This month’s Staff Spotlight features Buffy Newton, a youth care worker at Ellipsis who has become an important part of the girls foster group care program at our Park Campus. Buffy brings heart and steady support to her work, helping create a safe and structured environment where young women can grow. In this Q&A, she reflects on her daily experiences, the connections that keep her going, and what makes her role at Ellipsis so meaningful. Her story shows how strong relationships and consistent care can help change the course of a young person’s life.
What is your position with Ellipsis, and what does a typical day look like for you?
I'm a youth care worker here at Ellipsis, and I’ve been here for over a year now. I started with the girls foster group care [Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP)] over at the Park Campus, which opened April 1, 2024.
We have a scheduled routine to help give the girls staying with us structure and teach them life skills. With it being summertime, it's a little bit more relaxed than it would be during the school year.
My day starts with preparing and distributing medications for the girls who need it. I make sure everyone eats breakfast and gets their morning duties done, which usually includes picking up their room, doing their assigned chores in our shared spaces, and brushing their teeth and getting themselves ready for the day.
After that, they either have time to relax or we do a planned activity together. I’ve taken them skating, bowling, shopping and swimming. We’ve also gone to the zoo, and sometimes we’ve gone to the YMCA. I prepare and cook lunch and dinner with the girls and sit and eat dinner with them, too. We end our day with our nighttime duties and chores, then we either watch a movie or work on things they need, like applying for a job.
How long have you worked here, and what initially drew you to Ellipsis?
I've been with Ellipsis since April 2024. I had worked with women and kids prior to coming here, and a friend of mine mentioned the program and told me what Ellipsis is about. I have always had a passion for working with and helping our youth, so I applied.
Have you had any other roles at Ellipsis? How has your journey within the organization shaped your perspective on the need for the programs and services the organization provides?
Being a youth care worker has been my only role at Ellipsis. I never realized how important a place like this was until I started here. Ellipsis gives our youth a safe place and a chance at life.
Please share a story about an experience that reaffirmed why you do this work. What made it so meaningful?
I have so many little experiences that have reaffirmed why I do what I do and why it’s so meaningful for me. I really appreciate the letters I get from the girls telling me I have made it easier for them to deal with being here — or when a parent writes a letter thanking us for helping their child graduate from our program or with a specific challenge they were facing. It’s all about watching the girls grow and succeed for me.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in this job, and how do you overcome them?
One of the biggest challenges for me is not taking things personally. I’m human, so, of course, it's hard to do that — and I care. I just try to remember that I was young once, which helps remind me that these kids are going through things that make them want to say and do things they wouldn’t if they weren’t hurting. I also do what I can to take care of my mental health first so I can be my best whenever I’m with them.
What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the work you do?
That it's not babysitting. We are here to support and teach these young women how to become self-sufficient adults.
If you could describe your job in three words, what would they be and why?
My three words would be rewarding, consistent and impactful.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone considering a career in youth services or mental health support?
If you’re looking to get into this field, I recommend that you are passionate about the work, have a thick skin and love children. You need to have an open mind and an open heart.
What’s one thing about Ellipsis that makes you most proud to be part of the team?
The one thing that makes me proud to be a part of a team is that we all bring something different to the table. Each of us makes what we do unique and makes it all work out. In the end, we all have the same passion.
Outside of work, what’s something that brings you joy?
Outside of work, I just enjoy being a grandma and hanging with my dog. I’m simple.
