Work

Well, Christmas Holiday and New Years Eve is now over. It is January 1, 2012.  I have been on vacation from work since December 20th.  A two week vacation was very much needed and appreciated. I am now refreshed and ready to go back to work tomorrow. I love and am so very passionate about the work I do at Perspectives. I am a Director at a human service agency serving at risk families and children. Our social issues we address is not limited to:  poverty, homelessness, abuse, Chemical Dependency, education, mental health, employment.

I have been so fortunate to be an employee at Perspectives since the 1990's. I actually started at Perspectives as a student pursuing my Masters degree in Counseling Psychology. I was a student working on my internship. I fell in love with Perspectives' mission: To help at Risk Families Break Negative Cycles. I did short term counseling at Perspectives working with clients who I then referred on to other agencies who offered long term therapy. We did more crisis phone counseling, short term counseling sessions and groups like Women and Self Esteem.

Once my internship was over, I was brought on as a part time staff member. I supervised the volunteers that did the short term therapy, processed with each volunteer making sure all referrals were given out due to the issues that the client presented. I enjoyed this very much but it was only part time so I also volunteered at the Crisis Connection in the Minneapolis area as a counselor.

Later, Perspectives'  hired me on as a group facilitator coordinator. I led groups on parenting topics that came from the University of Minnesota. The curriculum was called Positive Parenting I and II.  Topics included:  How to Catch Your Child Being Good, Discipline, Rules and Boundaries, Tools of Prevention and more. I also supervised volunteers who co-led the groups with me. I met some amazing people and trained them in group facilitation.

As human service agencies or non-profits change rapidly, the grant money was no longer supporting community parenting education classes. That is when I ended up leaving for about five years working as a hands on healer, teacher and speaker.

I was then told about an opening at Perspectives in 2004 looking for a Community Affairs Associate. I interviewed for the position and secured it. I did volunteer hiring, marketing and public relations work. One year later I was promoted to Director of Volunteers.

So that is my Perspectives story and I am still here. I truly feel honored to work with those that just need a little help getting back on track.