Cover Story: House of G.R.A.C.E Residential Services, LLC

House of G.R.A.C.E. Residential Services, LLC is a minority-owned, female-led agency owned and operated by co-founders Audra Martin, PhD, CEO and Haydee Thomas, RN, COO. House of G.R.A.C.E. (Giving. Resources. Advocacy. Care. and Equality.) was founded over five years ago. It is their mission to improve the quality of healthcare service delivery for all individuals and end significant health disparities of race, income, and geography by providing a standard of excellence in residential and community settings while giving G.R.A.C.E.

Dr. Audra Martin was raised in Canton, Ohio, educated in Canton, serves in Canton, and advocates for Canton (Stark County) residents and all marginalized populations. She has an earned doctorate degree in Public Administration and Urban Studies; Master of Social Work with Supervision Designation both from The University of Akron and a bachelor’s degree with honors from Ashland University. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervisory Delegation (LISW-S) with over 26 years of experience.

Dr. Martin has a strong passion for working with families, creating community change, and participating in civic engagement. She uses a solution-focused, strengths perspective in her advocacy efforts. In order to do this tireless work, she acknowledges the support of her husband and three sons, who also work for the agency, making their public service a family affair, in which she is grateful. Dr. Martin is a highly qualified leader with an extensive background in the social services field extending decades in various capacities such as non-profit grass roots organizations, and public and private community agencies.

Most notably, she enjoys working with the public, supporting community efforts, advocating for effective policies and has integrity to lead. She is a servant leader with a diverse background and has continuously made a positive impact on the lives of individuals and families. She has served in multiple capacities of social work from case manager, supervisor to Assistant Professor. Dr. Martin continues to be a voice for the voiceless where she serves on several local community boards. She is often quoted as saying “There is much (community) work to be done in my community and other communities where social policies are deficient.”

Haydee Thomas is a Registered Nurse with over 21 years of experience, being of Puerto Rican descent, she is also bilingual in Spanish and English and has a passion for serving and working with those within the most vulnerable and underserved populations. She is a proud wife and mother of two adult daughters and a teenage son. Haydee started her journey in healthcare advocacy at the early age of seventeen as a Certified State Nurse Assistant.

She has surpassed many trials and has proven that anyone can overcome adversity with faith and the grace of God. Haydee obtained her Nursing degree in 2004 as a Registered Nurse and has dedicated most of her career working in community health. She is well-versed in social service resources and has established meaningful partnerships with local communities for the betterment of others.

Her previous work experience includes Clinical Nurse Supervisor for a Home Health Care Services organization; Health Services Manager of a non-profit organization serving children and families; Hospice worker; Case Management for Medicare and Medicaid eligible recipients; and Coordination of Training for a non-profit organization, which serves individuals seeking aging and disability resources.

Haydee has been a facilitator and developed trainings on Care Management, Best Practices-Documentation, Person-Centered Planning, Cultural Competence, and Normal-Aging. She received certifications in Leadership, Training and Development through Kent State University. Haydee is a DODD RN Trainer for Medication Certification certified through Department of Developmental Disabilities and is a certified -American Red Cross Instructor.

With their broad experience, Dr. Martin and Haydee initially were colleagues working at different organizations and would cross paths at conferences and community meetings. They shared their passion and made a commitment to establish an agency where giving resources, providing advocacy, and quality care would serve as their foundation. Their target customers are individuals of all ages in Stark, Summit, Cuyahoga, and Portage Counties who have a primary diagnosis of Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities; may have a Complex Health Condition (s); and may have a diagnosis of a Mental Health Disorder.

House of G.R.A.C.E. provides a unique approach to their service delivery. They provide a non- traditional group home experience. In their observation, the label of group homes can send messages to clients and others that focuses on their inabilities, differences, and promotes institutional thinking. They serve as a model agency of diversity and inclusion to meet the individual/client needs.

Their core values are what drive their daily interactions between each other and with the individuals they serve. Dr. Martin and Haydee’s values define who they are and what they stand for, which is to exceed the expectations of every individual served in their care, and each individual to receive wraparound services and community partner access.

The agency’s referrals are 99% word of mouth. Their services include Homemaker Personal Care (HPC); Medication Management; Social Work; Functional Behavioral Assessments; Skilled Nursing; HPC Transportation; Individualized Service Planning and Nurse Delegation. They provide a non-traditional wraparound residential care experience to support individuals to live their best life.

Some examples include one individual being treated like a Princess in her first Pageant; other individuals saved for their first Vacation together; another individual hosted his very own Housewarming Party in a community of his choice; another individual celebrated with friends at his first ever Birthday Party; and lastly, another individual learned to grill and was able to invite friends to his first ever cookout at his own home.

House of G.R.A.C.E.’s main office is in the heart of downtown Canton. This location was chosen, because they wanted a place to be an intricate part of their community with purpose to ensure individuals have every opportunity to become resilient and achieve an optimal level of living while contributing to their overall health and well-being.

They operate as a world-class model healthcare agency of excellence in care through transformational and comprehensive service delivery of social-emotional, physical, and mental health care. They use their expert lens of social work and nurse case management to provide Training and Professional Development, CPR and First Aid Certification, and paid internships in the nursing and social services field (in partnership with Malone University and Youngstown State University Social Work Departments).

They have continued their entrepreneurial journey with significant strides focused on progressing their agency to promote resiliency, healthcare diversity and inclusion. While located downtown, they are also located near the Canton Innovation District HQ and to expand their portfolio, they have recently become state certified in Adult Day Support Services and certified in Home Health Aid Services.

House of G.R.A.C.E. is Hiring! They are seeking employees who love to work with people, work in the community or who desire a career in human services or pursuing a degree in social work or in the nursing field to take advantage of their great opportunity. They are accepting applications from those seeking gainful employment as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and internships from anyone who believes in the House of G.R.A.C.E. Vision called The GRACE Way. The DSPs are key employees to the services provided.

They are the epitome of essential workers and the boots on the ground, work firsthand with the Individuals, provide up to 24/7 hours of care, 365 days a year. They are also appreciative of the office management and leadership team assisting them with their daily business operations. The House of G.R.A.C.E. doors never close, even during the pandemic.

Dr. Martin and Haydee believe a person must have a transparent level of passion and compassion for all people and that is priceless. They ascribe the agency’s success to what they consider a ministry of service and what they do on a daily basis by giving, resources, advocacy, care, and equality, does not feel like work and that’s Grace!