What is your position with Ellipsis? 

As a youth care worker, I help the kids in our residential care with everything in their daily life from teaching them life skills like how to do their laundry to preparing their plates for meals. I help provide guidance and teach them social skills and emotional regulation skills by counseling them on how to communicate with family, how to handle disagreements with peers, how to speak respectfully to others and more. As a second-shift worker, I work from 2 to 11 p.m. during the week, and one weekend a month, I work 30 hours: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. both days.

How long have you worked here?

I’ve worked at Ellipsis for five years.   

Have you had any other roles/jobs during your tenure with Ellipsis?

I’ve always been a youth care worker in our residential care program while at Ellipsis, but I’ve gained experience in other areas within the organization. For instance, I cook for the kids on days our cook has off.

I also work in the Neurodevelopmental and Comorbid Conditions (NACC) program, which was created for youth who have struggled in prior settings due to a combination of lower cognitive function, developmental delays and serious behavioral and emotional concerns.

What drew you to work at Ellipsis? 

Several years ago, my daughter started working at Ellipsis. I had raised my kids, and my husband and I had fostered a lot of children. I had recently retired and started to get stir crazy when my daughter suggested that I try working at Ellipsis. I love it here!

Can you recall a moment (during your career with Ellipsis) when you felt like you were in exactly the right place, doing exactly what you should be doing? What was that like?

I know there have been times I haven’t been in the best mood, and then I walk into work and all the kids are running up to me and excited to see me. That really turns my day around. I just know that I belong here. The kids and I have a good rapport, and I think they can come and talk to me about problems with their personal life in ways they don’t feel like they can talk to others since I don’t judge them, and they know that I have several children of my own.  

What are some of the more challenging aspects of this job? 

Some of the more challenging times I’ve had are with the kids whose family members may not be helping them reach their goals by taking part in Ellipsis’ programming. Sometimes we have family members who aren’t being supportive by calling their child or visiting when they said they would.

What are some of the more challenging aspects of this job? 

Some of the more challenging times I’ve had are with the kids whose family members may not be helping them reach their goals by taking part in Ellipsis’ programming. Sometimes we have family members who aren’t being supportive by calling their child or visiting when they said they would.

We tell the kids they can’t control what’s going on with others, but they can control how they react. I assure them that Ellipsis is here for them. Whether or not they have someone calling or visiting, we are coming to work every day to see them. I try to be a positive constant in their lives.

What are some of the rewarding aspects of the job? 

On Sundays when I’m working, I always make pancakes for the kids. I started the ritual so they’d have a sense of family tradition and normalcy within the residential care program. Now they really look forward to it and ask for my pancakes, which is awesome. At all times, I feel wanted here. My staff also make me feel needed.

Why is it important to have residential programs in communities, and qualified people working in them? 

Without these programs, I don’t know where these kids would be. They would be out on the streets and wouldn’t be able to feed themselves. I couldn’t imagine if we didn’t have residential programs, and I’m surprised our community doesn’t have more.

What is a misconception people may have about mental health treatment? How do you dispel that? 

Everyone has a time in their life where they aren’t mentally strong or dealing with past issues that they can’t handle anymore. Mental health treatment should not be looked at negatively. Just like with your physical health, if you ignore it and don’t maintain it, your health deteriorates.

If there’s anything else you’d like to add about your role, please feel free to do so!

When I come to work, I honestly feel like I’m leaving home and going to my second home. The staff I work with are awesome. To walk in and see the kids excited to see me and knowing I’m going to make a difference in their lives makes it all worth it.