debra p.

I have cared for my husband who was handicapped for seven years before his death in 2011. I have friends and acquaintances who have health problems, mental and physical, whom I look in on with a phone call or a personal visit. I enjoy being a caregiver because it makes me happy to make someone else happy.

I have been a caregiver in the behavioral health, disabilities services, human services, & substance abuse field of work for the past 20 years. I have worked in dual diagnosis addiction treatment centers, women's correctional homes, disabled group homes, individual's homes, nursing homes, & apartments. I have done respite services with youth as well as adults, disabled & seniors. I have done supported community living services, brain injury services, id waiver services, as well as worked with the autistic. I have been a Case Manager with a DHS caseload for child welfare cases and also a Substance Abuse Case Manager & Program Coordinator for a state funded drug & alcohol treatment program. I have also done remedial or behavioral intervention services as they call it now with chronically mentally ill children with severely disruptive behaviors. There really isn't a population in human services I haven't worked with. I really love my work. I'm not in it for the money. No one works this field for the money. You have to have the heart for it! I look forward to working with you & your family!!