervisor. The course takes place over 12 weeks, with each session focusing on a different module.
“The managers have reported that the New Horizons program has been pivotal in enhancing their understanding of the critical role that effective management skills play in the success of any organization in achieving its goals and objectives,” Alfaro said. “Numerous participants have also articulated that a manager who develops strong management capabilities can facilitate the advancement of an organization’s mission, vision, and business objectives while minimizing challenges and resistance from both internal and external stakeholders.”
For graduates of the New Horizons training course, the completion of the course demonstrates a commitment to Allies’ mission.
First, I want to thank each of you for everything you do to support the people we serve each day,” Mike Haggerty, MS, president and CEO of Allies, told graduates. “My congratulations to all of you for completing the New Horizons program and for investing in your professional development. My hope is that you continue to take advantage of the many educational and career opportunities available at Allies.”
“I am honored to guide and mentor the Allies employees as they navigate their career paths,” Alfaro said. “I possess a deep passion for supporting individuals, particularly those who care for specialized populations such as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities whom we assist at Allies.”
Throughout the course, participants learn new theory and techniques that can help them develop professionally and personally.
“I can see the transformation that this group has gone through from the beginning of the course until now,” Alfaro told graduates. “This course represents everyone’s collaboration to be better every single day.”
Congratulations to Iralyn Senior-Dorie, Gabriel Livingston, Ashley Robinson, Thelma Doughan, Badria Robinson, Adeola Adepoju, Akisha Maxwell, Davon Marshall, Bashyra Manns, Vivan Ferguson, Elihu Godbolt, Takia Clayton, Lora Charles, Misha Parris, and Tonya Oliver!
